WIBU to pull out if they don't agree?

[NeedANewNameBriefly]

Reposting for traffic

Short version - are these issues bad enough to withdraw from property purchase and collapse the chain. Or should this be expected when buying a house.

YABU - Even without a reduction, these issues are not that bad

YANBU - They definitely need to reduce the price a bit

Full version

We are trying to purchase our "forever home", have gone madly over budget on something that isn't perfect, but we are happy enough with. Survey has come back and the work that needs doing seems to be quite a lot. We want to renegotiate the price and based on repair costs for the most significant things, so not just decorate issues for example we want to go lower by about 12% (that's what I've worked it out as being) - estate agent (of course) is saying they won't agree but she doesn't have their actual answer yet. To complicate matters, they are overseas and we cannot reach vendors directly (currently trying via the solicitors instead though)

Basically, we are not quite sure the best way to approach this and how much of this the vendor thinks should have been priced in to our offer, bearing in mind we were unaware of 99% of the issues prior to the survey. The 1% is an issue we believe they should and could still deal with through their buildings insurance.

For context here are some of the issues:

•Repointing of brickwork to two chimney stacks
•Replace a number of missing, slipped and damaged roof tiles (particularly to the front and rear slopes). However, given their age it may be more economic to recover the whole roof rather than continuing to repair. This is our main issue - we want to replace not further patch up the roof. Lots of patchy repairs previously done apparently.
•Carry out crack repair to the front elevation.
•Replace some of the double-glazed units to the conservatory - showing damage
• Porch – replace several roof tiles, and carry out longer-term repair to the far right post which is damaged
•Install additional air bricks and replace damaged air bricks to the right side - doesn't have anywhere near enough. Those it has are damaged
•Reduce the height of the external ground level at the front (or install a French drain) - drain is right in front of doorstep and cut back the timber decking at the rear- to mitigate damp penetration
•Adjust five of the internal doors - almost all doors do not close at all within the house
•Rectify leak from the shower hose/replace shower in the family bathroom
•Hot water cylinder appears undersized/replacement needed
•Replace the waste pipe from the dishwasher and rectify leak from gulley surround
•Secure boarding to the timber decking and carry out timber repairs where required

If you don’t want issues like this, then pull out and buy a new build.

None of those issues are major at all. None are structural. It’s the surveyors job to point out every last crack and dent. Sounds like you can’t really afford this house and are trying to get them to knock a bit off to make it better fit your budget. I think you’re being cheeky.

Just pull out and buy a different house. You are not the right people to be buying this one. Don't faff about demanding reductions over decking repairs and door adjustments, it's not going to end well and it's just delaying the inevitable.

Is this your first house purchase? You’re having a chuckle. I agree you might want to buy a new build.

This.

I'd take a different approach and split the list into "must do immediately", "wouldn't it be lovely if..." and "no hurry whatsoever"; and offer (say) £10k less but no more. Your list doesn't warrant it in my opinion.

You can try for a reduction, but remember you are not buying a new build. Personally I wouldn’t bother for most of what you mention, it’s wear and tear and to be expected as a house ages.
Nothing that you have listed is remarkable and would probably show up on the surveys of similar neighbouring properties.
If you think there is mileage in seeking a reduction, then maybe pick the most significant issue and negotiate on that, possibly a contribution towards roof repairs.
What is your 12% reduction based on, does the work need doing immediately? Have you got builders quotes to back up your figures? If you’ve already asked for the 12%, you may have blown it.
Sounds as though you can’t really afford this house?

I've had the same survey. Twice. These blokes have a right obsession with repointing chimney stacks.

Adjusting a door is literally now a tiny bit of planing for you to do.

You've no chance.

YABVU all full structural surveys come back like this. If there’s anything that’s unsafe they should carry out repairs before exchanging but they should not be expected to lower the price.

Ok, so confession - this is sort of a reverse. Im trying to settle an argument between two people (but both on the side of the buyers), one who thinks a major reduction is needed (this is a PIL who is an estate agent). And another who thinks, maybe for the roof - which to be fair does have gaps in it/a fair bit of damage - some money should come off, but nowhere near the 12% (DH). I personally didn't know what sort of number was right, but based on these responses, I'm glad we hadn't approached with the giant number - and we won't be. I don't want to piss the vendors off and start the whole house hunting process again!

Glad to know most of these issues seems minor.

Ps - there were l actually two issues that have come up relating to the gas and electrics (full report came in after posting) - but whilst they are the only items marked as in urgent need of attention in terms of being a safety concern, I don't get the impression its something costly to fix.

the main thing that you havent mentioned is how does the price of this house stack up against the price of similar houses (at the time you made you offer)?? was it slightly underpriced compared to similar properties that are in better condition? if so then the price already reflects the condition of the house.
A survey lists every single little tiny thing that may become a problem at any point in the distance future - so that they have covered themselves!!

Prices have been through the roof for so long because people are happy to accept houses that need word. FOMO.

The leaks, drainage and roof are potentially very expensive.

@LookItsMeAgain - I really appreciate your response - it's so very helpful. Thank you

I had a potential buyer attempt to reduce his offer by 10% because although the survey said the roof was in good repair, it may not stay that way in the future 🤷🏻‍♀️

You're sort of on that level tbh.

Ugh. Just post as yourself instead of using a reverse.

Sorry OP, but this all reads to me as fairly standard maintenance! These costs and upgrades are just part of being a homeowner, a house is never finished there's always something that needs doing. 12% is. HUGE amount to ask off for what is quite small and standard homeowner jobs.

Did you view the house after dark? How can you not have seen most of these issues. I’m guessing this is an older house, possibly pre war in which case welcome to the club.
If you don’t want to face repair and maintenance issues buy a new house, although given modern building standards………

If I was your seller I'd be pulling out if you asked for a 12% reduction for that list!!

What you need to accept is that the asking price, or the one that you've accepted, includes for the state of repair of the property - effectively "sold as seen".

A lot of those issues would have been easily seen on your viewings especially the repairs to the roof. So whilst you might get something knocked off for anything that is hidden and a necessity, you're not going to get anything on the "nice to have done" list.

I'd hazzard a guess that you're looking at a slightly older house with older occupants, and these are things you expect from that.

We just moved into a late 1940's house that was bought by the previous owner in the 1980's. She passed away last year and the house had been empty for 6 months. Our house has all sorts of issues - including needing a complete re-roof. Luckily dh is a rooofer, but I bet I'll still be waiting in 6 months!

If you like it that much and can see the potential home it can be, then I'd just carry on. Also depends what the market is like in your area, we knew our house could have sold 3 times over!

It sounds like this house is not for you. Someone will love it as it is and sort out issues gradually. It sounds like you over bid now looking to claw back. The issues you mention like doors not shutting properly were not hidden from you. They just need adjusting. It needs a few missing or loose tiles replacing that cost about £150 you want whole roof replaced that would cost thousands. If I was selling that house I would be telling you I would get chimney repointed and the few missing tiles replaced. That is it. Nothing off cost of house. Either buy what you bid for it or pull out.

We have a house already, didn't have a structural survey done when we bought, only a homebuyers/L2. Had all manner of issues with it.

So a report like this is new for us. I don't want to lose the house, but we already know we are overpaying due to the current market conditions - or at least how they have been past few months. At £1.3m more than double the cost of the house we are selling, so I understand PIL wants us to be cautious and knows how houses have been priced (considering his day job). But ultimately the decision is for me and DH, having additional perspectives is helpful. So it's appreciated.

So you already knew what every one would say, All you're doing is posting on MN to say look at me I'm spending £1.3Mil on a house 🙄

I bloody hate reverses.
So patronising.
You think we’re all so stupid we couldn’t just answer the question?
It’s not like AIBU has a habit of siding blindly with the poster 😭

A £1.3m house? So you were looking for an £150,000 + reduction?! Absurd.

We had an almost identical list of “issues” on our survey - have lived here 10 years and have addressed maybe one of them. They’re just standard things that will come up on any survey of an older property.

@shootfromthehip145

I deliberately gave a percentage, rather than a price at first. And have also name changed for this post. It's also clear from the post that this is a MASSIVE stretch for us. And if further context is required, this is in London.

I truly didn't know who was closer to the right figure, DH or PIL. The stream of of responses is making it clear that DH is right - this is why I'm glad I posted.

But hey, can't post in AIBU without a few meanies popping up to take a shot right? I needed quicker answers than I was getting on the Property/DIY post I made (zero responses) so this is what I have to accept comes from posting over here.

What a fecking chancer, I’d have pulled out!