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

TBagpuss

SensibleSarah said:

AlexMac said:

youth_leader said:

I remember my husband sliding straight down the loft ladder because of a giant wasp's nest.  Do take care! 

That’s nothing; while the wasp’s nest I found in an old auction purchase’s loft was long abandoned, the real challenge was…

… about 39 mummified pigeons and ten bin bags of nests and guano as missing slates had provided an ideal home for the local wildlife; luckily only two legged with wings, not mammalian!

Skiddaw1 said:

We had bats in the attic of our former house

You're not really selling it to me now

My sister found a full naval officer's dresss uniform, including sword, in hers. And a lot of paperwork, some of which was marked with lots of stern warning about not removing it from  (presumably secure) locations. 

Being a public spirited sort of person she contacted the local navel base to ask whether they would like the paperwork back , and a few days later some nice fit sailors came and cleared out her loft for her  . She said they very kindly took all the other crap out of the loft and carried it down three flights of stairs for her to dispose of, too. 
 
 (The person she bought from wasn't in the navy, although the block was originally built as Navy accommodation, so it was probably all pretty old , but she said since it appeared to be , or have been, highly confidential,  she didn't feel comfortable just sticking it out with the recycling, and had nowhere she could have a bonfire or dispose of it securely)

SensibleSarah

Slinky said:

Well, several weeks have passed OP, presumably you've accessed the loft - what was up there?

Nope. Had a few other things to deal with, so it's not been a priority to be honest. I'm going to make sure I have a plan for how to close up the hole in the ceiling again if I have to break the hatch to get in, which I think I will. I won't be able to sleep if it's open 

Golden_Glow90 said:

I may be missing something here but if there is no obvious signs of sealing, could it just be they don't know how to open it?  Our loft hatch is different to ones I'd seen before and there's a knack to sliding it to get it to open.  

There are hinges on one end and a latch on the other - however, undoing the latch and pulling (or pushing) has no effect whatsoever. There is definitely no sliding involved. 

Titus_Wadd

I'm going to make sure I have a plan for how to close up the hole in the ceiling again if I have to break the hatch to get in, which I think I will. I won't be able to sleep if it's open 

Ah! A bit like Pandora...just don't shut it too hastily and trap "Hope" in there!

I have a friend called Hope and she's forever going missing; nice girl, box phobia but generally very optimistic!

eastmidsaver

i don't think there is an obligation but the buyer probably should be made aware.
but generally in a survey the surveyor would want to take a look up there, otherwise would report it back to the buyer who'd make the decision.
seems odd you can't open it though,  unsure why or how it'd be sealed on the other side.
worth paying someone to break / replace it.  can't imagine it'd cost a fortune, but would save a lot of hassle further down the line.
also, as you say,  you may discover some rare antiques etc up there which could be worth a lot of money.
at same time, as you say, could end up being junk up there which you'd then need to clear out.
good luck.

j2009

SensibleSarah said:

There are hinges on one end and a latch on the other - however, undoing the latch and pulling (or pushing) has no effect whatsoever. There is definitely no sliding involved. 

Are the hinges ones where you can tap the pin out, if so that may enable you to get access with doing any damage.

Sapindus

Best loft find so far...

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/decapitated-egyptian-mummy-head-belonged-woman-092837690.html

Bendy_House

SensibleSarah said:

Slinky said:

Well, several weeks have passed OP, presumably you've accessed the loft - what was up there?

Nope. Had a few other things to deal with, so it's not been a priority to be honest. I'm going to make sure I have a plan for how to close up the hole in the ceiling again if I have to break the hatch to get in, which I think I will. I won't be able to sleep if it's open 

Golden_Glow90 said:

I may be missing something here but if there is no obvious signs of sealing, could it just be they don't know how to open it?  Our loft hatch is different to ones I'd seen before and there's a knack to sliding it to get it to open.  

There are hinges on one end and a latch on the other - however, undoing the latch and pulling (or pushing) has no effect whatsoever. There is definitely no sliding involved. 

Have you posted a photo yet, Sarah? If not, any chance?

Very likely this can be opened without too much damage. But it's guesswork at the moment.

warby68

How on earth can you live for 12 years not knowing what is sealed in above you, especially if the rest of the house was in a bit of a state when you bought it?

You must have nerves of steel

Bendy_House

She'll need that when she finally opens it...

(6 pages in, and the bludy thing is still closed. I'm gonna start a new thread; "I have an eaves cupboard door beside my bed that's been stuck from before we moved in 56 years ago, and some strange sounds are coming from behind it. Should I try and open it?" And I ain't going to reply again until 7 pages are filled...)

elsien

warby68 said:

How on earth can you live for 12 years not knowing what is sealed in above you, especially if the rest of the house was in a bit of a state when you bought it?

You must have nerves of steel

No, that’s cellars that tend to have the corpses/zombies. Lofts are more likely to have the homeless families and dead pigeons.