My schoolfriend's great-aunt died recently. Her 1930s house, which she had bought in 1950, was left 50:50 to my friend and my friend's mum (her niece). My friend's mum is 72 and in poor health, so responsibility for selling the property has fallen to my friend. I'm helping, I know the family well. It sold very quickly to a first time buyer, thankfully.
The great-aunt lived frugally and minimally which was great when it came to clearing the house. However, we can't find any documents and the solicitor is demanding them. For example, they're asking for a Build Over agreement for the old lean-to conservatory, because there's a public sewer running through the back garden. We have no idea when the lean-to was built. There's no evidence. We both remember that it was there in the 1970s because we played in it as children! That's all the info we have. Similarly, they want a boiler compliance certificate and proof of regular service - again, nothing. They've asked about cavity wall insulation - my friend vaguely remembers it happening about ten years ago but again, no documents. There are a few other similar queries and all of them came via separate letters. It's like a bombardment.
My friend's mum, who has Alzheimer's, lost her rag with it today. She says of the buyer, "either they want it as seen, or they don't". She became belligerent and aggressive, which upset my friend.
Will anyone actually buy a house on this basis, do you think? We've no idea what to do. Maybe she should offer it for sale to a builder/developer and explain the circumstances, and accept a much lower price.
Advice/experiences would be helpful. Thanks!