Re-negotiate on house purchase after survey/reports opinion

davilown

rystaman said:

davilown said:

The windows you would have seen on viewing, so knock them off that list.
the upvc door to the garage you would have seen on viewing as well, so another off that list.

Given that it’s a modernisation project, it was probably priced as such so if I was a vendor, I’d probably be annoyed if you came back with a reduced offer, especially as you’re only just at the beginning of the purchase process (yes survey is one of the very first things that needs doing after instructing your solicitor).

Bottom of these particular windows were hidden behind furniture so we didn't see that they were blown. And as the uPVC door isn't that old we wouldn't have thought that it wasn't appropriately fire-rated. In addition, we're not at the start, we're very much near the end with just waiting on final queries from their solicitors before we are able to exchange on our side

You may think you’re at the end but trust me, you’re nowhere near it especially as you’ve just had the survey completed and if you are thinking of renegotiating. Give it another 6-8 weeks and you’ll be close.

Wrt to the windows, sorry I don’t buy that. You should have looked closer. You are just as capable as anyone else to look. The firedoor aspect is also your naivety - was that the correct door to building regs when it was put in?

prowla

If you're not happy with the price, pull out of the purchase.

StandingInTheSun

SameOldRoundabout said:

Houses are generally priced to reflect their condition and visible issues. Hidden issues are things you can’t possibly have seen (ie structural issues the untrained eye would not notice) and negotiable. Personally I would not accept your lower offer given the 7k you’ve had off. 

Electrics are to be expected. Roof /gutter work sounds like standard maintenance. Windows could have been seen despite the furniture by...looking.  On the plus side none of that sounds like really critical work, just get the roof sorted by winter and the worst of the rain. 

I disagree that a full rewire is to be expected for a house of this age. Some electrical work, sure, but from what the OP is saying the electrics here are not just outdated, they are actually dangerous. I don't think that's an unreasonable negotiating point.

AdrianC

StandingInTheSun said:
Some electrical work, sure, but from what the OP is saying the electrics here are not just outdated, they are actually dangerous.

Woah, hold on. The OP hasn't said what the EICR said.
They haven't said whether there's any C1s or C2s.
C3s are to be expected.

As for the sealed units - I'd be surprised if they were much over £50-60 each for replacements made to measure by any local glass place, unless they're huge (when the blow would have been very visible) and they're usually very easy to DIY fit.

davidmcn

rystaman said:

davidmcn said:

Rewiring throughout would give you a house with brand new wiring (and presumably everything set out the way you want it) - and you already knew that wasn't what you were getting when you agreed the price, so i wouldn't expect much of a discount based merely on whatever the EICR has said.

The works sound like a list of fairly minor things and I'm not sure why any of them are immediately necessary (e.g. is anything currently leaking?). Any survey is going to pick up bits and pieces of routine maintenance needing done, it doesn't mean you must instruct them as soon as you get the keys, or that it's reasonable to deduct the cost from the price which already reflected it wasn't in as-new condition.

The current electrics are actually quite dangerous with no earthing being run to the lights (but they have metal fittings).

That wouldn't have come as a surprise to me for an older installation, it's pretty commonplace. And I've lived in such places and survived to tell the tale.

mrlegend123

don't buy a old house from the 1970s, with the new energy coming in. It will cost a lot more in the future.... 

StandingInTheSun

At the end of the day, buyers take out surveys for two reasons:

1) To get an idea for general maintenance and budget accordingly
2) To find out about UNSEEN and UNDISCLOSED serious issues which affect the stability, safety or liveability of the house

If issues under No. 2 are raised it is absolutely acceptable to go back to the seller and discuss things further. There is a breathtaking naivety on MSE which suggests whatever the survey brings up is your problem, and to suck it up. In which case why bother ever getting surveys at all?

StandingInTheSun

At the end of the day, buyers take out surveys for two reasons:

1) To get an idea for general maintenance and budget accordingly
2) To find out about UNSEEN and UNDISCLOSED serious issues which affect the stability, safety or liveability of the house

If issues under No. 2 are raised it is absolutely acceptable to go back to the seller and discuss things further. There is a breathtaking naivety on MSE which suggests whatever the survey brings up is your problem, and to suck it up. In which case why bother ever getting surveys at all?

davidmcn

StandingInTheSun said:

At the end of the day, buyers take out surveys for two reasons:

1) To get an idea for general maintenance and budget accordingly
2) To find out about UNSEEN and UNDISCLOSED serious issues which affect the stability, safety or liveability of the house

If issues under No. 2 are raised it is absolutely acceptable to go back to the seller and discuss things further. There is a breathtaking naivety on MSE which suggests whatever the survey brings up is your problem, and to suck it up. In which case why bother ever getting surveys at all?

I don't think anybody here is arguing against that, if that's what you're insinuating - more that the issues the OP is talking about don't seem particularly unforeseeable or serious.

lesalanos

StandingInTheSun said:

SameOldRoundabout said:

Houses are generally priced to reflect their condition and visible issues. Hidden issues are things you can’t possibly have seen (ie structural issues the untrained eye would not notice) and negotiable. Personally I would not accept your lower offer given the 7k you’ve had off. 

Electrics are to be expected. Roof /gutter work sounds like standard maintenance. Windows could have been seen despite the furniture by...looking.  On the plus side none of that sounds like really critical work, just get the roof sorted by winter and the worst of the rain. 

I disagree that a full rewire is to be expected for a house of this age. Some electrical work, sure, but from what the OP is saying the electrics here are not just outdated, they are actually dangerous. I don't think that's an unreasonable negotiating point.

So they can either rewire the lighting or change the metal fittings for plastic.

There are a huge number of houses with no earth in lighting circuits as it was not required when they were built