We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Can we be sued for not declaring something
housebuyer7
Posts: 206 Forumite
Hello,
We have just accepted an offer on our house from a buyer who wants to do a loft conversion on our house. We have not told her that it is not possible to do this with building regs as the height of the loft is too small. To do it would mean raising the roof (not feasible as midterrace in conservation area), or lowering all the first floor ceilings! If she finds out later down the line we knew this info and did not tell her, could anything come from this?
We also bought the property hoping to do a conversion. When the time came we couldn’t afford it but no one told us the truth when buying the property and the survey didn’t pick it up.
We have just accepted an offer on our house from a buyer who wants to do a loft conversion on our house. We have not told her that it is not possible to do this with building regs as the height of the loft is too small. To do it would mean raising the roof (not feasible as midterrace in conservation area), or lowering all the first floor ceilings! If she finds out later down the line we knew this info and did not tell her, could anything come from this?
We also bought the property hoping to do a conversion. When the time came we couldn’t afford it but no one told us the truth when buying the property and the survey didn’t pick it up.
0
Comments
-
No, that is something that the buyer needs to ascertain themselves. It isn't your responsibility to point it out to them.4
-
No don't tell them.0
-
It's not your job to give advice to buyers about their proposed alterations. But even if you did, I can't see that you'd be liable for it.0
-
She should make her intentions clear to her surveyor. Don't get involved in her plans.2
-
Morality goes out the window when he comes to property.
2 -
No it's called being smartThorOdinson said:Morality goes out the window when he comes to property.1 -
Morality should not go out of the window when it comes to property, but it has always been the case of Caveat Emptor ("Buyer beware") with property. There are fewer legal protections for ordinary people when buying a house because there is some assumption that you will take advice from solicitors and other professionals, including builders if you want to undertake a major development.Grizebeck said:
No it's called being smartThorOdinson said:Morality goes out the window when he comes to property.
If you know the property has subsidence you must tell the vendor. If you know that you know the purchaser wants to do a loft conversion and you think that the property cannot achieve building regulations for this, you should say something to them. But what you say is "We looked at doing a loft conversion and the builder we wanted to use couldn't see how to obtain building regulations approval". You are not saying that it is not possible, but you are alerting the purchaser to the fact that it might not be straightforward. Before you mention this you need to consider whether you will allow the prospective buyer time to investigate - if time is of the essence, you need to make it clear to them that you will not wait for them and if another buyer comes along who doesn't want to develop it, you will sell to them. You should treat people how you would want to be treated yourself.
The comments I post are my personal opinion. While I try to check everything is correct before posting, I can and do make mistakes, so always try to check official information sources before relying on my posts.7 -
why would you let someone buy your house knowing it is completely unsuitable for their needs?7
-
errr.... because you wanna sell it??? (shock)km1500 said:why would you let someone buy your house knowing it is completely unsuitable for their needs?
it is their problem if they don't do the due dilligence before they purchase. if you want to sell your house for a good price, you only tell the buyer what you are asked.2 -
My house isn’t suitable for a loft conversion in my opinion, next door had one done and it certainly wouldn’t suit me. They are happy with it though. So it’s not really for you to judge what someone else’s plans might be. If they ask a direct question you should tell the truth, but if they are really keen to convert the loft it’s not really your call.housebuyer7 said:Hello,
We have just accepted an offer on our house from a buyer who wants to do a loft conversion on our house. We have not told her that it is not possible to do this with building regs as the height of the loft is too small. To do it would mean raising the roof (not feasible as midterrace in conservation area), or lowering all the first floor ceilings! If she finds out later down the line we knew this info and did not tell her, could anything come from this?
We also bought the property hoping to do a conversion. When the time came we couldn’t afford it but no one told us the truth when buying the property and the survey didn’t pick it up.2
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 352.1K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.2K Spending & Discounts
- 245.1K Work, Benefits & Business
- 600.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.4K Life & Family
- 258.9K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards