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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to have reduced my offer?

166 replies

Ididthattoo · 04/03/2016 12:08

My husband and I have been looking for a house for a very long time. We found one nice house and we made an offer on it (which was accepted).

However, we found out that there is a small electricity substation behind the garden fence and there might be knotweed too. The area behind the garden is a green footpath that leads to a small park.

We had the emf emissions measured from the substation and they are normal. However, the surveyor said that it might affects saleability.

I am very anxious and haven't slept because of these issues. My husband says there are risks everywhere and we should just go ahead.

So, I have decided to offer about 7% less than what we originally offered in order to take into account of the increased risk. I would have just pulled out but the house is really nice and we are tired of looking.

What is your opinion on this? Am I being unreasonable? Am I mad in seeing risks everywhere or do you think there is a real problem?

I would really appreciate your views, I don't know what to think any more.

Thanks.

OP posts:

Justaboy · 04/03/2016 12:54

LOL!, there is more EMF field around your head from your PC and house wiring but you can get tinfoil beenie hats for that problem! yes some sites do sell 'em;!.

As to the Knotweed it can be treated and dealt with, specialist firms are around who do that every day it might be more a cost factor but leave that poor substation out of it. Course you can use it as a haggling point but if the property market is that good around your way i think being gazumped is a greater worry!.

ReallyTired · 04/03/2016 13:00

Property is soaring in value in many parts of the country. Its a seller's market. If you ask for a significant reduction your sellers might pull out. No sale no fee conveyancers mean that sellers are not out of pocket if you have reduced your offer.

Original poster

Ididthattoo · 04/03/2016 13:03

I will keep you updated and let you know if they accept (probably not) and how much the house will sell in the end to somebody else.

I honestly don't think they will get asking price again once these issues are known to the next buyer

OP posts:

ArcheryAnnie · 04/03/2016 13:04

OP, if you made an offer without even noticing the substation, then I think the sellability is not an issue.

OurBlanche · 04/03/2016 13:05

If knotweed is known to be there by the council then they will be dealing with it, they have no choice, it is a reportable menace and they have a legal obligation. If it grows into your garden they will have to deal with that too, as long as you tell them about it. So, long term that doesn't sound as though it is an issue.

Substation, well if you didn't notice it it isn't a blot or blight, is it? Same for the footpath.

So, why don't you like the house, really? Is there something else that is troubling you, something less logical, perhaps?

Chewbecca · 04/03/2016 13:10

There's sub stations every couple of hundred yards round here so every house is going to be affected to some degree. That wouldn't bother me. The knotweed would though & if it really is there, I would want to reduce by enough to remove.

The bigger issue for though is do you actually want the house? It sounds like you don't, I don't think getting it at a lower price reduces the risks or concerns.

Original poster

Ididthattoo · 04/03/2016 13:11

I noticed the substation (you can't really miss it if you go around the house) but I didn't know it had health implications.

I have never before seen a house near a substation so I never researched it.

Then I started reading articles that say that only 48% of people would consider a House near a substation.

And the knotweed information came only after lots of googling (we haven't had a structural survey yet) and seeing that it was treated by the council one year and then because of budget cuts they stopped. But as I said I don't know how far from the house it is.

So I don't really know whether I am just being reluctant to commit or whether these are real problems

OP posts:

Edwardtherabbit · 04/03/2016 13:15

I think you are looking for reasons to pull out. Knotweed is an absolute no no. If the substation puts you off then that is too. But these things aside if you want to pull out then do so. No shame in it at this stage. How would you feel if the vendors suddenly took it off the market? If the answer is relieved then this is not the house for you

SuperFlyHigh · 04/03/2016 13:16

Strange one as there's a substation right up our street (almost other end) the house next to it was on sale and I got talking to the buyers one day after they'd been there a year. They said substation had been a query but people said not to worry so they bought. No sounds emit from it either (it's one on a ground floor level). They don't notice anything about it apart from the rate occasion someone inspects it etc. Usually when they're at work.

BabyGanoush · 04/03/2016 13:21

is the knotweed Japanese Knotweed?

I'd run a mile if that was the case!

Also, you might not be able to get a mortgage.

TondelayaDellaVentamiglia · 04/03/2016 13:21

I think you would rule out a lot of buyers, I'd not buy near a substation, I can hear them and it really bugs me.

I used to be able to hear the "thing" transformer? on top of the pole that sent the wires into the houses here, but only outside occasionally

CottonSock · 04/03/2016 13:23

About the knotweed, you need a survey and its a bit early in the year to be certain. Someone might have got rid of last year's growth. You don't know exactly where it is, how extensive or if council are it. Someone said above council will treat, but there is so much of it in some areas that would be impossible for under funded council's.

I know about knotweed and I might still buy a house, but would lower my offer for sure.
Get expert advice and survey.

Substation wouldn't bother me

Fizrim · 04/03/2016 13:25

Have you lowered your offer without having a survey done?

Original poster

Ididthattoo · 04/03/2016 13:28

Fizrim yes I did not have a survey done yet. I had an emf survey done and the surveyor said that the presence of the substation will affect saleability.the knotweed is there somewhere (that part of the path is only about 100 metres so can't be too far).

I read in the council report that they did treat it for one year only. Now I am wondering if the seller knows about it and just didn't think of telling us hoping we would not find out.

OP posts:

MrsSteptoe · 04/03/2016 13:28

Property, particularly with stamp duty increasing the overall disbursements involved in moving, is far too expensive to worry about people's feelings.

Don't feel bullied into going ahead just because you have now realised htat you want to reduce your offer. It's not personal, it's business. Someone close to me is now living in absolute hell with life-changing financial implications because of severe structural problems on a house that she wanted to pull out of, but her DH guilt-tripped her into going ahead with. All her instincts were right.

I have nothing to contribute on either knotweed or substations, I'm afraid!

OurBlanche · 04/03/2016 13:31

Wait until you have the survey. Mention the substation and the knotweed to the surveyor then wait and see what they say about hat and anything else they notice. They are usually really good at giving recommendations and advice.

Then you can go back with a 'corrected offer', which is usual, most sellers would anticipate any reduced offer to come after the survey.

Original poster

Ididthattoo · 04/03/2016 13:31

I actually do feel bad about the vendor. But we asked about issues and they said none. Surely a substation and knotweed are issues. Maybe they thought I could find out myself?

In theory you can sue your vendor for misreprentation, in practice you end up being stuck in an unsalable place and you regret not having followed your instincts and getting super stressed

OP posts:

MrsSteptoe · 04/03/2016 13:32

And if you are a nice person, and you feel really bad about the vendors because you're reducing the offer - just imagine them saying to each other "we got away with that - the buyer obviously hasn't realised about the knotweed and substation problem". Don't buy their problem; buy their house, minus the cost of their problem. (If you see what I mean.) You'll find another house if you need to.

MrsSteptoe · 04/03/2016 13:33

I don't know if substations are classed as a problem, but knotweed definitely is. You have to declare it on one of the Land Registry forms.

specialsubject · 04/03/2016 13:33

you've had the tin-hat job done but not the real survey? I suggest a hard look at priorities.

There's lots of ignorance about e-fields - people blubbering about substations while permanently glued to their brickphones, when neither are proven to be harmful at all. But basic science tells you which one is nearer.

if you don't want the place, pull out - knotweed IS an issue and needs real understanding and investigation. If you want to live without e-fields, it is difficult but can be done. But it is not compatible with internet access!

OurBlanche · 04/03/2016 13:34

But if neither are an issue to them then they have not misrepresented anything.

If it is knowtweed rather than Japanese knotweed or if it is not in the garden then it is not an issue.

Substations are a fact of urban life, few people, in reality, would not buy a house because of one. They just answer a survey question negatively as they are thinking about it in isolation.

MrsEricBana · 04/03/2016 13:35

Sorry but I don't think you should buy a house near a substation (never mind the knotweed). I'd find another one. What a shame though.

Original poster

Ididthattoo · 04/03/2016 13:35

MrsSteptoe, I like how you think! A friend of mine bought a house with problem neighbours which weren't disclosed by the vendor and she went Crazy. She is honest so disclosed this to her buyer and had to take a big hit on the price.

I hope I will always be honest. I am at work even when it damages me. I am one of the few people who stands up and says "this is my fault". So I hope the desire to close a transaction will not be so strong to overcome my wish to see people happy and not upset about an issue.

OP posts:

MrsSteptoe · 04/03/2016 13:37

be bold

Original poster

Ididthattoo · 04/03/2016 13:37

When I say knotweed, I mean Japanese knotweed, just to clarify

OP posts:

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