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Property/DIY

Who has tj right to see hpuse survey or electrical report results?

12 replies

flownthecoopkiwi · 08/12/2016 10:13

Our buyer demanded we provide and pay for a chimney sweep and check, a boiler service and gas safety cert and a electrics check (getting an eicr) done.

The chimney and boiler check are going to be pretty straightforward - are they safe?

But the electrics.... it's a 1930's with a new box and some new work done. I understand they have three codes they use for a multitude of items.

Since we are paying for it, do we have to share the entire report or can we just say nothing was found to be code 1 (causing death)?

We dropped our price 10K, spending £400 on these checks, she refuses to complete till end of Jan so if there are issues that could need work down the line we are not warmly disposed to negotiate on the price at all.

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namechangedtoday15 · 08/12/2016 10:18

I think if you have already agreed to obtain the report, then she'll want to see the report once its finalised. If you try to relay the findings to her, rather than give her a copy, she'll probably think you're hiding something. I think most people would assume you'd pass on the report if everything was OK.

But in answer to your question, you don't have to do anything - I'd have refused to get the reports in the first place (unless you're desperate to sell) and just provided her with the electrical certificates for the work you've had done. But it comes down to negotiation - if you provide the reports, then say you're doing so on the basis that everything is safe (assuming it shows that) and if she wants to improve / update anything, then she has the £10k she knocked off the purchase price to do it.

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flownthecoopkiwi · 08/12/2016 10:22

Due to two different but annoying situations we don't have electrical completion certificates.

We are also getting the message that she's only really worried about the electrics in the extension.

We thought we were desperate to sell, but a large extension looks appealing at the moment.

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namechangedtoday15 · 08/12/2016 10:41

That's slightly different then because electrical certificates have been mandatory for a number of years and I (as a buyer) would also question your inability to provide them. The last thing a buyer wants is a house with faulty electrics - its dangerous. So on that particular issue, given you can't provide her with the certificates, then yes, I think you should provide her with the report. That's not an unreasonable request on her part.

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specialsubject · 08/12/2016 12:22

pity you caved in as in England/Wales it is BUYERS that pay for reports.

I'd also expect a price drop just before exchange with this track record. In your shoes I would say that she gets the reports if she exchanges at the agreed price the next day, or it goes back on the market.

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Ilikedogs · 08/12/2016 19:29

We had similar re electrics although we hadnt given a price drop but they were not the highest offer by about £5k .

We agreed to the electric cert because we did have a problem with the electrics (which we fixed) but felt it was better to have the electrician who had done the job on the extension to do the certificate. he was happy to talk me through it so I fully understood the report.

The final report was handed over to the buyers in full with a brief explanation from the electrician of what and how things had been fixed and how they could easily remedy a couple other small issues (along with a note from me to the estate agents that we would not accept any further negotiation on price if the buyer asked). However, we were fairly fed up and actually willing to let the sale fall through.

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Coughingchildren5 · 08/12/2016 21:23

You shouldn't have paid for it but as you have done so it seems a bit pointless to now refuse to let them read the report!

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UnconventionalWarfare · 11/12/2016 06:01

If you dont let them see the report they will think you have something to hide as it stands a code 1 or 2 will leave you with an unsatisfactory report so any of those discovered will have to be resolved. Just be wary when engaging the Electrician as some will try and exploit the reports for profit and others just do not possess the depth of knowledge required to carry out a EICR.

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NiceFalafels · 11/12/2016 06:17

Why not list all the facts? They probably just want confirmation about how dangerous the electrics are and how urgent an update is. You can just say something like 'as you already know the electrics can't be in category x because they weren't installed after x date. They are in category 2 because ...

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NiceFalafels · 11/12/2016 06:18

Keep the original and take a photocopy just in case the sale falls through

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NiceFalafels · 11/12/2016 06:21

When they offered on the house they could see the 1930's electrics were needing work. They may have already taken this into consideration when initially offering. They are unlikely to be surprised by the outcome of the electrics check.

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bibbitybobbityyhat · 11/12/2016 06:32

I agree that as you can't provide certificates for the work you've had done, your buyer is quite right to proceed with caution. So I would swallow the cost of the EICR, which shouldn't be more than £200 ish, to get the sale through.

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mirokarikovo · 11/12/2016 06:52

They should pay for the report anyway. The person who pays for the report is the "customer". If you pay for the report and it some back saying the electrics are fine, and then they buy the house and subsequently there is a terrible accident - the electrician who failed to spot the fault has no contract with them and can't be sued. They should always be the payer and the customer for all professional reports that may affect the purchase.

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