Renegotiating after a survey with several faults.

youth_leader

Is any part of it listed as it's 1768?  Shocking that concrete was used, but builders with knowledge of heritage buildings are very difficult to find.  I suspect this will be a money pit, as my house was, my surveyor said it needed at least £175K-£200K spent on it to renovate.  I think one of the double wooden sashes was about £4K to replace.

FreeBear

youth_leader said: Is any part of it listed as it's 1768?

Listed building status would cover the entire building, extensions and along with everything within the curtilage (outbuildings, walls, etc). If the building is listed, that will add a whole new level of costs & paperwork on top of what could be an open ended renovation bill.

user1977

Statex2_2 said:

Boiler obsolete

Meaning what? Lots of things in a 1768 house are going to be "obsolete"! My boiler is possibly "obsolete" but I'm not sure how that matters if it still works. Presumably you knew it wasn't a new boiler? Just because you want to replace it anyway doesn't mean you can chip away at the price.

oil tank due to fail in near future

"Near future" being surveyor-speak for what? Next week? 20 years? Again, would be different if it has actually failed. And if you're replacing the heating system completely then what's the relevance?

Septic tank may not comply with current regulations 

Well, does it or doesn't it? Not much point negotiating on the point until you've figured out whether there actually is a problem.

markin

Unless the is a law compelling you to fix the septic its fine, if you have to replace it you will have to comply with new laws.

If i was selling the only thing i think i may budge on is the wall ties and wood treatment.

propertyrental

Before installing a reed bed reed this (pun intended)

https://www.wte-ltd.co.uk/reed_bed_sewage_treatment.html

Consider a small sewage treatment plant instead. More expensive than a septic tank but probably cheaper overall as no reed bed or drainage feild.

youth_leader

Talking of oil tanks, our tank was probably 30 years old when my husband died, single skinned.  I didn't have any income and had to wait months for probate, so left the Aga and central heating off to save oil.  A few months later the kids were helping me to clear the garden when I discovered a hole in the tank - with oil puddling at the base.  It was a freezing October day and I couldn't believe my bad luck.

Rang my engineer in a panic but he wasn't available to come, but he did advise rubbing a bar of softened soap into the crack, it does  work as a temporary plug.  Nightmare memory, when the temporary tank came and the oil transferred I opened the lid to check the level and just couldn't get it to 'thread' back on - and it was pouring with rain which can ruin the oil.  Glad it's a memory!

aliby21

markin said:

Unless the is a law compelling you to fix the septic its fine, if you have to replace it you will have to comply with new laws.

Septic tanks are supposed to have been made compliant with the general binding rules.  I believe owners of septic tanks were given a year from 1st Jan 2020 to make sure their system complied.  In practice this means in most cases replaced with a sewage treatment plant.  Onus is in current owner to produce documentation to show whether their tank is compliant or if not to address it.   If your system is discharging foul water into surface water you are in deep do-do in more ways than one. 

A reed bed seems excessively complicated a sewage treatment plant would be preferable.  

youth_leader

The 'binding' rules are complex - or were to me - I spent a lot of time researching my shared septic tank when I was selling but luckily had the original 1847 deeds which showed the layout clearly, albeit a hand drawn diagram.  I didn't realise I could have kept them.  Interestingly the new owner has stated he is on the 'mains' in his planning permission application.  

Statex2_2

The survey also stated that the house may be listed in the future due to its historical interest as it is at present on the historical monuments list  but not actuially a listed building.

Statex2_2

In reply to property rental have you viewed this:
https://themoonstoneproject.co.uk/portfolio/reed-beds/