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Original poster

To negotiate or not to negotiate

57 replies

StuckInARug · 23/06/2022 15:49

Survey on a 1900 house, spoke to the surveyor who says house needs a new roof. We can patch it up etc but it’s just “throwing good money after the bad”.

DH spoke to the EA who said he’d ask vendor about it. Vendor said they heard same thing when they bought house 20+ years ago and it’s just needed some patching up here and then. They said they accepted our offer off market and already sold at a good price.

Would you negotiate? We’re not willing to walk away. We love the house and we see ourselves living there for the rest of our lives…

OP posts:
ashmoleansrfc · 23/06/2022 16:01

It doesn't sound like the vendor wants to negotiate from their response to the EA.

Many surveys will say 'needs new roof'. Doesn't mean you have to do it. Obviously the vendor thinks the roof issues are priced in to what you offered.

hannahcolobus · 23/06/2022 16:14

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Samanabanana · 23/06/2022 16:18

Our purchasers have done this to us but we were over a barrel and had to renegotiate. If we weren't over a barrel, I would have pulled out the sale and popped it back on the market, and it would no doubt have sold again quickly to someone who was willing to pay market value (their survey actually upvalued our house, despite it needing a new roof, which it definitely doesn't)

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 23/06/2022 16:23

Talk to your surveyor. Go back and have another look at least from the outside.
Some surveyors do look harshly at minor problems, but they are also paid to work on your behalf, not the vendors.
Alternatively you can always ask for a specific survey on the roof and get an idea of what’s needed. Then decide from there. Or take a chance and buy it anyway.

Original poster
StuckInARug · 23/06/2022 16:40

Sorry to drip feed but our offer was below asking pricing and it still got accepted. I’m just wondering, is it worth asking for a reduction formally, knowing we’d still go ahead if they said no? Is there a chance they might pull out if we asked?

theres no chain and they don’t live in the house, so I don’t think they are in a rush.

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bilbodog · 23/06/2022 16:43

I would get someone to specifically look at the roof. We bought an Edwardian house 25 years ago and survey said roof would need re-doing soon but when we sold 15 years later we still hadnt needed to do it. Im not sure its been done since we sold it either.

SafelySoftly · 23/06/2022 16:58

Yes of course, you can ask but they might just put in back on the market and find another buyer. Depends whether you think you are in a strong position.

Original poster
StuckInARug · 23/06/2022 17:51

Another question... (again sorry for drip feeding!)

The surveyor found apparently LOTS of japanese knotweed on the garden of a property opposite the house we're buying. He couldn't find any on the garden of the house we're buying or on neighbouring houses, but the house opposite ours (so on the other side of the road, not sharing a garden boundary) has loads. Would this put you off? He said we could get an indemnity in case it spreads to our house, from what I've read it doesn't spread over air but just through roots? I am guessing it's unlikely the root will cross over the road?

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Threetulips · 23/06/2022 17:54

You need facts - get a quote for a new roof and go from there.

knotweed is expensive to get rid of so take the indemnity

iwantgojettersnow · 23/06/2022 17:56

Ooh I think the Japanese knotweed however would put me off 😬

Suedomin · 23/06/2022 17:56

Surveyors always seem to say houses need a new roof especially if it's an old house. We were told the same thing when we bought our house. We replaced it 25 years later!
If you love the house and your offer was already below the asking price anyway I would leave it. If I was in the sellers position I think I might just put it back on the market

Original poster
StuckInARug · 23/06/2022 20:45

@iwantgojettersnow the knotweed is worrying me, but the house is in South East London which is apparently a hot spot for Japanese knotweed... the surveyor didn't seem too concerned as it's not near enough the house (it's on the other side of the road), but suggested we get an indemnity in case it appears in our garden in the future...

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Original poster
StuckInARug · 23/06/2022 20:47

@Suedomin and others who commented, I think we will just leave it, on the basis that we did offer under asking, and also that we're going to do the loft anyway so we might as well replace the roof then.

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Bouledeneige · 23/06/2022 20:59

Sorry but I've bought 2 period properties (1905 and 1886) and neither detailed survey said they needed a new roof. You do need to take a further look and see if you think it's serious and maybe get someone to take a look. Assess whether it is urgent - if so I'd consider asking them to drop the price. But it's a judgement call...

My buyers asked for all sorts of reductions but I was clear from the outset I couldn't take any further reduction.I still sold to them when they accepted that - but I had a place I really wanted to buy.

hannahcolobus · 23/06/2022 22:37

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hannahcolobus · 23/06/2022 22:40

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Original poster
StuckInARug · 24/06/2022 06:20

I’m sure they got a very good look as the property has a huge loft so he could even touch the roof tiles from underneath. There’s no felt, I don’t think there’s much or any damage really, but he said some tiles were broken, others replaced etc, he could see sunlight. A couple of the ridges apparently were slightly twisted but I don’t think there was anything major.

now I’m more worried about the Japanese knotweed across the road!

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Cervinia · 24/06/2022 06:54

If you got a reduced price anyway I’d take the roof on the chin. I bought a terrace in 1988 which was built in 1902, they said the roof would need replacing soon. I left in 1998 - it still has the same roof. As does the full row of seven houses.

Orangesare · 24/06/2022 07:00

I think it’s the lack of felt that’s the reason for the new roof. If it’s got non standard tiles it can be hard to be find replacements for any broken one

Threetulips · 24/06/2022 23:09

The best idea is to look at neighbors roofs - and see if any have been replaced recently that will indicate if yours needs doing sooner rather than later.

Starseeking · 25/06/2022 06:10

StuckInARug · 23/06/2022 20:47

@Suedomin and others who commented, I think we will just leave it, on the basis that we did offer under asking, and also that we're going to do the loft anyway so we might as well replace the roof then.

If you got it for under asking, and you're going to do the roof when you convert the loft anyway, I wouldn't bother discussing further.

Original poster
StuckInARug · 25/06/2022 06:14

Out of the 4 semis one seems to have a new roof, the other two look old but maybe we’re replaced say 30 years ago? The surveyor confirmed there are no leaks at the moment.

we are thinking we won’t try to renegotiate as:


  • we knew the roof was old when we made the offer

  • we bought it off market under asking

  • its the most beautiful house that I think is potentially worth more than we’re paying, had it gone on the open market

  • the sellers have no incentive to accept it - they don’t live there and I imagine wouldn’t hesitate to put it back on the market. We’d be £1000s out of pocket but they wouldn’t.


that’s it. Part of me thinks we must negotiate and I’m just trying to justify my decision because I’m afraid of negotiating and being firm… would others try to negotiate in this situation?

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Doingmybest12 · 25/06/2022 06:23

If you think it is a fair price and it is worth it to you why negotiate and potentially cause ill feeling? You already got it below and removed from the market.

Original poster
StuckInARug · 25/06/2022 07:02

@Doingmybest12 youre right I think we’ll just go ahead with the agreed price.

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SafelySoftly · 25/06/2022 07:06

If the Vendors have an inkling (via the estate agent) that you’re going to do a loft conversion, I’d expect them to be very cross that you’re considering asking them to pay for some of that (ie the new roof). And Id think you were cheeky and consider not selling to you.

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