Will I be liable for work done on house I am purchasing.

saajan_12

I think its more likely a case of crossed wires. How much has the builder done, and can they be told to stop (to avoid incurring further expenses)? 

It *could* have been the sellers calling your bluff, but its a risky strategy as the builder would claim the costs off them upfront, and then the seller has to negotiate a higher price with you / get you to pay without a contract. 

furnacebrevin

saajan_12 said:

I think its more likely a case of crossed wires. How much has the builder done, and can they be told to stop (to avoid incurring further expenses)? 

It *could* have been the sellers calling your bluff, but its a risky strategy as the builder would claim the costs off them upfront, and then the seller has to negotiate a higher price with you / get you to pay without a contract. 

The work has now been completed, the question is who pays, If I had to pay I would be tearing it down in a few months time when I start what I want to do with the house. as it stands I have no liability for the house as I have not exchanged contracts and can walk away.

AdrianC

furnacebrevin said:

saajan_12 said:

I think its more likely a case of crossed wires. How much has the builder done, and can they be told to stop (to avoid incurring further expenses)? 

It *could* have been the sellers calling your bluff, but its a risky strategy as the builder would claim the costs off them upfront, and then the seller has to negotiate a higher price with you / get you to pay without a contract. 

The work has now been completed, the question is who pays, If I had to pay I would be tearing it down in a few months time when I start what I want to do with the house. as it stands I have no liability for the house as I have not exchanged contracts and can walk away.

Exactly.

Of course, a cynic might say that you hoist your own petard somewhat by renegotiate your offer downwards over a fault that was irrelevant to your purposes...

HampshireH

furnacebrevin said:

saajan_12 said:

I think its more likely a case of crossed wires. How much has the builder done, and can they be told to stop (to avoid incurring further expenses)? 

It *could* have been the sellers calling your bluff, but its a risky strategy as the builder would claim the costs off them upfront, and then the seller has to negotiate a higher price with you / get you to pay without a contract. 

The work has now been completed, the question is who pays, If I had to pay I would be tearing it down in a few months time when I start what I want to do with the house. as it stands I have no liability for the house as I have not exchanged contracts and can walk away.

Apologies late last night you said work has commenced. Now this morning it's completed?

What was a builder doing on the roof which you would tear down?

If your not happy then walk away. The person who instructed pays (and yes there must have been an instruction)

You don't want them knocking your door for the money so you will need to ensure that this is sorted legally within your sale.

You say you negotiated the price for the works and reduced your offer. Not sure how that works or how it was valued to include the work before it was done. But in doing this it sounds unlikely your vendor would wish to reduce any further to compensate for you removing whatever it is.

TBagpuss

You are not liable to the builder. However, if the sellers can renegotiate the price on the basis that you sought a reduction due to an issue with the roof, which they have now remedied.
And you can chose to pay the revised price, or to refuse. If you refuse, the sellers are free to remarket the house and try to find a different buyer. You are free to walk away and find a different property to buy. 

Titus_Wadd

I'd be worried that the roof work is a bit bodged; a cheap job commissioned by the vendors to negate the price reduction.  If it's not the work you were planning, it's their problem and responsibility to pay for it.  If the work is not to the standard you would have commissioned, it's still their problem and responsibility to pay for it.  They've already negotiated the price I wouldn't offer to pay more because they say they have fixed the roof issues.  I'd never trust a vendor to do remedial work!  At the very least, have the work inspected by a builder you trust; but I'd just proceed as though it hasn't happened with no renegotiation on price.

wilfred30

Most builders require a deposit of some sort before commencing work so I agree that the vendors are lying to you.  If you are going to continue with the purchase, make sure your solicitor receives written confirmation that the builder has been paid by the vendor before you exchange.