Buying house from our landlord

Polly265

Hi, I’m new to the forum and need a bit of advice. We’re currently negotiating buying the house we’re renting from our landlord. He’s come back with a price slightly below the lowest estate agent valuation which we feel is reasonable. However, we’ve now had a full building survey done (we’ve lived here a number of years and very little maintenance work has been done), which highlighted a number of urgent repairs. One of which is a loose glass panel in the conservatory roof, which makes that space currently unsafe and unusable. The landlord has asked us not to use the conservatory anymore. My question is, should we expect the landlord to fulfil his letting obligations and repair the roof given the fair price he has asked? We’ll obviously still be paying the rent up until the time the sale has gone through. 

MIN2_2

How much is the conservatory repair likely to cost? And what are the other 'urgent repairs' identified and their cost? 

If it is dangerous the Landlord should really repair the problem immediately.

HampshireH

If there were a number of urgent repairs and you have lived there for a long time, these shouldn't come as a surprise.

Yes I would expect the landlord to repair the conservatory pane as you are renting which includes that as a safe space.

However it wouldn't be a point of negotiation for me as one lane shouldn't take much to resecure.

moneysavinghero

Has the LL reduced the rent to make up for the lack of use of the conservatory?

Polly265

We’re in the process of getting quotes for the work but they survey report put it at approx £750 + vat. The worry is that the glass pane isn’t supported properly along one side and sags down and could potentially fall. 

Overall there was around £20k of ‘urgent repairs’ which included things like rotten fascia boards, localised concrete slab failure, replacement windows, missing door lintel. 

HampshireH

Polly265 said:

We’re in the process of getting quotes for the work but they survey report put it at approx £750 + vat. The worry is that the glass pane isn’t supported properly along one side and sags down and could potentially fall. 

Overall there was around £20k of ‘urgent repairs’ which included things like rotten fascia boards, localised concrete slab failure, replacement windows, missing door lintel. 

The two in bold would have been factored into your offer. I doubt the landlord will get any of the above sorted.

I'd definitely ask for the conservatory though

missile

Is it you who wants to buy or LL who wants to sell? If I were your LL I would not carry out any repairs on a house you want to buy. It is really up to you to negotiate. 

newsgroupmonkey_

moneysavinghero said:

Has the LL reduced the rent to make up for the lack of use of the conservatory?

That's a great idea. In fact, I'd call in the Council to make him fix the other urgent repairs.
It won't end with an S21 and not being offered the opportunity to purchase their home.

moneysavinghero

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

moneysavinghero said:

Has the LL reduced the rent to make up for the lack of use of the conservatory?

That's a great idea. In fact, I'd call in the Council to make him fix the other urgent repairs.
It won't end with an S21 and not being offered the opportunity to purchase their home.

Of course it won't end in a section 21 as it would be a waste of time issuing a Section 21 that was invalid because it was issued as a result of the tenant asking for repairs to be done.

Grumpy_chap

Polly265 said:

Hi, I’m new to the forum and need a bit of advice. We’re currently negotiating buying the house we’re renting from our landlord. He’s come back with a price slightly below the lowest estate agent valuation which we feel is reasonable. However, we’ve now had a full building survey done (we’ve lived here a number of years and very little maintenance work has been done), which highlighted a number of urgent repairs. One of which is a loose glass panel in the conservatory roof, which makes that space currently unsafe and unusable. The landlord has asked us not to use the conservatory anymore. My question is, should we expect the landlord to fulfil his letting obligations and repair the roof given the fair price he has asked? We’ll obviously still be paying the rent up until the time the sale has gone through. 

Polly265 said:

We’re in the process of getting quotes for the work but they survey report put it at approx £750 + vat. The worry is that the glass pane isn’t supported properly along one side and sags down and could potentially fall. 

Overall there was around £20k of ‘urgent repairs’ which included things like rotten fascia boards, localised concrete slab failure, replacement windows, missing door lintel. 

I am confused by the focus here being on the £1k for the conservatory roof.

The LL has agreed a fair price for the OP to purchase the property, and the OP accepts this.  The quicker the process completes, the less the OP pays as the amount of rent pre-purchase is reduced by every month sooner to complete.

The OP has the benefit of knowing the property having lived there for a number of years.  This should mean no "surprises" but none-the-less the survey has identified some repairs required:

• Poor condition fascia boards - the OP should have been aware as a visible defect taken into account in determining fair price
• Replacement windows - likely optional, or luxury of time, and the OP should have been aware as a visible defect taken into account in determining fair price
• Loose pane in the conservatory which it appear the OP was not aware, though it may have been a visible defect.  Either way £1k in the cost of moving property is neither here nor there.  OP could ask the LL to meet half the cost, LL may agree for an easy life
• Then the two biggies - missing lintel somewhere plus failure of a concrete slab (floor? roof?).  Items that the OP may reasonably not have been aware even though living there.  Items that may be high cost to resolve and potentially affecting the structural integrity of the property.

OP - what are the details of the missing lintel and concrete slab?  These are potentially fare bigger concerns than the £1k for the conservatory repair and / or the optional / non-urgent repairs to fascia boards and windows.