Would you allow a buyer to go into the attic of a house that you're selling before completion

GDB2222

You have not cancelled your insurance, I assume? Some people might, as it’s the buyer’s risk after exchange.

TheJP

Deleted_User said:

TheJP said:

I guess it depends on circumstances, why do they want to go up in the loft? If the loft was boarded up or had a lot of stuff up there then I would be inclined to decline. If it was after exchange i would say that whatever the reason they want to go up there can wait as your priorities will be preparing to move.

I remember a thread here were someone was adamant that they would be having 1-2 visits a week leading up to completion. So that they could measure up, check blinds measurements etc. No need.

I'm not sure if the loft has got boards down on the joists but they want to have a look to measure up to do some potential building work. I'm fairly relaxed and want to be helpful but I know that attics are sometimes regarded as being more dangerous than other parts of a building.

They can 'measure up' on their own time. It would be a no from me if that was the reason but then again they have exchanged so it would likely be a no anyway as id want to focus on my move at this stage.

TheJP

brianposter said:

Do you want your mail forwarded, or thrown in the bin ?

Mail redirection solves that issue.

steve866

I wouldn’t even cross my mind to decline this request unless the loft was full of stuff or particularly unsafe. 

SiliconChip

GDB2222 said:

...as it’s the buyer’s risk after exchange.

Surely this is a key point, after exchange the buyer takes on the responsibility to insure the property so any liability to someone that they have asked to enter the property lies with them. If you don't want to give access because you don't want someone in the house that's fine, but liability is irrelevant to you as seller.

user1977

SiliconChip said:

GDB2222 said:

...as it’s the buyer’s risk after exchange.

Surely this is a key point, after exchange the buyer takes on the responsibility to insure the property so any liability to someone that they have asked to enter the property lies with them. If you don't want to give access because you don't want someone in the house that's fine, but liability is irrelevant to you as seller.

I would have thought property owner's liability would continue to operate in the same way as usual, unless you're arguing that the vendor has already stopped being liable for losses suffered by visitors? The buyer can hardly be liable for dangers around the house if it's not even their house yet - the only risk they've taken on is of damage being suffered by the property.

TheJP

steve866 said:

I wouldn’t even cross my mind to decline this request unless the loft was full of stuff or particularly unsafe. 

Again its more the convenience, the buyer wants to measure up for building works. Give an inch and all that.

My buyer asked for a midweek lunch time 3rd viewing after exchange, i said ok as i can take 15 minutes out of work. Knock on the door and a blinds sales person came to measure all windows followed 2 minutes later by a carpet fitter and then a decorator. I asked them all to leave and stated that she can get all of this done on her own time due to these guys wanting to move boxes around to get accurate measurements. 

doodling

Hi,

I wouldn't worry about liability for injury. Unless there are unusual risks (e.g. your pet rattlesnake lives up there, roaming free) which you have failed to warn them of then it is their issue if they injure themselves.

As others have said, whether you allow access is up to you. You have exchanged so they can't back out but if you are able to allow access without too much inconvenience then why not?

Noneforit999

Ours is a new build so nobody is meant to stand up there anyway. If the buyer was on an existing visit that I had agreed to anyway then sure, I would give them a ladder to stick their head in the attic.

I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to arrange a visit purely so they could see in the loft though no. 

brasso

I'd first want to know if it was really necessary to do it before completion. What could the builder usefully do in advance apart from give an estimate or order materials? Is the loft conversion (or whatever they're planning) so urgent that it has to have this advance visit? If they pass that hurdle, I'd want to be sure it's a one-off brief visit. If they wanted to spend half the day there, or said they wanted to make 5 visits to bring 5 different builders round for estimates, I'd say no. 

Regarding insurance, that's their problem. They've exchanged, so any damage is down to them.