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AIBU?

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Original poster

Vendor wont let me back into property until exchange of contracts, need some advice

104 replies

Charlhewittt · 20/06/2021 15:00

Hello,

I'm in the process of buying my first property with my boyfriend and need some advice on whether we should proceed or just general thoughts.

The vendor is refusing any visits until exchange of contracts because I wanted an electrician to price up some jobs for me and to make sure the house doesn't need a rewire as the electrics appear to be fairly dated.

We have had our survey but all they come back to say the electrics appear to me in working condition but will require an rcd.

I feel as long as I know about the electrics and if it is going to cost me some money then I'm totally fine with that. But im worried it may need a full rewire and cost me thousands in which I would want to negotiate that with the vendor.

Theres been a few hiccups along the way as there are no building regs on the garage and extension. The main bedroom has a dip in the floor but the ceiling downstairs doesnt appear to bow.

The vendor has agreed to get an electrical test certifcate but I fear his builder son may do this and we know he cuts corners as he built the extension with no regulations.

Would you proceed with the sale based on this information?

Sorry its long but im in two minds and just need some advice.

OP posts:
thegcatsmother · 20/06/2021 17:04

You don't say how old the house is OP, nor do you specify when the works were done and what the legal requirements were at that time.

I'm not sure what building regs there were when our vendors extended my house, as I was a teenager at the time in the mid 80s. As the extension is still standing 40 years on, it seems to have been built to last!

As for the electrics; get them to have an RCD put in by a certified electrician. Unless it's a brand new build, there are very few houses in the UK that will be in line with the current IET standards, and no-one I know gets their house rewired every time those regs change.

ScrumptiousBears · 20/06/2021 17:12

Interesting to see what he says when you pull out.

Anniegetyourgun · 20/06/2021 17:15

The dip in the bedroom floor is probably where they buried the last would-be purchaser who asked too many questions...

Nocutenamesleft · 20/06/2021 17:18

@Anniegetyourgun

The dip in the bedroom floor is probably where they buried the last would-be purchaser who asked too many questions...
Ha. Fucking brilliant!
notawittyname1954 · 20/06/2021 17:21

@Watchingyou2sleezes London prices Consumer units and upgrades to meet current regs. How much would you expect. Am interested

ifonly4 · 20/06/2021 17:27

There's no going back once you've exchanged contracts, so you have to be happy with the bowing (I'd be nervous), what's in the wardrobe area and be prepared to deal with and pay costs of any electrical repairs. With covid, I'd understand if they didn't let you view again as you've been three times, but it's quite reasonable to get your own electrician to have a brief inspection with a view to quoting/advising. With regards to the ceiling we were going to have ours redone, but when the workmen arrived they asked me if I'd be happy with them boarding over existing and replastering - if this has been done at any stage a couple of layers of boards might disguise any bowing.

Covert19 · 20/06/2021 17:40

We recently bought a house. The vendor put us off viewing on a rainy day - "you'll not see the garden at its best, and you won' be able to come in and out with all the mud", he said. Instead we viewed in fine weather. The first rainy day after completion revealed a leaking roof, into the room which was freshly decorated (covering over water damage) when we viewed. With hindsight, it was obvious that there was a problem but we were blinded by (a) falling in love with the place and (b) pressure from our buyers, who were on a tight timetable.

Learn from my mistake. Say you'll walk away if you can't view again. (unless you have money to spend on any work that they are clearly hiding - but go into it with your eyes open)

HollowTalk · 20/06/2021 17:47

Another one here who'd walk away. I think you'll find there are a series of botch jobs that'll cost you a fortune if you buy this house.

Thisisanartattack · 20/06/2021 17:47

I recently had a new consumer unit fitted and retested, it cost £400! Even to sort some other minor issues on the report only came to £700 total.

I’m surprised how wary most of the responses are here. OP if you ask this same question on another forum I think the responses would be very different.

SixesAndEights · 20/06/2021 17:48

Walk away. You can guarantee you haven't found half of what's wrong with it.

When I was selling my last house I had all sorts of visits, culminating in two men from John Lewis measuring up for a new kitchen!

KeepingTrack · 20/06/2021 18:08

@SprayedWithDettol

This sounds like a nightmare house. Unless you have plenty of cash to do a lot of work once you own it, I would walk away.

I am betting they have something to hide.

Yep. I agree and I’d walk away too.
Daphnise · 20/06/2021 18:13

It depend on how many times you have been in already, and if you have continually been raising queries to make the seller fed up- which I suspect may be the case...
Having said that, you are obviously unhappy and distrustful, and a fussy buyer, all of which you are entitled to be on a large purchase; so best to find a house up to your standards- if one exists!

IronTeeth · 20/06/2021 18:21

With all the things you mention in your op, wow, run

Gemma2019 · 20/06/2021 18:33

@Daphnise

It depend on how many times you have been in already, and if you have continually been raising queries to make the seller fed up- which I suspect may be the case... Having said that, you are obviously unhappy and distrustful, and a fussy buyer, all of which you are entitled to be on a large purchase; so best to find a house up to your standards- if one exists!
You think OP is being a fussy buyer?!

"Theres been a few hiccups along the way as there are no building regs on the garage and extension. The main bedroom has a dip in the floor but the ceiling downstairs doesnt appear to bow.

The vendor has agreed to get an electrical test certificate but I fear his builder son may do this and we know he cuts corners as he built the extension with no regulations."

SixesAndEights · 20/06/2021 18:33

@Daphnise

It depend on how many times you have been in already, and if you have continually been raising queries to make the seller fed up- which I suspect may be the case... Having said that, you are obviously unhappy and distrustful, and a fussy buyer, all of which you are entitled to be on a large purchase; so best to find a house up to your standards- if one exists!
What, like one with building regs and non-bowing infrastructure?

Pretty sure there's plenty of them about!

MrsBobDylan · 20/06/2021 19:10

Firearms! In! The! Wardrobe! Pull out (very politely and without revealing your address...).

gamerchick · 20/06/2021 19:15

@shockthemonkey

I'd walk away. You didn't give instructions for voting so I didn't click on either YABU/YANBU but I would say the vendor is being unreasonable and dodgy
They're not poll buttons.

Personally they're within their right. If you're not happy and I don't think it sounds like it's going to be fun. Then walk away and find something that doesn't have dips in the floor and other dodgy shit going on.

StoneofDestiny · 20/06/2021 19:26

I'd walk away if there is an extension and garage without building regulations being followed.

ginghamstarfish · 20/06/2021 19:39

Where the vendor has built without permission etc, I'd be wondering what else he's done - or bodged.

Blossomtoes · 20/06/2021 19:41

@ginghamstarfish

Where the vendor has built without permission etc, I'd be wondering what else he's done - or bodged.
I would too but he hasn’t built without permission, he hasn’t got a certificate to say what he’s built meets building regs.
Ellie56 · 20/06/2021 19:41

Theres been a few hiccups along the way as there are no building regs on the garage and extension. The main bedroom has a dip in the floor but the ceiling downstairs doesnt appear to bow.

Shit. Never mind the electrics, walk away from this now, and change your solicitor.

These are major issues and your solicitor should have been advising you not to touch this house with a bargepole.

Zebrahooves · 20/06/2021 21:15

I would walk away now. The floor alone would be an expensive fix, plus possible issues with the electrics and I would be suspicious that the wardrobe was hiding something.

Years ago I looked round a house and the seller said that I wouldn't want to go into the cellar as it was dark. Yes, it was dark and also 2 foot deep in water.

There's been a similar thread recently about buyer's remorse. Don't find yourself in the same position.

BearPie · 20/06/2021 21:23

@Badbadbunny

You should have sorted the electrician before offers were made/accepted. The vendor will be wary of you wanting to reduce the agreed asking price.
This is nonsense - houses are currently going to offer within 48 hours. Get with the times!
Paralithic · 20/06/2021 21:26

@MrsBobDylan

Firearms! In! The! Wardrobe! Pull out (very politely and without revealing your address...).
It’s going to be an air rifle, not a sawn off shotgun. In England you have to store them in a lockable cupboard or locked to the property structure.

There’s enough red flags with the other issues for OP to run a mile though.

HelgaDownUnder · 21/06/2021 01:04

Does he keep firearms to scare off anyone who tries to challenge him when they realise they've been ripped off? Don't be next. There will be other homes.

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