Not on mains water selling problem

Mundfords

My cottage is over 130 years old. Bought as many properties from ministry of defence over 25years ago 3 previous owners before me. I had a mortgage to buy & no issues. I have come to sell & there solicitors have advised then not to buy as its services by seven Trent services bore hole on mod land. None of us ever pay water & never have. 

I have a contract with mod agreeing to supply water but the risk apparently is for the buyer that mod could turn the supply off as I’m 3 miles from Anglian water to connect they told me my house is not sellable ? Why is it happening now no issues came up when I bought or my 2 neighbours. Any help advice would be appreciated?

bobster2

Here is some guidance for buyers on buying a property supplied via a borehole...

https://www.hayesandstorr.co.uk/buying-a-property-with-a-bore-hole-heres-what-you-need-to-know/

Grumpy_chap

Mundfords said:

My cottage is over 130 years old. Bought as many properties from ministry of defence over 25years ago 3 previous owners before me. I had a mortgage to buy & no issues. I have come to sell & there solicitors have advised then not to buy as its services by seven Trent services bore hole on mod land. None of us ever pay water & never have. 

I have a contract with mod agreeing to supply water but the risk apparently is for the buyer that mod could turn the supply off as I’m 3 miles from Anglian water to connect they told me my house is not sellable ? Why is it happening now no issues came up when I bought or my 2 neighbours. Any help advice would be appreciated?

The MoD operate "inset" water companies across a large proportion of their estate.  In the main, the MoD outsource the management and operation of these "inset" companies to external providers, such as Severn Trent Services, as operating utility services is not the expertise of the MoD.  Some areas, power services are on a similar basis.

The "inset" water companies have the same rights, obligations, regulations and responsibilities as the statutory water providers in terms of water supply (but less power in terms of land access).  The "inset" water companies cannot simply turn off the water supply or cease to operate the borehole, treatment, and distribution of the service.

Are you providing the correct information about utility supply when returning the property information form?

ReadingTim

Sounds like a risk-averse solicitor advising an easily spooked client: the water supply is a slightly more unusual arrangement than a mains supply but as you and your predecessors have illustrated, no barrier to purchase.  You just need to communicate this to the buyer, suggesting they may wish to ignore /overrule their solicitor on this one.  

However, they may not do this, so your pool of potential buyers could be a little smaller and the prices they offer a little lower as a result - when you bought the place was it a little bit cheaper than other non-MoD properties?  If so, this may be the reason why...

Mundfords

Thank you all for your comments.
when I bought my property documents said my cottage was on mains water & the local search came back seven Trent are provider. Which seven do look after any leaks. Should I put the same then when I sell?

Mundfords

No the house was not any cheaper & I got a mortgage on it no problem but I did go back to my solicitors & ask why they didn’t find any issues. They told me that the property form said it was on mains. And still told think there’s an issue anyway as alot if properties in our area are supplied mid water here

Grumpy_chap

Mundfords said:

Thank you all for your comments.
when I bought my property documents said my cottage was on mains water & the local search came back seven Trent are provider. Which seven do look after any leaks. Should I put the same then when I sell?

What is odd is that you are not paying for water service.  Do you pay for waste water service?  Does that charge include the supply?  (It is more common the other way round - i.e. pay for water and waste water included, but could be structured that way.)  In most cases, the inset companies charge householders directly for water supply.

Why did the issue ever get mentioned that the house was on borehole water supply?  Why did being on borehole become a concern?  A very high proportion of mains water services are supplied from borehole.

Mundfords

No definitely don’t get charged for water or waste. I actually asked mid for an agreement so I could prove to my seller I had some sort of right & give some reassurance to my buyer that they wouldn’t turn the water supply off to the cottage. The bore hole knowledge came from hay agreement but started still the solicitors said it wasn’t good enough.? I think I need a really good solicitor that deals with this type of work not a estate agents that seemed very young & inexperienced? 

Any suggestions?

Grizebeck

Have they pulled out 

Mundfords

Yes they pulled out

EssexHebridean

Ask your solicitor to ensure that the property information form gives your water company account number for future buyers - this can then be input into the drainage and water search when it is done, meaning  that future buyers will hopefully not be mislead. How have you competed that section of the form currently? I can’t recall what the other options are but I think that your supply does “feel” like mains water, to me.