Renting whilst house repaired?

CinderKona

Currently I am a renter but looking  to buy but my survey has come with rather more work than I expected. Mainly around damp and the boiler flue being unusable. This last point alarmed me slightly as I thought boiler inspections were mandatory in rented properties.
Anyway could I buy the property but carry on living where I am until the work is complete? Do I need to pay 2 community charges?
it would be very short term as I could not afford it for too long.
many thanks 

wilfred30

Yes of course you can, if you can afford two properties at the same time.

AdrianC

What does the survey ACTUALLY say about the flue? Surveyors aren't gas engineers or plumbers, so the chances of them saying anything other than "It's not been checked, get it checked by a pro if you want to know what it's like" are minimal.

Yes, you can buy it and continue to live elsewhere. Yes, you may well be liable for council tax in both.
https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/second-homes-and-empty-properties

Aaghh321

I'm planning exactly that... a 2 week overlap to get the new place ready. Just be aware of what your rental contract requires in terms of notice. I'm on a periodic tenancy so need to give a full month's notice ending the point in the month my tenancy started.

dimbo61

This is such an open question.
How old is the property your buying ?
How much do you have in savings to pay for the works ?
Does the property need all new damp course with all inside plaster stripped away up to 1 meter from the floor.
Sound concrete ground floor or rottern floorboards and joists !
Is this an ex rental property ?

Grumpy_chap

Some Local Authorities will set zero council tax for short term if refurbishing inhabitable property to make it habitable.  Beware, though, they are strict if the process takes too long.  I took advantage of this to do damp and heating on a property and after a sufficient period, the Council deemed the property should by then be habitable and started a possession process for use as social housing.  I moved in pronto, even though work was ongoing.

Davesnave

How come you didn't spot this damp? Surveyors have a knack of finding damp and so do companies who will 'survey' the problem for free and then take your money for a dubious fix, so be careful, especially if it's an older  (pre WW2) house. Most damp is easily fixed once the cause is established. Older houses may give higher readings on a moisture meter, but that doesn't automatically mean thy are defective.

Similarly, with flues, regulations change and one that has been used for donkey's years suddenly becomes 'unusable.' There may, or may not, be a cheap fix to ensure safety, but British Gas fitters on the look out for work might not be the best people to advise. Who said it was unusable? A surveyor isn't qualified to judge gas or electrics, but obviously if it's hanging off the wall, or similar, there will be a comment to that effect

CinderKona

Thanks. I think flue issue is just ivy growth bulking escaping gases which could cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
The work I’d need might be more than 2 weeks!

FreeBear

dimbo61 said:  Does the property need all new damp course with all inside plaster stripped away up to 1 meter from the floor.

Damp proof courses do not need replacing, and injecting chemicals in to a wall would do little aside from leaving a row of ugly holes alerting future owners to the use of snake oil. Stripping plaster off the walls to the height of 1m (strange it is always 1m, never 300mm, or 1.5m) and slapping "waterproof" plaster on the walls will just trap moisture in the wall and store up problems 5, 10, or 15 years down the line.

Save your money and fix the problem at the source. Extensive ivy growth won't be helping, so stripping that off would be the first step. If the pointing needs attention, then repoint using the appropriate mortar (pure lime based on older properties, cement if you must on modern builds). If the property hasn't been occupied for a year or more, keeping the place warm and living in it will help to drive out much of the damp..

Davesnave

CinderKona said:

CinderKona said:

Thanks. I think flue issue is just ivy growth bulking escaping gases which could cause carbon monoxide

OK half an hour up a ladder then, but you'll be buying a CO alarm as well, hopefully? Under £30.

How old is the house? You still haven't said.

martindow

CinderKona said:

Thanks. I think flue issue is just ivy growth bulking escaping gases which could cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
The work I’d need might be more than 2 weeks!

More than two weeks to cut back some ivy!!!!!