Dishonourable, but legal.

Bendy_House

Just a wee rant, really.

A bungalow went on the market here around 6 months ago. We drive past it most days, and mil even went to have a viewing; nice, but too close to a main road's noise level for her.

Anyhoo, it soon went under offer. And shortly after that was back on the market. Then 'sold' again. And available. And 'sold'. And avai... you get the idea. Lost track of how many times it 'sold', but it must have been at least 5 times. It's now available again.

Anyhoooo, mystery finally solved as a relative of a work colleague of my wife's was one of the 'purchasers' - it's suffering from subsidence. It is not being listed at a price that reflects this, but at a typical amount for such a property. Wife's been told that the vendor - and EA - are essentially holding out for a cash buyer, one who might not bother with a survey...

This has cost at least 5 people many £undreds in aborted solicitor's and survey fees.

Slithery

Does the EA know that it's suffering from subsidence?
If so then as per the 'Residential EA Code of Practice' they should be declaring this to all potential buyers. If this isn't happening then you can report them to the ombudsman.

Bendy_House

Do they know? I understand, 'yes'. They will do. They cannot not know. Will they admit to this? Unlikely.

I suspect they send a minion out to viewings; "I knows nufffink..."

https://www.onthemarket.com/details/10719385/

youth_leader

My friend found a remarkably cheap bungalow, and really loved it as it had a very special view of the local area. She had seen a strange 'dip' in the garden patio, and a crack above and below the front and back door as well as other cracks in the walls, and decided to have a structural engineer visit.  The structural engineer said it was very serious subsidence, bungalow was basically sinking into the clay soil.  He approximated 18 months of work to completely underpin,  so she withdrew from the sale.  Cost her £500 - but the bungalow disappeared from RightMove after her withdrawal.

FreeBear

Bendy_House said: https://www.onthemarket.com/details/10719385/

It has a hot tub, what more do you want

jimbo6977

If the EA hasn't commissioned a survey, and why would they, then they can honestly say they have no knowledge of this supposed subsidence. 

Bendy_House

jimbo6977 said:

If the EA hasn't commissioned a survey, and why would they, then they can honestly say they have no knowledge of this supposed subsidence. 

No, not 'honestly', they can't.

dimbo61

You will often find that Estate agents know nothing !
Council Tax band " don't know "
Dispute with neighbours " don't know "
Any planning applications which might effect property " don't know "
So even when informed by people that have spent thousands on legal fees and survey that show " Mine shaft " in front room under carpet they " don't know "
Online estate agents may never have seen the property let alone tell you anything about it.

AlwaysWorking

My sister had a house agreed to her recently. She noticed cracks above two bedroom windows and the estate agent told her they were due to wind and lack of maintenance (?!). The survey came back with a nil valuation as the cracks were caused by a bomb nearby a number of years ago (Northern Ireland) which had also caused other issues. As the house had been agreed for sale previously and the buyer pulled out after a survey I very much doubt the estate agent wasnt aware that there were significant issues. 

daivid

dimbo61 said:

You will often find that Estate agents know nothing !
Council Tax band " don't know "
Dispute with neighbours " don't know "
Any planning applications which might effect property " don't know "
So even when informed by people that have spent thousands on legal fees and survey that show " Mine shaft " in front room under carpet they " don't know "
Online estate agents may never have seen the property let alone tell you anything about it.

Reminded me of this from the Fast Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfEra7DCClY 1min 5s in is very apt for this thread.

anotheruser

You should get a family member to "buy" it, then a few days later, YOU pose as a structural engineer and go round to the estate agent and tell them it has serious subsidence and did they know?  The buyer asked you to pop round and see.
Then they will know.