Is the whole property buying process too complicated?

Hannimal

In other countries the process is much more straightforward and people selling houses aren't trying to have one on you at every corner as there is liability for known deficits that weren't declared at the time of buying afterwards. So for example if they knew a bathroom was leaking but painted over it without fixing it to hide it from the buyer and surveyor, they'd be liable. Equally it would not be a hassle and a hurdle to get them to clear the house should they not have done so by completion - as my sellers didn't and now I am having to clear it at my own cost or take them to small claims with a massive added hurdle. 

My sister sold her house in Northern Europe and the whole process was over and done with in less than 3 weeks, from offer accepter to completion. It could have been done quicker but they needed that time to clear the house for the buyer. 

Scotbot

Hannimal said:

In other countries the process is much more straightforward and people selling houses aren't trying to have one on you at every corner as there is liability for known deficits that weren't declared at the time of buying afterwards. So for example if they knew a bathroom was leaking but painted over it without fixing it to hide it from the buyer and surveyor, they'd be liable. Equally it would not be a hassle and a hurdle to get them to clear the house should they not have done so by completion - as my sellers didn't and now I am having to clear it at my own cost or take them to small claims with a massive added hurdle.

In other countries the buyer has to inspect the property just before completion and sign off for it to go ahead. Funnily enough the vendors always leave the property spotless.
Like you the UK house I bought came with a load of unwanted extras, I  was not amuaed either.

AdrianC

Perhaps it's as simple as the minor detail that so many people in this country seem to be complete and utter selfish bell-ends?

It's not exactly unique to property transactions. Just look at what they're like behind the wheel - or when a very small inconvenience may save lives in a global pandemic.

Surrey_EA

AdrianC said:

Perhaps it's as simple as the minor detail that so many people in this country seem to be complete and utter selfish bell-ends?

This, ladies and gentleman, is your answer!

SpiderLegs

I don’t understand why searches are not available on demand.
Is there something inherently manual in the process? Just collating a load of documents or database records and linking them to addresses seems like a piece of you-know-what to me.  

Isn’t that exactly what the land registry do?

I am clueless about it though so if anyone could explain.

davidmcn

SpiderLegs said:

I don’t understand why searches are not available on demand.
Is there something inherently manual in the process? Just collating a load of documents or database records and linking them to addresses seems like a piece of you-know-what to me.  

If you mean the local authority searches, because there's no incentive on them (or cash available) to invest in new systems, and because nobody seems to have taken the initiative to set up suitable private sector alternatives. If done inhouse it does mean collating information from several different departments, so they're only going to be as fast as the slowest link in the chain.

Land_Registry

SpiderLegs said:

I don’t understand why searches are not available on demand.
Is there something inherently manual in the process? Just collating a load of documents or database records and linking them to addresses seems like a piece of you-know-what to me.  

Isn’t that exactly what the land registry do?
I am clueless about it though so if anyone could explain.

That’s part of what we and the information and searches are largely available on demand. 

When you are buying there are two key preliminary stages re searches
1. Get a copy of the registered information to confirm ownership and more
2. Submit search to then obtain priority which many refer to as ‘freezing’ the register for 6 weeks so you can get your application in to register your purchase knowing the register won’t change between you completing and your purchase being registered. 

In the vast majority of cases your search will be automatic as nothing else is pending at the time, so nothing to wait for. 

The time between stage 1 and 2 is taken up by the conveyancing process and not the search process itself  

[Deleted User]

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

When we talk about the HIP, are you talking about the Scottish Survey?

I like that idea. Everyone knows what they're walking into. It also gives a valuation and there are no arguments about Estate Agents over-pricing a property.

The Home Buyers Information Pack in England & Wales wasn’t quite the same as the Home Buyers report in Scotland. 

The HIP consisted of five compulsory documents:

1. The HIP index which explains exactly what’s in the pack
2. An EPC for the property
3. A sale statement which explained who owns what
4. A standard searches document which should have covered all the relevant searches carried out by the local authority including water, drainage and nearby planning proposals. 
5. Evidence of title documents to prove the seller owned the property. 

If the property was owned on a leasehold or commonhold basis, copies of the lease and other relevant documents should also have been included.

Newbuilds also needed a certificate, or interim certificate, showing the rating the property has been given under the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Buyers would still have needed to get a home buyers report and survey. Originally those were meant to be included in the HIP but lobbying from groups such as estate agents saw them removed as they didn’t think buyers would trust reports/surveys commissioned by the vendor even though it works perfectly well in Scotland. 

Robby1988

Lover_of_Lycra said:Buyers would still have needed to get a home buyers report and survey. Originally those were meant to be included in the HIP but lobbying from groups such as estate agents saw them removed as they didn’t think
buyers would trust reports/surveys commissioned by the vendor even though it works perfectly well in Scotland. 

I've often thought it would be good for vendors to commission a Homebuyers Report to be shown alongside the EPC on Rightmove for transparency. I would happily do it as a vendor, so long as I got the same benefit from the vendors of my onward purchase.

For me it would a) Weed out timewasters who aren't 100% committed to selling,
b) Encourage people to bring their properties upto a decent standard before selling & not try to hide stuff.
c) Speed up the whole transaction. Transparency from the off.
d) Pave the way for an earlier contractual obligation for both parties complete earlier in the process, like Scotland.

[Deleted User]

Robby1988 said:

Lover_of_Lycra said:Buyers would still have needed to get a home buyers report and survey. Originally those were meant to be included in the HIP but lobbying from groups such as estate agents saw them removed as they didn’t think
buyers would trust reports/surveys commissioned by the vendor even though it works perfectly well in Scotland. 

I've often thought it would be good for vendors to commission a Homebuyers Report to be shown alongside the EPC on Rightmove for transparency. I would happily do it as a vendor, so long as I got the same benefit from the vendors of my onward purchase.

For me it would a) Weed out timewasters who aren't 100% committed to selling,
b) Encourage people to bring their properties upto a decent standard before selling & not try to hide stuff.
c) Speed up the whole transaction. Transparency from the off.
d) Pave the way for an earlier contractual obligation for both parties complete earlier in the process, like Scotland.

I’ve found it useful when buying properties in Scotland. Lenders tend to use the home report valuations so both parties have a good idea of the mortgage valuation instead of making an offer, waiting for a survey to come back only to discover the lender values it at £x less than the offer. It also helps me weed out properties with hooky loft conversions and the like before even viewing them.