To ask for a price rededuction of house purchase?

[Whitescarf]

Me and DP are currently trying to buy our first home, agreed purchase price of 228 for a three bed end of terrace.

Searches and reports from solicitor show a few problems - mainly:

• there is shared access next to our garden, running behind ours and a few of the houses next to us. Previous owners moved their fence 1 metre into the shared access which is not on the deeds and we wouldn't legally own the area. We asked if they would have this put on the deeds before purchase however they refused, saying it's too small to put on there. This also wasn't mentioned when we viewed the property.

If in the future we had to move the fence back, we would have to knock down a shed and a summer house to do this, costing us money and time.

• The original owners of the land the house is built on made agreements for no houses to be built on the land. The house was built after this and indemnity insurance was taken out to cover any loss as this is still enforceable, however the cover is not enough and the sellers do not want to take out new insurance to cover this.

Based on these, would we be unreasonable to ask for a price deduction or are they not that big of an issue?

We originally wanted to settle on 226 but they wouldn't go below 228 and said they would give us a few household goods for the 228 as well, so we settled with this, so I'm not sure they would even agree to a reduction!

Appreciate any replies

Frankly I would pull out entirely. Potential horrifically expensive legal minefields on both issues. Run far, far away........

None of that is good. These sorts of disputes can ruin your whole life and home.

I would consider withdrawing altogether. Look at how many MN threads there are about boundaries and access. You'd be posting in the legal topic regularly.

I want want these issues resolved (via insurance etc) rather than a price reduction. They both have the potential to be hugely expensive and problematic. I would be considering walking away.

I would be very nervous buying this house. Unless the sellers are prepared to tie up all those “loose ends” I’d pull out of the sale. Those issues and costs will have to be settled some time. If it’s your forever home then maybe okay, but if it’s something you might be selling on in 5 to 10 years then nope. Sorry OP I know how stressful and emotional house buying is

RUN. Do not put an offer in at all.

Walk away now, find something else without the headache

I agree best to leave it. Don't be pressured into a sale with so many potential problems.....

Like others, I say walk away. It MIGHT be alright, but you would not know if it was going to be alright or not till too late. And then you could have trouble selling it again.

Too many problems and possible issues in the future. Plenty of other houses on the market.

Run far away from this. Please.

Agree you should walk away.

Run away, run far, far away.

I don't really see the big issue, I don't get poInt one, if you don't own it why do you need to do anything with it?

And indemnity insurance is as cheap as chips. Just find out how Much it costs and then knock it off the price, but you're looking at tens of pounds.

I'd walk away from this. Not worth any future hassle and I think you'd have problems when you come to see. Wouldn't matter what reduction was on the table.

I'd withdraw. The insurance issue is a nightmare.

Don't buy it at all!

Wow, I'd find another property. Too much can go wrong with that and it's just not worth the hassle and heartache.

Oh no really I'm also 5 months pregnant and desperately need a house! 😂

Definitely walk away from that one.

Issue one wouldn’t bother me. Unless I am missing something you don’t own that land. Issue two ring around tomorrow and find out the cost of indemnity insurance.

Be prepared for them to pull out if you decrease your offer.

I wouid walk away based on either of those 2 issues, never mind both

Surely your solicitor has a view on whether these are fixable problems?

This is a recipe for disaster. I would keep looking I'm afraid. Very disappointing I'm sure.

Indemnity insurance is very cheap usually. Get your solicitor to give you a quote, it'll surprise you I think! However, you might not get indemnity on the first issue, as it's a deeds problem. As you can see from your own hesitation, it does put buyers off, so I wouldn't proceed until you can make sure the same wouldn't happen to you when you come to sell.