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Buyer wants us to pay for electric survey before exchange

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loveka
loveka Posts: 535 Forumite
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in House buying, renting & selling
I thought it was up to the buyer to pay for this?

It has been requested because her survey found that 1 light fitting is not unearthed. I don't know if the surveyor tested any others.

Thanks.

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  • Surrey_EA
    Surrey_EA Posts: 2,042 Forumite
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    Your buyer can ask you to pay for it, and it's up to you to decide whether you wish to or not. If you do not want to pay for it then the buyer needs to decide whether they wish to pay for it themselves or proceed without an electrical test.

    Almost all surveys will recommend having an electrical inspection of some kind, as surveyors are not trained electricians, and cannot verify the condition of the electrics.
  • tykesi
    tykesi Posts: 2,061 Forumite
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    loveka wrote: »
    I thought it was up to the buyer to pay for this?

    It has been requested because her survey found that 1 light fitting is not unearthed. I don't know if the surveyor tested any others.

    Thanks.

    So it is earthed then?
  • kingstreet
    kingstreet Posts: 38,788 Forumite
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    If you pay for it, or at least agree to go halves, you can get a copy of the report for other potential buyers to use, just in case the current buyers pull-out.
    I am a mortgage broker. You should note that this site doesn't check my status as a Mortgage Adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice. Please do not send PMs asking for one-to-one-advice, or representation.
  • stator
    stator Posts: 7,441 Forumite
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    Tell the buyer to pay for it themselves.
    If you pay for it they will ask you to pay for something else.
    Changing the world, one sarcastic comment at a time.
  • loveka
    loveka Posts: 535 Forumite
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    tykesi wrote: »
    So it is earthed then?

    No, it's not earthed. Aurocorrect.
  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
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    I'm surprised their surveyor went as far as checking the lightfitting for an earth. Normally they only comment on electrical defects if something is obviously hanging off the wall etc.
  • n217970
    n217970 Posts: 338 Forumite
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    How has this surveyor come to the conclusion the fitting is unearthed? Has he removed the fitting from the ceiling/wall and checked the wiring? Besides if the fitting is double insulated (if it is modernish it probably is) then an earth is not required.

    Let the buyer know you are happy for them to have the electrics surveyed at their cost.

    If you do pay for it, employ your own surveyor, not the one they want.
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
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    davidmcn wrote: »
    I'm surprised their surveyor went as far as checking the lightfitting for an earth. Normally they only comment on electrical defects if something is obviously hanging off the wall etc.

    Indeed. Surveyors are not electricians and don't test electrics. Have you actually seen the report? The buyer might just be saying the survey said this in order to demand you pay for an electrical inspection..........

    Whatever, either

    * offer to pay half, if you think the report might be useful to you (eg for a subsequent buyer), or

    * offer to allow access for an electrician the buyer instructs/pays for himself.
  • Clutterfree
    Clutterfree Posts: 3,678 Forumite
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    Also, unless the house has recently been rewired then it is highly unlikely to conform to current regulations.
    Electrical regulations change all the time.
    We sold our home 8 months ago and I asked my electrician husband to do an electrical certificate. He refused because, even though the electrics were perfectly safe, they would not conform to current regulations and would probably panic any potential buyers.
    :heart: Ageing is a privilege not everyone gets.
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