Buying a probate property

Starpiggys

We are in the process of buying a probate property.

The sellers haven't answered all the questions on the TA6 and TA10 forms.

We have received a letter from their solicitors stating that the buyer purchases the property as seen and no guarantees/warranties can be implied.

The utilities gas, electric and water have been turned off. I don't know how this was done or for how long.

We have asked the sellers to reconnect the utilities so we can get qualified tradespeople to go in and check them. And after this is done we will then book for our survey.

Has anyone else had this happened to them regarding trying to get the utilities turned on.

Many Thanks for any replies

user1977

They might agree to it, they might not - sometimes there is reluctance in case ageing systems don't enjoy the very act of being turned off and on again, and they end up provoking a problem. Or they don't trust your tradespeople, and it ends up being a faff with trying to get everybody's people turning up at the same time. You are probably best just to make your best guess about what condition everything is in based on apparent age etc.

Ms_Chocaholic

We purchased a probate property and, like you, the late owner's daughter couldn't answer some of the questions but all was okay.

Regarding the utilities being turned off, I'm sure ive read somewhere that you have to pay for the gas to be reconnected.

Edited to add: Just googled re re-connecting gas supply and the minimum cost for reconnection is between £200-£700 so the sellers haven't done you any favours by disconnecting.

Just re-read your post, has the gas been turned off or disconnected?

user1977

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82122450#Comment_82122450

They'll just mean everything is turned off at the meters for safety, they're very unlikely to mean cut off for non-payment.

WIAWSNB

For insurance purposes, it is common for unoccupied homes like this to either be kept heated, or else to be shut down and drained. Yours appears to be the latter. For this, the property should really have been kept well ventilated, and it should be pretty obvious if there are any issues from this not having been done - musty damp smells, mould in corners, etc. Are there?

Someone - presumably acting for the estate's executor - did arrange this, so they should know what was done.

As for having these systems tested, that's their call to agree. Tbh, you should get a very good idea of the CH condition from a visual - how old the boiler, rads, pipework are, signs of leaks, type of controller (ancient analogue or Smart) etc.

Ditto the electrics from a look at the CU and sockets.

Obviously not remotely conclusive, but it should give an overview of the age and condition, and likelihood of updates being required.

If you need to engage a plumber or sparky after moving in, then that's just what needs doing. I presume this house is notably cheaper than it would otherwise be?

I helped an executor 'break in' to a property a year ago, and it was clear from the near immoveable pile of mail behind the door that the house hadn't been visited in a year. Leccy was still on, but water had been turned off and boiler shut down. Some musty smell, but not excessive, and no mould. A glance showed the boiler was a recent replacement, so even tho it was off, I could tell the executor the house had no significant issues there. If it didn't work, then a GS would likely sort it very quickly at little cost. But if the boiler had been a 10+ year old model, then I'd have suggested factoring in a new boiler within 5 years, or sooner, at a £ew k. After checking for leaks and system pressure, it fired up and ran as expected.

Are you having a survey? If so, they should be able to report on the visual clues, even if 'not able to test'. If the executor won't allow the services back on at your house, take some photos of the boiler, rads, controls, CU, sockets, switches, etc, and post them on here - the clues might be obvious 😜