Repairs before selling

warwicktate

Hi everyone,

Quick question (if there's ever such a thing...). 

The conservatory roof leaks where it joins to the house, assuming due to the lead flashing failing. If I repair before selling (using a proper certified builder), do I need to declare this, or do I need to wait for a downpour, i.e. do I need to know the repair has worked before I can sell? I know its unlikely in this country not to have rain in the next couple of months, but the leak only happens with heavy rain and very strong winds in a certain direction, so the rain is blown onto the conservatory roof/flashing at a certain angle. Summer rain tends to fall straight down with little wind, therefore it doesn't leak. So, it could be months before I know for certain if the repair has worked or not, and I hope to have sold before the winter rain.  

Thoughts?

Cheers

Alter_ego

You could choose to tell a buyer. But unless specifically asked there is no obligation. House buying is "caveat emptor"

macman

You don't have to declare anything. You simply have to give truthful answers to any questions asked.

warwicktate

macman said:

You don't have to declare anything. You simply have to give truthful answers to any questions asked.

So, if I am not directly asked 'Does the conservatory roof leak?', and I don't disclose this, I will have no come back from the new owners if the repair hasn't worked, and the roof still leaks once the house is sold?

davidmcn

warwicktate said:

macman said:

You don't have to declare anything. You simply have to give truthful answers to any questions asked.

So, if I am not directly asked 'Does the conservatory roof leak?', and I don't disclose this, I will have no come back from the new owners if the repair hasn't worked, and the roof still leaks once the house is sold?

Correct. Similarly, you wouldn't need to declare that it leaks and you haven't tried to repair it.

There are no implicit rules about things you need to declare - there are some standard enquiries, but this isn't one of them.

warwicktate

davidmcn said:

warwicktate said:

macman said:

You don't have to declare anything. You simply have to give truthful answers to any questions asked.

So, if I am not directly asked 'Does the conservatory roof leak?', and I don't disclose this, I will have no come back from the new owners if the repair hasn't worked, and the roof still leaks once the house is sold?

Correct. Similarly, you wouldn't need to declare that it leaks and you haven't tried to repair it.

There are no implicit rules about things you need to declare - there are some standard enquiries, but this isn't one of them.

That's great, thanks. Seems a bit unfair to the buyer, but the law is the law.

I will still have the flashing repair work done, purely for my own peace of mind, but thankfully that takes the pressure of me needed to prove the repair worked. Grand as owt

Drawingaline

We will have this too. The porch leaks. We have had it fixed and while the more recent rains haven't got through, if there are storms like we had in Jan I can't guarantee it won't leak again. But as far as I am concerned it is fixed.

macman

That's why buyers should always ask open questions: 'are you aware of any structural/plumbing/electrical/roofing issues with the property'? But they rarely do.