House I'm about to buy is flooded and "uninhabitable"

[TheAbsentGazelle]

So as those who may recognise my username will know, I've recently separated from my abusive ex DP so we put the house on the market and I've had an offer accepted on a new place. We've found a buyer for our house too now and everything was on track to complete by the middle of January.

I've just had a phone call from my solicitors today saying the house I'm about to buy has experienced "significant flooding" and is currently "uninhabitable". No further details yet due to the Christmas break but I believe it's needing all new electrics, a new central heating system, but work has now started on doing the necessary repairs.

The solicitors say I have 2 options.. carry on with my plan of buying this house although they don't have a date yet when it may be finished.. or pull out now and look for another house.

Am I crazy for continuing with this purchase? What if the flooding has affected other parts of the house - floorboards or walls which doesn't become apparent until later? Am I better to just cut my losses and look for something else? It wasn't exactly my dream home but options are extremely limited on the housing market where I am.

Does anyone have any advice on what to do? ☹️

It took over 2 months to get a “dry certificate” after a leaking pipe in our house, we moved out. Dehumidifiers running 247. It won’t be quick, however our insurance barely went up after, we were with LV, premium went up £20 after a £30k claim.

I would await more information before deciding

No - not until the missives are concluded. Even then there are circumstances where buyers can pull out or gazunder.

I think you'd also need to speak to your mortgage lender as this materially affects the asset that they are lending on?

Don't underestimate the months of drying out that may be needed (I've known this happen to two houses and they both took many months of drying out and then months of repairs.

Wrt to the other house that needs renovation - I'd definitely consider that one, especially if it's in a better area, and the money you may waste on waiting for the flooded house to be fixed / rent etc could be better spent on improving it.

If it has flooded due to a burst pipe or similar then crack on but make sure your solicitor puts suitable indemnities in place and that all work is done satisfactorily. You may need to pay a bit extra as this is beyond standard conveyancing.

If it has flooded due to a river bursting its bank, flood defences failing or surface water run off then run and don't look back. It will be a nightmare to insure, with massive excesses and it will happen repeatedly.

A friend had a burst pipe while she was on holiday.
She had to move to temp house for 6 months to allow the property to dry out before repairs could be attempted.
I'd pull out now.

It will take a very long time (at least a year, could be two) before the property is dried out, new floors plaster electric circuits etc. Your mortgage lender won't touch it with a bargepole until all that is done ( and maybe not then, now they know its a flood risk).

I think that's pessimistic. We had extensive floods here in 2000, hundreds of homes flooded when the river burst its banks. Most people's homes were all repaired, restored, refitted etc and the people back in in approx 6 months, those that took longer were largely due to a shortage of contractors, as there were widespread floods in other parts of the country shortly afterwards. My friends' repairs were held up for 4 weeks because they were waiting for plasterers.

I wouldn't be put off by it, but would insist on another survey. Would you be able to get a short-term let for a couple of months, OP?

Op do you know why the pipe burst?, considering we have just experienced a really cold spell was the heating turned off? If so this is indicative that the seller has little interest in safeguarding the property and will have the same attitude towards ensuring a quality restoration is completed.

Run run run

My guess is they'll end up selling for less than you are offering because of the damage

Only if the vendors tell the truth about the flooding next time they market the place. It would be only too easy to pretend they though flooding disclosure only applied to rivers, etc.

I wouldn't bother with indemnities either; they sound good, but in reality - as with so much concerning insurance - they can be full of holes and cost even more money to pursue

They were out of the country so yes can only assume the heating was off during the cold spell and subsequent thaw.

They were out of the country so yes can only assume the heating was off during the cold spell and subsequent thaw

Good luck to them expecting the insurers to pay for the damage if they left it unoccupied and unheated for any length of time - sounds to me like an ideal get-out for the company

Also another possible reason for them to do the repairs on the cheap

Take a minute and go and see the other one you have mentioned in the better area. Follow your instincts:-)

If you're certain you can pull out without any penalty (not sure on Scot law) then please, please do.
It will be months before the house is dry enough to repair properly.

I would absolutely not throw my money into this house like this. Absolutely no way!

Honestly? We are by noeans novices when it comes to house builds and renovations but I would pull out. You have enough going on in your life without this added hassle. As pps have said, potential long term issues and all the liability currently sits with the vendor. You buy it and it becomes your problem.

It's not actually flooding though. They would have to declare it as an insurance claim for a burst pipe. Can't lie about that.

The property should be insured and flood damage an insurance risk - assuming it is insured and the policy has not been invalidated (there are often clauses relating to leaving a property empty in excess of a certain diration) then the cost of repairs - and potentially alternative accomodation should be borne by the insurer.

There is certainly room for negotiation here should you wish to go ahead. You absolutely should be able to see the property yourself and have your own contractors assess the damage / what is required to fix.

Since it is burst pipe I would go for it, but get an updated survey when the work is completed.

Pull out & be thankful it happened before you completed!

This ^

I believe that if they rush to complete repairs at this time of the year, without sufficient drying time, it will be a nightmare for you... Pull out!

It would be the height of foolishness to buybthis house, IF you can still get a mortgage and insurance on it the costs are likely to be high.

Get hunting now for something else.

As mad as it sounds it is a stroke of luck as it could have flooded after you've not long moved in.

Back out, water gets in everywhere and destroys more then what the eye can see, could also leave a damp smell. Also in the future if flooding repeats, getting in tradesmen and buying materials will be an inflated expense also insurance claims is something you what to avoid. Short term stress for long term gain is worth it.

Just replying from the other side

We had an offer accepted on a house we are selling and a few days ago pipe valve burst in loft (away for 2 nights so unnoticed)

It's an absolute nightmare - every carpet ruined, every floor wet, some ceilings collapsed, kitchen wrecked, water running through electrics, damp etc.

It's insured, but going to take months and we will lose a lot by sale not going through. I'm gutted, panicked, upset etc.
it's just awful

Saying that - I would not blame my buyer one bit for pulling out (giving him the option of waiting for full refurb/new kitchen etc. - waiting to hear)

Do what you need to do
All the best

Pull out now. Remember you san pull out in Scotland as long as the missives are not completed. A lot of people think you can’t but you can.

Friends of mine have just moved back into their house after a significant flood caused by a leak. It's been awful for them, the work took 10months, but now they're essentially moving into a brand new house.

If you can have the refurbishment without the upheaval...

You have enough going on in your life without this added hassle

Absolutely this.

Get your deposit in a decent account & rent for a bit to catch your breath.