Should our solicitor have spotted this?

[Carmenere]

We are in the process of buying a house, supposed to exchange today, however I was at the house the other day and spotted a planning notice on the neighbours streetlamp. So I searched the Councils planning dept site and it turns out that there is planning granted for the neighbours to build a two bed two story house in their garden - very close to our property.
Now this is definitely going to affect the resale value of this property of our house (if we continue with the sale!). Should our conveyancer not have spotted this? She said that there was an optional seperate search that she offered that this would have come up in but really would this not be a fairly basic thing to look for?

Carmenere, if your SIL is right about the house being worth £200K more, then go for it. The seller can afford to play hardball because he probably knows this. We bought from an absolute cowboy of a amateur "developer" and inherited lots of concealed defects (damp etc). But the price we got it for still makes it worth our while even if his name is never mentioned in our house without a few choice expletives thrown in.

What a nightmare for you! I'd be tempted to walk away too I have to say, mainly on principal. Having said that I do know what it's like when you're talking about houses, your heart can often rule!

On the bright side at least he has offered £2k off, he might have been trying to hold out for the original price. I guess you have to think about (as someone else has said) whether you'd have agreed that price if you'd known about the new build first. Go with the answer on that.

Good luck!

any good news carmenere?

Ok we have settled on 190,000. Am very relieved and happy - not as much as we wanted off but the original asking price was 198,000 and we have gotten some antique furniture thrown in that is worth at least 1500 (my mate who was a furniture dealer had a look at it).

Thanks everyone for all your support over the last couple of days. It's invaluable to have the opinions and advice from not only some legal types but also from so many who have bought and sold houses. This thread has really helped me feel not quite so helpless.

EXCELLENT....REALLY PLEASED FOR YOU

And breathe..............................

thanks

right, get me sorted now!

nice one carmenere!

Brilliant news! Not such a hard-nosed smart-*rse, was he??

what a relief !

Lol Freckle, I have just realised that initally, last summer he put it on at 214,000, obviously he had to drop it substantially to get any interest but it is kind of satisfying to think that he is getting a whole 24 grand less than he was originally hoping for! Karma!

Excellent! I'm so glad you've agreed it! Let us know when you've exchanged!

so once youre in and youve put your own touches too it, you could actually 'make' money should you need to sell again?!..fab news

We are completing next Wednesday!!!!

It's worked out well because we can now afford to do a few things to it that will add value taking into account capital appreciation (ie a small rise in the current property market). My dad is an architect and has all sorts of ideas to get more light into the place.

So when we sell, even with the new house blocking some light, it will be a much nicer property so we should make a little profit.

The building work is unlikely to start until next year (neighbour told us) so at least we will get this summer out of the garden
I am a very happy and optimistic Carmenere atm

oh thats great..you sound very happy and positive..im glad you got it, it seems very right!

hows it going carmenere?

i guess you're busy packing