Vendor refusing to allow investigations recommended by surveyor

lookstraightahead

The vendors are not being generous by lowering the price - it's exactly what they should do. They are now aksovadking you to buy a property blindfolded - would you do that with anything else?

unforeseen

ecommendations for third party contractors to inspect the roof, dampness (and potential dry rot), electrics, gas, drains (rear drain could not be located) and boiler. The recommendations stated that the investigations should be understand immediately and pre sale.

That's a hell of a list of extra inspections and workmen that you are expecting the vendor to put up with. I'm not surprised they've said no. I would imagine that unless you are lucky and can book more than one inspection each day then those inspections will tie up the vendor for 5 or 6 days.

SouthLondonUser

OP, I assume you will bear the cost for all these extra checks?
Have you obtained quotes?
How long would these take?
Would these checks cause some kind of permanent damage?

Ben1989

I think it's reasonable for the vendor to accept at least services being checked (i.e. electrics, gas and drains).

babyblade41

I'm a little bit of fly in the ointment.. I wouldn't put up with all these people coming round, obviously employed by you looking for further reductions

They have dropped according to valuation and that would be me done .
As FTB surveyors reports can be alarming as most of them say the same thing depending on age of property .

When viewing a house I tend to rely on my own eyes to look at potential areas that could become problematic.

A boiler service can be asked for if it's been done on a regular basis, but to be honest it can be working now but fail the day after moving in

lookstraightahead

obviously the sellers don't want to put out. Why would they? They are only trying to sell ...

Op they are obviously not serious enough to put up with minor inconvenience

sgun

Charlene84 wrote: »

We have ordained a home buyers report, which lists, as critical, recommendations for third party contractors to inspect the roof, dampness (and potential dry rot), electrics, gas, drains (rear drain could not be located) and boiler. The recommendations stated that the investigations should be understand immediately and pre sale.

The vendor has refused to allow us perform the inspections. This appears quite unreasonable as without the inspections we have no idea as to what, if any, costs we would need to occur. We are simply advised the vendor shall rely on the lenders valuation however as far as we are concerned the lenders valuation is not as thorough on the home buyers survey.

The lenders evaluation is just that - what they will lend. It doesn't really take into account the condition of the property unless it is falling down (in which case they wouldn't lend at all)

Your HB survey will have made some suggestions that will cover the surveyors back as they aren't specialists.

So the electrics - was the fuse board etc old or modern? It doesn't have to be brand spanking new but should have RCD protection etc. You can see that for yourself and shouldn't need an inspection.

What about the gas has been suggested may be out of date/dangerous? The boiler is easy enough to ask about.

The roof can be viewed from the street for a fair appraisal of tiles and pointing - no need to disturb the vendor.

Where is the damp and potential dry rot? Did the house smell damp? Dry rot can be pretty smelly if it has taken hold.You would have noticed the smell.

The drain - does it matter? It must be there if water is draining away. We did get a drain survey done on our last move as I wanted to make sure they hadn't built the extension over it.

I think your vendor is being unreasonable about some points but reasonable about others. Have you actually spoken to the surveyor - the report will be vague, the surveyor will level with you over the phone.

lookstraightahead

babyblade41 wrote: »

I'm a little bit of fly in the ointment.. I wouldn't put up with all these people coming round, obviously employed by you looking for further reductions

They have dropped according to valuation and that would be me done .
As FTB surveyors reports can be alarming as most of them say the same thing depending on age of property .

When viewing a house I tend to rely on my own eyes to look at potential areas that could become problematic.

A boiler service can be asked for if it's been done on a regular basis, but to be honest it can be working now but fail the day after moving in

I would never buy a house just relying on my own eyes. Unless they were part of a super power. They didn't drop the price they changed it to what it was worth, probably having no choice.

SouthLondonUser

Is there a loft? You can't always tell how well insulated a loft is unless you view it during a heatwave, or unless you carry out some invasive inspection. Oh, and installing air conditioning tends to require planning permission. I mention it because I have seen houses where the loft was unbearably hot in the summer - I measured a good 8 degree C above the ground floor. It was like staying in a car parked under the sun with the windows up.

davidmcn

sgun wrote: »

The roof can be viewed from the street

Mine can't (unless you've brought your drone with you).

In any event, looking in the loft (if there is one) will give you a better idea of how waterproof the roof is.