Selling my property with dodgy carpets. WWYD??

[DavidBowiesNumber1]

I've received an offer on my property which I will probably accept but I know there are carpet moths in 3 rooms. There are bare patches underneath some of the furniture.
Do I tell the buyer or keep quiet?

How about a half way house? Don't tell them about the infestation.
Remove the carpets (and give a price reduction that's fair for this) and TREAT THE PROBLEM properly. Forget home kits - you need the big guns from pest control to squish this. It might cost a grand in total, but at least you're not passing on a problem to new owners, and you're not worrying them by telling them there's an infestation either.

Happened to us. Seller was fastidious and was absolutely mortified as they had not noticed as it was all the under the furniture. Have you exchanged? Maybe post exchange you could throw your hands up and say you have just started moving the furniture and noticed it. That way they have time to budget. We just chucked in a few rugs intending to change the carpet quickly: two years later it’s still down 😳. We had carpet nettles though which may be different: they were really easy to get rid of them. Chat to your solicitor. See what she/he thinks.

I meant beetles not nettles. But yes, I think honestly is best policy.

Won't you need to declare it on the fixtures and fittings form your solicitor will ask you to complete.
I'm sure the form not only asks which items you are leaving but they are in a certain standatd/working/fit for purpose.

Moth eaten holey carpet or an infestation isn't what I call fit for purpose.

If I had already agreed a price then the seller removed the carpets I would want a reduction in the price. Even though it's probably not that much for used carpets.

Unles you specificlalyl had carpets to be included as a condition of sale, you would not be OK to lower your offer. Technically.

Although it is 98% normal to leave the carpets and personally I think people who try and charge extra for them are the kind of people you wouldn't want to get stuck next to at a dinner party.

I’m not sure legally where that stands- yes they have an obligation to check the property, but they would t be moving all your heavy furniture around to check under it. I would personally treat the place after I had moved, but also explain to the couple that some areas they can’t currently see have this issue. Morally I couldn’t do that to someone, legally you may be allowed to- I’d check with solicitor, and then really it’s your choice

If the house is empty they should be easy to treat? I think 🤔

Do the right thing OP. That means telling them about the damage to the carpets, what the cause is and treating it before the sake completes. Think how you would feel if someone had done this to you when you bought your first house.

It's up to the buyer to spot that when they're viewing.

How do they do that when the damage is hidden under furniture?

Surely something you know about is something you need to address on the Law Society forms you fill in?

Surely something you know about is something you need to address on the Law Society forms you fill in?

If the question is asked re condition of carpets or if yo know about any moth infestation... but not sure if you are obliged to bring it to their attention legally? Morally yes.

As I said before, I will make them aware of the problem and offer to treat the carpet or remove it

I've now got the fixtures & fittings form to complete, how would you (as a buyer) feel if you noticed that carpets weren't staying? Would you question it or just accept it?

If they haven't yet seen any fixtures and fittings form saying that the carpets were staying then they surely can't complain if it turns out they are going.

I'd question it. Most people leave carpets. ..

I also think that you need to be honest and suck it up...what goes around comes around!

I think when the buyers raise their enquiries in a few weeks then a standard question from the solicitors is “have you ever had a pest or insect problem or infestation?”
At this point you can deal with the issue and say you’ve just noticed it, it’s been treated, but would you like the carpets left or removed.

Are you in England is Scotland OP? North of the border you have a small window of time (I think it's 2 weeks) to raise a complaint if something major has been damaged. Then you can expect some sort of reimbursement towards the cost of putting it right. There was a very big moth infestation in the house we bought, necessitating professional fumigation and new carpets throughout. We received 2.k in recompense.

I bought a house which had holey carpets because of carpet moths. The carpets had been treated, but the sellers had hidden the bald patches under heavy furniture. When we moved in, I initially thought that a cat had scratched the carpet... Then I realised there were multiple problem areas. I wish I'd been told. It wouldn't have stopped me buying the house, but I'd have replaced the carpets before moving in.

I wouldnt say anything- infestation sounds awful they could pull out. Get v cheap new carpets.

I’m sure if they have been there twenty odd years the buyers would have budgeted to replace them anyway. I wouldn’t worry too much.

I wonder if I mention that "the carpets have some bare patches, would you like them to remain or shall I remove them?" BEFORE I fill in fixtures and fittings form?
Infestation does sound terrible and it's really not that bad or I'd have done something about it yonks ago. I'll be handing over the keys on moving day though....

That sounds like a good idea, you are then giving them the option.

sorry Op, we’ve just bought a house and absolutely maxed ourself out buying it. If we’d then discovered there was a moth infestation that meant the carpets all needed replaced I’d be livid.

we simply wouldn’t be able to afford to replace all the carpets in the immediate and I’d be horrified at the prospect of living with an infestation with a young family.

You need to grow some baps and woman up, just be honest and tell them you’re sorry you didn’t realise but having moved some furniture to get ready for he sale you’ve discovered some bare patches that are areas damaged by carpet moths and offer to treat the carpets on the understanding there are bare patches or remove the carpets and give them the choice.