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Panic room

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Selling a house that has a hidden panic room. Fairly common in this part the country. At what stage  during the conveyancing procress do you let your potential buyers know about this room?
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Comments

  • artyboy
    artyboy Posts: 1,583 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    "This part of the country" being Chelsea, Knightsbridge or Hampstead possibly...?

    It's actually a very interesting question, but assuming this is a property with a fairly substantial valuation, are you selling it through Savills or one of the other higher end agencies - because I'd have thought this is something they would have some experience of managing...?
  • eddddy
    eddddy Posts: 17,944 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper

    Why are you asking the question? 

    Is it because you think that will put some people off?

    If so, tell them at them at the outset - rather than giving them a nasty surprise part way through the conveyancing process - which might cause them to walk away. (And wasting everyone's time and money.)


    Alternatively, if you think it will make your house more appealing to some people - again, tell them at the outset. Then they might choose your house instead of another house without a panic room.

  • Martico
    Martico Posts: 1,167 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    I presume that if you had a panic room, it's something you'd rather wasn't public knowledge. So there's a bit of a dilemma there. I get it, it's an interesting point, but I have no experience or answers
  • silvercar
    silvercar Posts: 49,475 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Name Dropper
    edited 4 February 2024 at 11:08PM
    I’d keep quiet unless asked. If a buyer considers it important they would ask. My sellers didn’t tell us about the hidden safe until the week before completion.
    I'm a Forum Ambassador on the housing, mortgages & student money saving boards. I volunteer to help get your forum questions answered and keep the forum running smoothly. Forum Ambassadors are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an illegal or inappropriate post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.
  • user1977
    user1977 Posts: 17,681 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 4 February 2024 at 11:12PM
    If they don't get shown it while viewing (I've no idea whether it's common to keep such things stumm during viewings...isn't it a potential selling point?) then I don't see any requirement to bring it up later. Unless it's an alteration which would have required consents.
  • Surely it would be shown on the agents floor plan and be included in the total overall property square metre measurement, and also be apparent during viewings.

  • silvercar
    silvercar Posts: 49,475 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Name Dropper
    Surely it would be shown on the agents floor plan and be included in the total overall property square metre measurement, and also be apparent during viewings.

    I was imagining it hidden behind a bookcase or similar.
    I'm a Forum Ambassador on the housing, mortgages & student money saving boards. I volunteer to help get your forum questions answered and keep the forum running smoothly. Forum Ambassadors are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an illegal or inappropriate post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.
  • HampshireH
    HampshireH Posts: 4,917 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Surely it would be shown on the agents floor plan and be included in the total overall property square metre measurement, and also be apparent during viewings.

    Anyone could go and do a viewing to scout out the place prior to robbing it. Im not sure I'd be showing it off on a viewing or floorplan that stays online for ever.

    (BUT op is it already on a previous floorplan on rightmost for example as they do hold old sale info)

    Think I'd be more inclined to disclose once an offer is in or things have started moving. Then disclose if asked.


  • gwynlas
    gwynlas Posts: 2,215 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    If the EA believes it to be a selling point they can let potential purchasers know. otherwise it can just be regarded as a storage room unless it is obviously set up with video surveillance, its own air supply etc  etc like a film set.
  • ProDave
    ProDave Posts: 3,785 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Stop calling it a "panic room"  Call it a store room or safe room and all your concerns will go away.

    I would be worried just what sort of neigbourhood I was moving to if the house needed a "panic room"

    Or a historic Priest Hole?
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