Renegotiating after a survey with several faults.

Statex2_2

In reply to User1997. I asked the owner what sort of drainage field or soakaway the septic tank had and he said he did not know. The main problem is that the property used to be a mill and a stream runs close to the house. There are heafty fines for polluting  watercourse. I now wonder if he actually had a survey when the house was purchased.

Statex2_2

youth_leader said:

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.  

Stating the property is on the mains when applying for planning seems a common trick as I know of another property where the owner stated the same to obtain planning. Obviously the council do not check planning applications.

Statex2_2

mi-key said:

Also bear in mind if the seller is in financial difficulties, and has a mortgage on the house, he may have a minimum amount he can sell for anyway, so it may not be possible to negotiate that much

I do feel sorry for the present owner and his plight but I do not want to end up broke because of this house.

lookstraightahead

I bought an old house last year (not as old as yours, 1850s). It has a bit of damp etc but we can live in it without having to do extensive work. It's also relatively small, so we factored this in from a time and money perspective. We have time to save and to do it up bit by bit.

Unless you are absolutely passionate about this house and you are willing to throw all your time and all your money at it, please think carefully. It's unlikely to be a 'nice weekend project' of a chocolate box house, once the novelty wears off. I'm glad we bought ours,  but that's because it's really manageable, kids have left home, we have a small mortgage, and our working lives are flexible and local (and not stressful anymore). 

Statex2_2

What makes the decision to buy this house so difficult is that my son also wants to move with us as we intend to devide the house or add an annexe. He only wants to move to this area as his wifes family live close by and as he works from home for 4 days per week and it is accessible for his work.

We have been looking for a properry of this type for some time and in that area they are like gold dust. Although with better quality land. The land attached to this house is boggy due to water run off from nearby fields as the ground is lower than surrounding land. The next door propery is also for sale and been on the market for almost 12 months. we looked at that but it is overpriced and a barn conversion. 

One othe point of interest does anyone know why insurance varies so much. The two detatched properties are next to each other. I obtained quotes from the same insurance company, same value etc one property has 3 beds and a barn conversion, The other has 4 beds and a larger house. The price of the barn conversion was double that of the larger house.

There are other houses in the surrounding areas but out of our price range . I have always steered clear of historic houses as they are a money pit.

There are houses available in other areas but we would not be near our  grandchildren or other family. Therefore we have to chose to buy this one with all its faults and live next to our grandchildren or buy the house we want and be much further away from our family.

We are not wealthy the purchase of this house would be funded from the proceeds of a small inheritance and the sale of our present house. I would not have the funds to continually pump money into this house.

FreeBear

Statex2_2 said: The main problem is that the property used to be a mill and a stream runs close to the house.

I would imagine having a stream running close to the property is a serious flood risk - Measures can be put in place to mitigate some of the damage caused when the area floods, but insurance is going to be expensive.

Sarah1Mitty2

Statex2_2 said:

Made an offer on a property subject to survey. However long list of faults. I estimate over £55- 65k to put right. Wall tie failure, External render cement based, should have been lime render, which has caused extensive cracking in outer walls due to excess moisture and a  phosphate reaction .  Damp in rear walls due to paving above dpc etc. Wood boring beetle in loft timbers and exposed beams in kitchen. Excessive condensation in loft. Boiler obsolete and oil tank due to fail in near future. Septic tank may not comply with current regulations as near a stream. Windows  dg misted.

I should walk away but we really love the house. Not sure how to renegotiate.  Probably would not accept £65 off the asking price. I would be most grateful for any advice.

How many other offers do they have?

markin

Boggy land can be fixed, farmers do it all the time, You just lay perforated pipes and dig or improve ditches to lower the water table.

Emily_Joy

FreeBear said:

Statex2_2 said: The main problem is that the property used to be a mill and a stream runs close to the house.

I would imagine having a stream running close to the property is a serious flood risk - Measures can be put in place to mitigate some of the damage caused when the area floods, but insurance is going to be expensive.

We have a stream at the bottom of our garden. Saved our apple trees a few times during particularly dry summers when we were away and couldn't water them. However this stream wouldn't be able to sustain a windmill. Another stream in the town that had a windmill caused a flood some 20 years ago and made a few houses unmortgageable. This seemed a bit strange - the houses are from 1600s, listed and in conservation area, and one would expect this was not the first and only flood in 400 years... The houses that were flooded are nowhere close to where the old mill used to be. The house that used to be a part of the old mill has never flooded in living memory.

warwick2001

Statex2_2 said:

What makes the decision to buy this house so difficult is that my son also wants to move with us as we intend to devide the house or add an annexe. He only wants to move to this area as his wifes family live close by and as he works from home for 4 days per week and it is accessible for his work.

We have been looking for a properry of this type for some time and in that area they are like gold dust. Although with better quality land. The land attached to this house is boggy due to water run off from nearby fields as the ground is lower than surrounding land. The next door propery is also for sale and been on the market for almost 12 months. we looked at that but it is overpriced and a barn conversion. 

One othe point of interest does anyone know why insurance varies so much. The two detatched properties are next to each other. I obtained quotes from the same insurance company, same value etc one property has 3 beds and a barn conversion, The other has 4 beds and a larger house. The price of the barn conversion was double that of the larger house.

There are other houses in the surrounding areas but out of our price range . I have always steered clear of historic houses as they are a money pit.

There are houses available in other areas but we would not be near our  grandchildren or other family. Therefore we have to chose to buy this one with all its faults and live next to our grandchildren or buy the house we want and be much further away from our family.

We are not wealthy the purchase of this house would be funded from the proceeds of a small inheritance and the sale of our present house. I would not have the funds to continually pump money into this house.

The bold bit. I personally would be very, very wary of buying an olde house that could become listed in the near future (I think you referred to this earlier in the thread).

From what I understand, owning a listed building that needs major renovation can/will be hugely expensive.