Unexpected report of flooding on property info form

NervyBuyer

When I viewed the property the vendor said there had been a small puddle (1 inch) in the cellar for a couple of days a few years ago. They said they didn't consider it flooding and don't report it on their insurance. When the forms came through from their solicitor they had decided to be super-honest and tick 'yes' to 'has the property ever flooded', contrary to what I'd understood our shared view of flooding was. I assume I will now have to declare that to insurers (which doubles the quote), because there is now documented evidence stating flooding, and I'd also have to do the same when I come to sell. 

This is worrying me because of the cost of insurance going crazy anyway, and putting off future buyers with concerns about flooding increasing as climate changes increasingly take effect. In practice I was not concerned about (it was a groundwater rise not surface water ingress, the area is not considered a flood risk, and it was a one-off you'd have missed if you'd happened not to go into the cellar at that point).

Is this an overreaction on my part? There are a few of other minor issues with the property but they are starting to stack up to make the whole thing less attractive. Thanks!

MysteryMe

Have you actually obtained a quote, best go through a broker than online. You can then explain the circumstances of the "flooding"

NervyBuyer

Yes but only through online comparison sites.

user1977

What they’ve declared isn’t “flooding” by any normal definition.

NervyBuyer

Bump - any views on whether having 'flooding' declared on the property information form is much of a problem?

user1977

NervyBuyer said:

Bump - any views on whether having 'flooding' declared on the property information form is much of a problem?

Like I said, what they've declared is not actually "flooding". What do you think the problem would be?

NervyBuyer

user1977 said:

Like I said, what they've declared is not actually "flooding". What do you think the problem would be?

The fact that there is now a written record of the property having a history of 'flooding' which I would have to perpetuate (a tickbox 'yes' which affects insurance and may freak out future purchasers despite the actual circumstances).

user1977

NervyBuyer said:

user1977 said:

Like I said, what they've declared is not actually "flooding". What do you think the problem would be?

The fact that there is now a written record of the property having a history of 'flooding' which I would have to perpetuate (a tickbox 'yes' which affects insurance and may freak out future purchasers despite the actual circumstances).

You do not have to perpetuate their error.

Maahes

NervyBuyer said:

user1977 said:

Like I said, what they've declared is not actually "flooding". What do you think the problem would be?

The fact that there is now a written record of the property having a history of 'flooding' which I would have to perpetuate (a tickbox 'yes' which affects insurance and may freak out future purchasers despite the actual circumstances).

If they'd said there had been subsidence at the property, despite there not having been any, would you tell an insurer / buyer the property suffered from subsidence?

NervyBuyer

How would I know beyond what has been declared on the forms? Am I not bound to report on what has been stated on the forms I received? Otherwise wouldn't I be in the position of a) invalidating insurance by not declaring the true facts and b) being the seller in a future thread about 'seller lied on form about house having flooded in the past'?

It is now 'to my knowledge' that the property has flooded, because there is paperwork saying that. I can't deny that knowledge to insurers or future purchasers, surely?

The property is near a river which does flood and does cause issues in other parts of the town, but not here as the houses are raised well above it (and there is another street with big gardens between this one and the river), so people are sensitive about flooding in the general area (and I expect will get more so as flooding becomes more prevalent overall).

I'd be happy to hear otherwise because I don't see this as an issue for myself, but I don't understand how it can be OK to just make things up in paperwork if you choose not to think they are true.

user1977

NervyBuyer said:

I'd be happy to hear otherwise 

You don't sound happy! A damp cellar is not "flooding".