Loft inaccessible - can I leave it that way when selling?

SensibleSarah

I bought my house in 2010. I've never been able to access the loft. The hatch is sealed closed and although I obviously could have 'broken into' it over the years using some tools or something, I've never had the motivation to do so. I didn't need the storage space and judging by the the mess and belongings left in the rest of the house & garden when I moved in (former owner died, her family failed to clear it properly but I just got on with it rather than complaining at the time - didn't really know I could have done as I was a clueless first time buyer), it could well just be full of stuff that I then have to deal with. It could also be completely empty. Or it could contain hidden treasure. Who knows? 

I want to sell the house at some point, does anyone know if I am I obliged to force my way into the loft and clear it before I sell? Or can I sell it 'as is'? Presumably if potential buyers have a survey done then the surveyor will want to look in the loft? What happens if they can't access it for the survey or am I obliged to make sure they can? 

I can probably find someone who I can pay to deal with it - but I'm just looking at all the options and whether 'do nothing' is a viable one 

theartfullodger

You, we, don't know what's up there.  Could be safe but boring stuff, dangerous stuff, interesting records, long lost Picasso etc etc etc.

In your shoes I'd get the hatch open and clear it.

Otherwise you've an unknown which may put people off or create delays during conveyance etc.

But hey, your shout!

user1977

It's not compulsory, but I would expect buyers to want access, especially if it's a significantly large space.

How has the hatch been "sealed"? Do you just mean painted over? Should be trivial to open it up.

Slithery

SensibleSarah said:

...it could well just be full of stuff that I then have to deal with. It could also be completely empty. Or it could contain hidden treasure.

Or it could contain dead bodies....

Personally I'd open it up and have a look.

GaleSF63

Slithery said:

SensibleSarah said:

...it could well just be full of stuff that I then have to deal with. It could also be completely empty. Or it could contain hidden treasure.

Or it could contain dead bodies....

Personally I'd open it up and have a look.

Personally I'd get someone else to open it and have a look!

SensibleSarah

Slithery said:

SensibleSarah said:

...it could well just be full of stuff that I then have to deal with. It could also be completely empty. Or it could contain hidden treasure.

Or it could contain dead bodies....

Personally I'd open it up and have a look.

My original thought was that it was an old 'grow' that one of the neighbours had set up and abandoned as I live in a row of terraced houses and I know some of the roof spaces are sometimes connected. I figured that if it was dead bodies then there might have been a bit of smell at some point over the last nearly 12 years...

I can't tell how it's been sealed but it just won't open under normal pressure/pulling/pushing etc. It doesn't look painted shut and the 'sealing' seems to have been done on the other side, so I would have to destroy the hatch to get in I think - which is why I just haven't found the motivation to do anything about it yet. Also spiders. 

I think I'll just have to weigh up whether the hassle of dealing with it soonish is worth potentially saving hassle and delays when selling. I've got dozens of other jobs to do around the house before it's ready for market so this can just go on the growing list.

another_casualty

It'll probably smell of dead bodies , due to lack of ventilation . It may not though 😼

FWIW  when I purchased my last home many years ago  ( upstairs maissonnette ), the estate agent showed me the loft and it was a nice size albeit part boarded with insulation.  

When I was selling same flat , the estate agent didn't seem interested in seeing it or showing potential buyers the loft . 

When I was friendly with the neighbour in the adjacent flat , she told me that she never went into her loft . 

Each one to their own ..

movilogo

Yes, for your own safety have a look what's in loft. There could dead rats, bird nest, leaks, gold coins etc. all sort of stuff.

If not buyer, surveyor will want to inspect the loft. 

StocktonFlyer

movilogo said:

Yes, for your own safety have a look what's in loft. There could dead rats, bird nest, leaks, gold coins etc. all sort of stuff.

If not buyer, surveyor will want to inspect the loft. 

Well the OP didn't. The new buyer maybe just as relaxed.
I'd (get someone else to) go up there though to have a look if possible.

Section62

SensibleSarah said:

I want to sell the house at some point, does anyone know if I am I obliged to force my way into the loft and clear it before I sell? Or can I sell it 'as is'? Presumably if potential buyers have a survey done then the surveyor will want to look in the loft? What happens if they can't access it for the survey or am I obliged to make sure they can?

From time to time there are threads on this forum from people who've purchased and found other people's stuff left in the loft, or people who've sold being hassled/billed for the cost of disposing of loft contents.

You probably don't want to be in that situation yourself - which means either dealing with the loft and contents, or hoping a buyer will accept that the loft (legally) will be 'as is'.

I wouldn't agree to buy an 'as is' loft.  Dead bodies would be the least of my concerns... the loft could contain loose fill asbestos, that really would be a problem I wouldn't want to deal with.

user1977

Or it could be full of carefully-positioned buckets which haven't (yet) overflowed and made the roof leaks noticeable on ceilings.