Will you buy a house you like with a very large stain on ceiling

Kittley01

We viewed a house that we like ticks a lot of boxes and the location is absolutely perfect. The estate agent mentioned before we even spotted a large stain on ceiling of lounge where bathroom is above it. It's a long stain almost runs from end to end of ceiling. The property has been rented for 2 yrs and landlord wants to sell it. Agent said owner will have it checked and fixed before exchange but we're also realistic in that he might just say that and paint it over. There's one offer already below asking price. We really like the house but worried about the potential ongoing large leak issue. Do we put an offer in that we think it's worth it and accept owner will not get it fixed and put into consideration the cost to get it fixed? 

jkrbec

it could be something very simple, if the bathroom is above it, it only takes the u-bend under the bath to be loose and you’ll get a leak when emptying the bath, I would ask them if it’s a case of the leak issue has been fixed but they haven’t yet repainted the ceiling?

bengalknights

Is there by any chance a shower tray there that has not been sealed properly so letting the water into the floor and joists?

ProDave

So the bathroom is leaking somewhere.  The long stain will be water tracking along the joint between 2 sheets of plasterboard in the ceiling.

As well as fixing the ceiling you really want some floor boards up to make sure the joists have not suffered from the leak, and then of course fix the root problem.

I would rather a price reduction so I could do it all properly. 

You want some form of survey particularly to look at the state of what could be damp joists.

dimbo61

Leaks happen in rental properties and owner occupied properties.
I moved into a brand new house many years ago and was having a shower when the water turned very cold and bathroom light went off.
 Turned off shower to discover bath waste pipe had detached from bath and water pouring onto living room ceiling.
Ran round with bucket and clothes, 
Contacted Lettings agents and Rapid first visit from Landlord.
He got a plumber in real quick who described the pipework under the bath as RUBBISH.
I managed to get a couple of boxes of matching tiles from site office and LL had plumber tile around bath area so I could take shower without getting plaster walls soaking wet.
Stayed 4 years but stain still visible when I moved out. Never repainted.
Get a plumber in to check the bathroom once you have bought the property and ask for discount of say £1,000

eddddy

When you buy a property, there are always going to be risks and 'unknowns'. You have to take them into consideration when making your offer.

In this case, the seller might repair the leak properly, but there's also the risk that the seller won't repair the leak properly - and you'll have to pay to get it repaired. So take that into account when making your offer.

(It's also possible that a 'daft' tenant spilt water on the floor, resulting in the stain - so there's nothing to fix.)


You can try to reduce the risk - for example, when the seller's plumber investigates, you could say you want to be there to see the problem for yourself, or say that you want 'before' and 'after' photos, showing the repair. (But that's still a long way from being foolproof.)

Owleyes00

There is a stain on the ceiling of our living room. Before we owned it, it was rented out and before that occupied by someone elderly with developing dementia. He left the bath taps running and it leaked through. Shortly after that he moved into a care home and the house was rented out and stain never painted over. 

Could be something very simple and historic. Wouldn’t put me off per se just do your due diligence and get it checked out as you describe.

aoleks

a leak is an easy fix and will not cost an arm and a leg, so if you like the house, go for it. maybe offer £500 less and get it done as you move in. don't let the seller fix it, they're not incentivised to fix it correctly, it should only last a few weeks, until the house is sold and it becomes responsibility.

sammyjammy

I don't understand why someone would put up a house for sale without even doing a cover up job.  If everything stacked up I'd continue with purchase, its an annoying thing to add to your to do list but not a major problem.

Noneforit999

It’s not the end of the world but at the very least it requires fixing in terms of the damage the leak has done.

Best case, the leak was fixed and its just a case of replacing some plasterboard etc.

Worst case, something is still leaking and its rotted the floor joists and requires a far amount of work.

The owners offer to fix it may just entail fixing the leak (assuming its still leaking) and painting over the stain. At that point you have no idea of any damage to joists etc.

I would under offer slightly by a grand or so, its unlikely to cost much more than that