Selling a house with a Dangerous Structure Notice

GDB2222

poisson_rouge said:

GDB2222 said:

poisson_rouge said:

eddddy said:

poisson_rouge said:

we are in the process of selling our house which has a dangerous structure notice on an external wall, we are trying to get it fixed but the specialist that is fixing it keeps moving the date for the repairs (it's a retaining wall, so very few companies carry out this service).

When you say "external wall" - do you mean an external wall of the house?  Or do you mean a wall in the garden - possibly a retaining wall?

If it's something like a garden wall that's leaning over, that might only cost a few hundred pounds to fix - I'd be tempted to try to come to an informal arrangement with the buyer via the estate agent. e.g. You say you'll instruct the builder will do the work and send the bill to you, even if it's after completion.


Even though there are risks to the buyer (e.g. you cancel the builder and refuse to pay), the estate agent can 'sell' that idea to the buyer as being less complicated than getting the solicitors involved.

Sometimes it's sensible for buyers to take a view on what they tell their solicitors - but some cautious buyers will insist on telling their solicitors everything, even if it delays or de-rails a purchase unnecessarily.


But if you mean an external wall of the house is a dangerous structure - that's a different matter!

I should have been clearer, it's a garden wall not an external wall of the house.

Appreciate the advice regarding the informal arrangement, if for any reason I can't get the work completed then I will try this option.

The buyer can protect themselves by having a retention held by the solicitors until the work is completed.

The quote you have had is a reasonable one from the builder's point of view? If they have under-quoted, they'll never get round to your job. 

It is a resonable one, I got around 5 companies to quote for it and they were all within 2-3% of each other. The challenge they have been having is the materials, it's a specialist anchor which would have been the same issue for the other companies too.

And, have you taken steps to ensure that people are not endangered by this wall in the meantime? Fencing off the area might be appropriate. If you haven't, and someone gets injured ... 

If it's fenced off, surely the buyers have asked why?

eddddy

GDB2222 said:

And, have you taken steps to ensure that people are not endangered by this wall in the meantime? Fencing off the area might be appropriate. If you haven't, and someone gets injured ... 

If it's fenced off, surely the buyers have asked why?

The council are obviously aware, so if there was a danger to the public and the OP hadn't fenced it off, the council would have fenced it off.

(And then passed a bill onto the OP for a ridiculous amount for their contractors, and for hire of the fences/barriers.)

But if it's between private gardens, I doubt the council would get involved.