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Lead Paint Throughout Recently-Bought House - Who's Liable?

I've just bought an old house and discovered that the walls in virtually every room has lead paint under the top layer.

The sellers didn't tell me, but lived here for 20 years.  I had a level 3 survey, which didn't mention it.  Who's liable for any remedial works?

  • The sellers, because they should have informed me?
  • The surveyor, because they didn't pick it up (and yes I know they can't test, but could've alerted it as a potential issue from seeing thick layers of paint and/or being aware it's an old house)?
  • Me as the buyer, because buyer beware and I didn't test for it?

(Please note this question is not about how to remove or live with the paint itself, which I'm investigating separately)

All constructive input greatly appreciated in advance.
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Comments

  • Titus_Wadd
    Titus_Wadd Posts: 512 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 17 October 2022 at 10:21AM
    It's decades since lead paint was sold, the vendors may not have known.  How did you ascertain it has lead content?
  • pumas
    pumas Posts: 188 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Posts
    I'd plump for it being your responsibility.
    How did you discover the paint in every room? Did you suspect lead paint?
    My aunts lived in a house for 25+ years without decorating.
    The surveyor wouldn't be looking for thick layers of paint.
    If you noticed the thick layers of paint when viewing, you could have asked the seller and surveyor.
  • Leogames
    Leogames Posts: 32 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 17 October 2022 at 10:41AM
    pumas said:
    I'd plump for it being your responsibility.
    How did you discover the paint in every room? Did you suspect lead paint?
    My aunts lived in a house for 25+ years without decorating.
    The surveyor wouldn't be looking for thick layers of paint.
    If you noticed the thick layers of paint when viewing, you could have asked the seller and surveyor.
    I've bought lead paint test strips and have tested the walls since taking ownership and before beginning decorating.

    I'm not, with the greatest of respect, looking for individual viewpoints, opinions or anecdotes here - I'm looking to get it sorted and need to understand how to accommodate the costs involved.  Lead paint is an issue with pets and young children, particularly when we want to undertake works on the house, and I can tick all of the above in my case.
  • user1977
    user1977 Posts: 17,530 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    Section62 said:
    Leogames said:

    • Me as the buyer, because buyer beware and I didn't test for it?

    its belated discovery is unlikely to be a compensation event.
    For what it's worth, I have never heard of anybody making such a claim or even proposing to.

    I can't see that it affects the value or marketability of a property - it's one of those risks which is "priced in" to any property of a certain age.
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