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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Very tricky dream house - WWYD?

78 replies

PropertyDIYNC · 30/11/2020 17:09

Sorry, this is really long. TL;DR - dream home. DH &I Would happily live there until we die. Loads of hidden issues including asbestos. Worth proceeding at a discount or just walk away?

As house prices rose this year, we found ourselves in the very fortunate position of being able to sell our house, pay off the mortgage and downsize a bit meaning we'd be insured a bit against possible job losses post-covid.
Our criteria were somewhere in easy reach of the kids schools, two bathrooms, and a back garden. And then we found the dream house. It didn't fit any of the criteria, but we walked in and felt at home. It's an untouched midcentury masterpiece, with a real sense of calm and peace. It's not listed (yet) but on the council's local list of properties of significant architectural interest and in a conservation area. (This becomes relevant later)
Our offer was accepted and we thought we could use savings, and extra money from no mortgage to convert the garage/put in a small extension to get an extra shower room.
We expected it would need a reasonable amount of work, and survey confirmed this but also said it needs a new roof. The roof is the shape of a wave and is clad in weathered copper. Finding someone who has the expertise to do this has been tricky. Not one roofing company has been able to even source the amount of copper required, and even if they could, the cost would be prohibitive. There would also likely be all sorts of council dealings and delays to get the roof looking as close to the original as possible, whilst also meeting current building regulations.
So far, so good-ish. We fix the roof, and have to wait for a downstairs toilet etc.
Today we have found out after our solicitor chased the vendor's solicitor for a missing seller information pack that there isn't one. The property is being sold as seen. No questions answered. We kind of understand. The elderly owner has gone in to a home and her adult son, who lives at the other end of the country probably has no idea when the boiler was last serviced etc. On the other hand I'm fuming that no one thought to mention this until AFTER we'd had a homebuyer's report done rather than full survey, and we'll be stuck with a load of unwanted furniture including a sodding grand piano!
On top of that, I've just heard from the asbestos surveyor that the place is riddled with the stuff. Debris in the attic, it's in the air vented heating system, the kitchen cupboard, the airing cupboard and probably the ceilings and walls but as we don't yet own the property, they can't do destructive tests to confirm it.
The 'hidden' work that needs doing is now heading for 20% of the purchase price, we'd have to rent whilst it was being done, and it's likely to destroy many of the original features we love and wanted the house for.

So what would you do; walk away and find another house that would never live up to this one (I'm not really being melodramatic, this house is utterly unique and all the other housing stock round here are variations on a theme) , or try to renegotiate on price and try to salvage the dream?

OP posts:

BigBadBox · 01/12/2020 07:39

This is a good source for listed building advice

AgentProvocateur · 01/12/2020 07:45

Lovely house. Hope you get it.

Labobo · 01/12/2020 08:02

What about this one? Bit more of a bog standard terraced house like you get all over in Newcastle, but it's on the northern, Gosforth end of the beautiful Dene and much cheaper so you could do it up just as you wanted.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 01/12/2020 08:10

Oh it's lovely. I can see why you want it. However it will cost a lot

LadyLovelyLockz · 01/12/2020 08:12

God I love it. I have nothing constructive to add but it is lovely!

NewLockdownNewMe · 01/12/2020 08:15

It is lovely, but for me that wouldn’t outweigh what you said you needed in the first place - proximity to kids schools, garden, etc. What would really make the most difference to your life? Anyway, your plan of seeing if they’ll accept a lower offer seems sensible, with that many issues they’re not going to have many buyers.

Cygne · 01/12/2020 09:02

If the work you need is going to take out much of what you like about the property, is there much point in going ahead?

TheTeenageYears · 01/12/2020 09:15

If you end up walking away you should pursue the EA for any costs you've had to date. Sold as seen is not a traditional sale and they should have been aware. If they weren't it's on them as the agent.

Beebumble2 · 01/12/2020 09:38

This house sounds amazing, but not for the faint hearted. It’s sounds as if it was designed by an Architect, so there should be a trail of the original design plans, etc.
We bought an individually designed house from the same era, though not as exciting as yours, but had special features. The owners knew this and was sold at full market value.
It was popular for Asbestos to be used used throughout in that era. We had to completely gut our house back to the shell, taking out everything except one flight of stairs and the chimney stack. We were lucky to find an industrial Asbestos removal company who were prepared to travel a fair distance to do the removal.
If you would find this daunting or too expensive, then walk away.

Beebumble2 · 01/12/2020 09:42

Just seen the EA link. As it’s part of a terrace I’d ask the neighbours how they’ve talked the issues with the house.

trickyex · 01/12/2020 09:45

WHat a great house. Not the best plot though it appears a bit squashed into its garden.
How old are your DC OP?
Is the garden size a real issue/distance to schools?

Mintine · 01/12/2020 09:48

I absolutely love it, I would buy it! But we’re just in the process of buying a grade two listed chapel, in a graveyard. Which needs converting, so having to move into rented. I would rather have the dream property if you have the choice. That’s why we are putting ourselves through this, to end up with our dream home.

Beebumble2 · 01/12/2020 09:50

You’ve really caught my interest here. The houses were designed by Architect Brian Robson in 1962 and won a Civic award for Architecture. I really like the house, you’d be buying modern history.
Also if it helps our asbestos removes came from the N East. But I can’t remember their name.

Cavagirl · 01/12/2020 09:54

Are you just going off the survey that it needs a new roof? Do you understand yourself the problems with the roof, and the urgency to get them fixed?
I think it depends on your tolerance for work and obviously also cost. But don't assume because a survey says xyz needs to be done, it really does or needs to be done overnight - if it needs to be done to make it safe to live in, that will should be clear in the report.
You might be able to quite happily live in it for several years before doing anything.
If it really is the dream home, I'd go for it (while negotiating the price down because of the "terrible survey" etc). The survey doesn't sound like it has any reasons not to buy it, just a list of work that probably needs to be done at some point which is what most surveys are anyway.

wonkylegs · 01/12/2020 10:46

There are loads of asbestos removers in the NE, if you get stuck I'm sure I can recommend some
I agree about the roof, don't just go by the survey. My dads survey said that everything was ok bar the cedar shingle roof which needed total replacement. Turned out to be the other way round and the roof has only been repaired after severe storm damage a few years ago, it was absolutely fine for 15yrs past survey. I suspect surveys are more cautious with unusual roof types and flat roofs, were there any obvious signs of damage or where they just stating it due to age. A copper roof should last 100yrs+ if properly installed.

Rosesarere · 01/12/2020 10:54

The link isn't working for me, does anyone have the link for it please?

Original poster

PropertyDIYNC · 01/12/2020 15:41

That house is about 50m from us Labobo it has no outside space at all.

Yes Cavagirl the roof is knackered. It might last another year or two but the guttering lining is so far gone leaks have started to decay the lintel of the porch and lumps of concrete are falling off and exposing the reinforcing steel. With asbestos debris in the loft space, the roof may as well come off at the same time so everything can be exposed and properly sorted.

As several of you have said, no point ripping out the features we were buying the house for in the first place and making a move that makes our finances much more complex when the point was to simplify.

Gah, we're still vacillating. Thank you for every post, it all helps.

To add injury to insult, 16yo has just tested positive for covid, so we can't even go and view any other houses for at least a fortnight.

So glad I NC for this thread - at this point I may as well just publish my full name and address

OP posts:

Cavagirl · 01/12/2020 16:50

Yes Cavagirl the roof is knackered

Ah 😬

Gosh normally I read these sort of dilemmas and know exactly what I think I'd do but given your recent update I really don't least helpful comment of the day

Remember that any other buyer will have the same issues as you do, so if you still want it frankly you stand a good chance of being able to pass at least some costs to the vendor. It's going into Christmas, nothing will happen this month if they relist it, and the reality of the economic impact of covid will hit next year. So if I was them I'd be pretty flexible to just get it sold, given their situation.

On balance I think if it really is the dream house I'd do everything to make it work. But I guess only you know if it really is the dream house or not! Good luck!

TeaLibrary · 01/12/2020 21:05

Honestly OP I think you might be better off looking elsewhere. If the aim was to simplify your finances then a house which is potentially a serious money pit is best avoided.

Itscoldouthere · 01/12/2020 22:29

We bought a wreck that was in a conversation area and considered of interest/importance by the conservation officer, we just worked with him, letting him know of our plans, he didn't like everything we wanted to do but realised we were keeping the original features and enhancing the property, so he never caused any problems for us.
I think is you love the house and can get a reduction to pay for asbestos removal of still go ahead, these houses are unique and if you appreciate that you'll get lots of pleasure living there.
I always feel a bit sad seeing architectural gems full of the wrong type of furniture, they just look so compromised, but with the right owners they just sing.

MandalaYogaTapestry · 02/12/2020 00:38

This house shows as sold in the link?

Cygne · 02/12/2020 08:48

It's sold subject to contract - presumably therefore that refers to the fact that OP's offer has been accepted STC.

MandalaYogaTapestry · 02/12/2020 09:21

May be that, just the OP didn't say that they made an offer, on Monday night they were waiting for the asbestos report.

Good for them if it's indeed their offer that was accepted.

Cavagirl · 02/12/2020 09:35

From the OP:
Our offer was accepted

MandalaYogaTapestry · 02/12/2020 09:44

Oh I see, thanks. So she has been deliberating after making an offer. My confusion.

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