The buyer should pay.

9 replies

AnneShirley18 · 31/03/2023 17:49

Hi, I'm 20 weeks into a no xhain sale to an investor. I've already moved out and on and am desperate to draw a line under things. Buyer is really tedious. Wasting so much time. I really regret not selling to owner occupier because at least they'd have been keen to get things moving.
Anyway as a potential landlord, he wants to do gas/electricity checks. He should pay for these, right?
Also, the electrics will presumably not be up to code as that changes every 5 minutes? Is the burden of sorting/paying for that on him? Will he use it as bargaining chip and delay the sale further?
I suppose no one can predict what he will do, but where does the burden lie? Is it clearly defined?

OP posts:

Lcb123 · 31/03/2023 17:52

Of course he should pay for the checks. If he wants to do work, he has to wait until he owns it and then do it.

Shamoo · 31/03/2023 17:53

Just say no. My buyer tried that the day before we were due to exchange and I said no, should have raised it ages ago. If he wants the property he will buy it anyway - like I say, if he had a significant concern about it he would have raised it ages ago. If he pulls out, he would have always found a reason to pull out.

ImAvingOops · 31/03/2023 17:56

I think it's reasonable to want to know gas and electricity are working and safe and if not, imo the seller should pay for it.
But if it's dragging on past a reasonable time, tell him he's got to exchange by X date or you will put it back on the market. Fwiw I'm not sure 20 weeks is that slow - some of it might be hold ups for searches and things he and the solicitors have no control over.

viques · 31/03/2023 17:59

It is not your issue that he is planning to let the property after he buys it so any safety checks are down to him, both to arrange and to pay for. Does he want you to pay for his landlords insurance as well.

EL8888 · 31/03/2023 18:01

viques · 31/03/2023 17:59

This. No one is making him be a landlord! Checks, insurance etc are all his to pay for. Are you going to get a cut of the rent he receives?!

Poppyseed14 · 31/03/2023 18:03

100% his responsibility. And I say this as a landlord.

Original poster

AnneShirley18 · 31/03/2023 18:22

Oh thanks everyone. I've communicated to estate agents that they can grant access for electricity and gas checks at buyer's expense.

OP posts:

2bazookas · 31/03/2023 18:51

Instruct your lawyer to inform the buyer in writing that unless he completes the sale within 14 days, you will be putting the property back on the market.

After this long delay, gas and electricity checks will have to wait until he's the owner.

Original poster

AnneShirley18 · 31/03/2023 20:05

2bazookas · 31/03/2023 18:51

Instruct your lawyer to inform the buyer in writing that unless he completes the sale within 14 days, you will be putting the property back on the market.

After this long delay, gas and electricity checks will have to wait until he's the owner.

Thank you. This is my instinct.I thought 20 weeks was a long time for a no chain sale but others have said it isn't. He's dragged his heels at every point and will probably wait for ages more. They will not commit to a completion date which I find unusual too. It is like they want every duck in a row first and it feels like it is all on their terms. I haven't a great deal of confidence in my solicitor either as they are never pro-active or offer advice, just react to what I want but I'm Clueless!

OP posts:

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