Buying house - been a leak all summer

[dylanthedragon]

Can any one give me any advice on this - I'm feeling really overwhelmed by it all.

I went to the house I am purchasing today with the estate agent and an architect to get a quote for our planned extension. I haven't been in the property since our offer was accepted in the spring and I thought we would be completing in the next few weeks.

We arrive and it's clear the agent hasn't been in the property either (it's vacant due to the previous owner being taken into a care home and her son being abroad). The ensuite toilet has been leaking obviously for months into the kitchen below. The kitchen ceiling and walls are covered in mould and crumbling. The door frame is rotten and there's mould starting in the hall. The ensuite has some kind of fungus growing under the toilet.

The agent was useless and only phoned his office for some advice when I suggested he better get a plumber and actually do something rather than just standing there.

I don't want to walk away from this purchase - I can see this being our forever home. But I don't know what my next move should be.

Can anyone help please?

Tell them your not completing unless it’s in the same condition as when you viewed it

I would be revising your offer sharpish to take into account the damage that has been caused, and the cost/inconvenience that it will cause you to fix.

if you've had a survey I'd be getting your surveyor back round to make sure no long term damage has been done. Water can cause all sorts of problems that you can't necessarily see.

Finally, I'd stress to the EA/your solicitor/their solicitor the leak at least
is fixed prior to exchange/competion.

Do not.exchange without a price drop and a repeat survey. Their insurance is almost certainly invalid.

Unoccupied insurance state the water should be off and someone should check the home weekly

So not insured

Ask the estate agent to get quotes to fix the issues and negotiate a price drop quick