Problem in my property just before sale

Tyler_Durden_UK

eddddy said:

Tyler_Durden_UK said:

... or contact my insurance company and get them to fix it, 

Would that be economic? There'll be an excess to pay, plus increased insurance premiums for the next few years - as you'd have to declare the claim to the insurers of your new house.

...And might your insurer say that the leak is due to the age of the roof and/or wear and tear - and therefore refuse the claim?  You mentioned a previous leak, so it sounds like the roof might not be in good condition.



And if you contact the insurer, it will probably be recorded as "an incident which might or might not give rise to a claim" - even if you don't actually claim, or if you claim and the claim is refused. And that might result in higher premiums in future years.

So maybe don't contact your insurers unless you are pretty sure you want to claim, and you think it's likely that the damage is covered by your policy.

Good point, it's a 20yr old conservatory 

EssexHebridean

Please do the decent thing and get it sorted - particularly if your Dad can deal with it - but do at least mention it to the buyers - they could put electrical equipment in that conservatory without knowing about the problem with I h could then get water dripping into it… 

just imagine if you got to your new house and found something wrong that clearly the buyers must have known about - will you be pleased at not having been told? Treat your buyers as you hope for your sellers to treat you! 

Dustyevsky

EssexHebridean said:

Please do the decent thing and get it sorted....just imagine if you got to your new house and found something wrong that clearly the buyers must have known about - will you be pleased at not having been told? Treat your buyers as you hope for your sellers to treat you! 

I'm imagining 16 years ago, when we moved into this property. If a leaking conservatory roof was all we'd found 'wrong,' that would have been wonderful, but then we paid an appropriate price, so the inconveniences were understandable, and expected.

With that in mind, I wouldn't pass judgement here without being in full possession of all the facts. One, that the conservatory is 20 years old, should tell us and the buyer it's nearing the end of its likely life without some major replacements or repairs. A lot of conservatories, cheap, or installed badly, certainly don't make it that far. There are no grounds for comeback, even against the purchaser's surveyor. 

OP, try to sort an economic fix before completion and tell the incoming owners what's transpired, but don't endanger exchange or commit yourself to any panic spending on this. 

Tyler_Durden_UK

EssexHebridean said:

Please do the decent thing and get it sorted - particularly if your Dad can deal with it - but do at least mention it to the buyers - they could put electrical equipment in that conservatory without knowing about the problem with I h could then get water dripping into it… 

just imagine if you got to your new house and found something wrong that clearly the buyers must have known about - will you be pleased at not having been told? Treat your buyers as you hope for your sellers to treat you! 

My Dad is going to take a look and get a fix in place 

silvercar

We bought our current house and the sellers had told us there is a slight drip, in heavy rain from only one direction. Turned out the merest drizzle resulted in leaks in 3 places.

Dustyevsky

silvercar said:

We bought our current house and the sellers had told us there is a slight drip, in heavy rain from only one direction. Turned out the merest drizzle resulted in leaks in 3 places.

We have a drip at present. It's not a leak. The water comes from condensation on a substantial aluminium box gutter, now much colder than the surrounding air, hidden behind the plastic eves. It happens every year and we live with it. Life's too short! 

EssexHebridean

Tyler_Durden_UK said:

EssexHebridean said:

Please do the decent thing and get it sorted - particularly if your Dad can deal with it - but do at least mention it to the buyers - they could put electrical equipment in that conservatory without knowing about the problem with I h could then get water dripping into it… 

just imagine if you got to your new house and found something wrong that clearly the buyers must have known about - will you be pleased at not having been told? Treat your buyers as you hope for your sellers to treat you! 

My Dad is going to take a look and get a fix in place 

Great stuff - that sounds like the right steps.