Missing balustrade on stairs

[Deleted User]

I have viewed a small 19th century terraced house which is good in all respects except that the stairs have a handrail on the left side where the wall is, but no balustrade on the other side which is open - meaning that it would be easy to fall off the stairs into the living room. 

Does anyone know the approximate cost of having a balustrade fitted? I am thinking of making an offer but it would have to be adjusted to cover the cost of this. Also it would come up on a survey as unsafe, so would a mortgage lender be less likely to lend on this property? 

user1977

I doubt a lender would care about it, or that the cost of putting one in would be significant enough to warrant making much of an adjustment to the price.

hazyjo

Wouldn't be quoting that I was offering less because of this (or any other upgrades, improvements, or safety measures you'd wish to add/change). Just offer what you think it's worth

You'd be talking low hundreds unless you went for something snazzy!

canaldumidi

It's clearly visible so whatever offer you make will be based on the property as it is, just as if there are insufficient electric sockets for your needs you'll need to factor into your overall budget the cost of adding them in. But no seller is going to care about your personal plans for the property. Presumably they've been perfectly happy living there without it.

But as an idea for your budget I used duckduckgo and found:

https://www.mybuilder.com/questions/v/2852/i-want-to-add-a-balustrade-with-wooden-spindles-to-my-staircase

General_Grant

Who would fall?  Children?  Frail elderly?  Drunk?

I live in a 3-storey house where both staircases have open sides and only one has a handrail on the wall.  Nobody has fallen off either set of stairs in the 40 years I've lived here.

anselld

No matter how good it looks, the cost of fitting a balustrade will be relatively small in comparison with the ongoing maintenance costs of a 19th century building.

andy444

It's difficult to say how much a new balustrade would cost without seeing the layout and condition of the stairs but it will be roughly low hundreds. 

lookstraightahead

Can't you fall down stairs anyway? If I were you, I would be adjusting my price for anywhere with stairs ...

lookstraightahead

anselld said:

No matter how good it looks, the cost of fitting a balustrade will be relatively small in comparison with the ongoing maintenance costs of a 19th century building.

This is so true.

op, I live in a 19th century house. We budgeted about £80k for putting right what might need doing - we're lucky so far but it will be spent I'm sure.

and if you've not had a survey, how do you know everything is 'good'?

you've obviously arranged for a full structural survey with such an old house? 

[Deleted User]

lookstraightahead said:

anselld said:

No matter how good it looks, the cost of fitting a balustrade will be relatively small in comparison with the ongoing maintenance costs of a 19th century building.

This is so true.

op, I live in a 19th century house. We budgeted about £80k for putting right what might need doing - we're lucky so far but it will be spent I'm sure.

and if you've not had a survey, how do you know everything is 'good'?

you've obviously arranged for a full structural survey with such an old house? 

Yes, I would be having a full structural survey. Thanks for your advice. 

TheJP

Surely you offered on the house from what you viewed. Asking for a reduction for something you want that isn't part of the sale is unreasonable in my opinion.