Would you ask the vendors about this

[rainboo]

FTBs, currently in the process of buying. Searches/enquiries are back, now waiting for solicitor to prepare the property report. The house is vacant, having been previously tenanted. Looks to be in really good condition throughout and the building survey showed up no significant issues.

I won't go into how, but through some detective work managed to find out who the previous tenants were and found them on Facebook. Was having a nosy through their photos to see if there were any of the house. Came across an alarming video from almost 2 years ago which shows the kitchen ceiling collapsed all over the floor (looks like below the bathroom.) No explanation in the comments as to what happened annoyingly. If it were a leak then I assume there have been no problems since then.

My question is, would you be asking the vendors what happened? That would obviously mean admitting I have been Facebook stalking people which is a bit awkward! It's also possible that they may not have even been aware as the tenant is a builder and might have repaired themselves. What would people do?

I wouldnt say anything especially for a collapsed roof which is very likely water damage that has been repaired. Big cracks or signs of damp i would maybe mention though

No I wouldn’t ask them. Stuff happens in houses all the time. It was two years ago, the ceiling is fine now so the issue must have been fixed.

Funnily enough, when we viewed our house there was a hole in the kitchen ceiling because the shower had leaked. Repairs were booked and the ceiling was patched and painted before we moved in 6 years ago, no issue since.

Thanks, that's made me feel better. Definitely no signs of damp or cracks...wish I'd not been nosy now!

I flooded the bath once, only saved the downstairs ceiling by punching holes in it with an umbrella so the water could drain out 😆

Don't worry about it. Look at it this way - the kitchen ceiling is nice and new!

Think I'd be asking to be honest.
Facebook stalking is very common!

What information would you gain that you don't already have ? There was a leak, it has been fixed and decorative repairs have been made.

No! It was a leak, leaks happen, the survey was fine. A surveyor is going to have a far better idea of the state of the building than the vendor who essentially just foot the bill for the repair.

No I wouldn't ask. It's not structural so not really of any concern.

Thanks all. You're right, what would they say other than there was a leak that was repaired. I think I just panicked yesterday when I saw it!

Houses sometimes have leaks. It's been fixed, so what's the issue?

I would mention this to my solicitor and ask the solicitor to ask a formal question about whether or not there have been and leaks in the property over the last x years, what the cause of the leak was, what the damage was and what repairs were carried out.

Is it an older house with a lath and plaster ceiling? These do sometimes fall down due to their age. If it is then you could all the seller whether the ceilings are all original?

Disregard if it's a relatively modern house.

You could say you were nosying about outside and a neighbour told you? Our neighbours told us lots of stuff we didn't know about our house!