Asbestos found in house I'm buying as well as other problems

tinytunes

The vendor reluctantly agreed to do tests for asbestos. He bought self tests and one of them was positive, the electrical fuse board. 
I have read a lot and apparently if it isn't disturbed it is OK. The fuse box is over 70 yrs old (one the same is being sold on ebay as an antique) so it will need changing. I called the energy provider for the property ans they said they wouldn't remove it. 
I suspect there may be more asbestos but the vendor is refusing to have an inspection done, even at my cost. 
There have been other issues, there was a gas leak so he has removed thr fire from thr sale and will take it off the wall but that will leave a fire surround and a hole and I'll lose a source of heat. The gas hob was capped but he has had that sorted now but doesn't have a certificate to say the work has been done as his neighbour did it, he is a gas engineer but I'd like proof it's been done properly. The house buyers survey said the conservatory has no lead attached to it and the house and that it is needed, it also said there is the biggest wasp nest they have ever seen in the loft, there were iver 100 dead wasps in the house and the loft was swarming. Vendor has had the house treated but not the nest removed.

I'm really wondering if these things are all minor and I'm making a big deal out of it or if I should just pull out.

Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thank you

user1977

Wasps aren't going to be there by the time you complete, and they don't reuse nests. So at worst you'll have a disused nest and some dead wasps to hoover up. It isn't an issue.

The fusebox needing replaced (and presumably rewiring elsewhere?) is more important than the fact it contains a bit of asbestos. And no, why would the energy provider replace it? It isn't their fusebox (assuming you do actually mean the consumer unit and not something on their side of the meter).

I would guess conservatory lead (are we talking about flashing?) is a relatively cheap fix.

If you want reassurance about the gas, get your own person in to check (and I see from your last thread you've already been advised to do that).

Why do you want to pull out?

spoovy

We had a bunch of similar issues when we bought our 1960s house -- asbestos, old fuseboard/consumer unit, poor wiring, repointing needed etc. Was a bit of a shock when we read about it all on the survey report.
But, we really liked the house and we were happy with the price so we went ahead. Nearly two years on and we couldn't be happier. All these "issues" are totally solvable by spending a bit of cash or having a crack at it myself, and it's my house so I'm happy to do both. You can also just postpone quite a lot, you don't have to solve every little problem straight away.

Ozzig

Depending on how much you want the house, everything can be resolved, but they all cost money.

Personally, I'd be looking at a rewire and getting all the gas-related stuff replaced by qualified professionals, plus the wasp nest.

In fact, I'd probably get paranoid and get it all stripped back to brick and start again, our last house ended up that way as each small job I started ended up with a discovery of yet another incompetent DIY by the previous owners.

timehastoldme

Sounds like a nightmare vendor and there's almost certainly stuff he's hidden or bodged. 

babyblade41

sounds like a fixer upper, so there will be a lot to do, nothing on that list would put me off as long as the price reflected condition. 

If you aren't a competent DIYer then it could be costly but anything to do with gas and electric should be done by professionals.. Budget for a complete rewire, double it and add a bit more and good to go

sheramber

user1977 said:

Wasps aren't going to be there by the time you complete, and they don't reuse nests. So at worst you'll have a disused nest and some dead wasps to hoover up. It isn't an issue.

The fusebox needing replaced (and presumably rewiring elsewhere?) is more important than the fact it contains a bit of asbestos. And no, why would the energy provider replace it? It isn't their fusebox (assuming you do actually mean the consumer unit and not something on their side of the meter).

I would guess conservatory lead (are we talking about flashing?) is a relatively cheap fix.

If you want reassurance about the gas, get your own person in to check (and I see from your last thread you've already been advised to do that).

Why do you want to pull out?

They may not use the same nest but they do return to the same place.

When the guy dealt with the wasp nest in my mother's loft he found a old nest as well.

user1977

sheramber said:

user1977 said:

Wasps aren't going to be there by the time you complete, and they don't reuse nests. So at worst you'll have a disused nest and some dead wasps to hoover up. It isn't an issue.

The fusebox needing replaced (and presumably rewiring elsewhere?) is more important than the fact it contains a bit of asbestos. And no, why would the energy provider replace it? It isn't their fusebox (assuming you do actually mean the consumer unit and not something on their side of the meter).

I would guess conservatory lead (are we talking about flashing?) is a relatively cheap fix.

If you want reassurance about the gas, get your own person in to check (and I see from your last thread you've already been advised to do that).

Why do you want to pull out?

They may not use the same nest but they do return to the same place.

Yes, they might. But it's hardly a reason to pull out of a purchase!

FreeBear

tinytunes said: The vendor reluctantly agreed to do tests for asbestos. He bought self tests and one of them was positive, the electrical fuse board. 
I have read a lot and apparently if it isn't disturbed it is OK. The fuse box is over 70 yrs old (one the same is being sold on ebay as an antique) so it will need changing. I called the energy provider for the property ans they said they wouldn't remove it.

A 70 year old fuse board could mean that there is still vulcanised rubber insulated cables in use around the house - Budget for a complete rewire, which would include replacing the old fuse board. I would regard this as part of buying an older property. Same for flashing.. The only thing that would be of concern would be the undocumented work on gas appliances. Without the proper paperwork in hand, you only have the vendors word that the neighbour did the work and he/she is Gas Safe registered.

Bigphil1474

OP, yes, definitely get the gas checked if you do purchase. As always, it's all about price. If you are at the top of your budget and can't afford to get these things done, then offer less or walk away. If you have the money, they aren't that expensive issues to sort.

Do you mean the board the consumer unit is fixed to contains asbestos? As long as you tell the electrician, it can be removed fairly easily and safely. Gas work should have been done by a Gas Safety Registered engineer and paperwork produced. His neighbour might be one, but should be providing the paperwork - to be fair, it would be handy to have a gas engineer neighbour if he is good! When we sold my dads house earlier this year we got a gas safety certificate and electrical safety report as the purchasers requested it - they aren't expensive.

tinytunes

Thank you everyone, we are paying for a full asbestos check today. 
Just to clarify, we did not expect the energy provider to change the fuse box or sort the asbestos board that the box sits on, we were told by the vendor, in a very stroppy email, that he won't do anything and we need to contact the energy provider.
We have requested gas and electric safety certificates and are prepared to pay for them but the vendor has refused and said "due to the age of the house the gas and electrics will not comply to safety regulations".  
We will see what this asbestos check reveals today and then tackle the safety certificates again.
The vendor is selling the house as his mother passed away, I understand he will not want to do anything he doesn't have to but we really like the house and just want to make sure it is safe.