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Original poster

Claim for damage one year after house purchase?

59 replies

ShoreSick · 10/09/2023 16:09

Hi All , we bought our first house last year. The previous owner had converted the ground floor garage in a sort of lab- not clear what sort of lab, but when we viewed the house there were lots of chemical solvents around and a strong scent- I am thinking perfumes or maybe house detergents. We were asked not to take pictures of that room.
We didn't question that at the time and assume the smell would eventually go away through ventilation, deep cleening etc. However, one year into it, the smell is still there and although it is not too unpleasant, I've read there may be a risk that those substances may be carcinogenic. The room is supposed to be my home office and I haven't been able to use it- working from the kitchen table is driving me mad! We are considering stripping out all the walls, ceiling and some joinery in a desperate attempt to get rid of the smell, which would obviously come at a cost.
Just wondering if anyone knows if there is a chance we could claim some sort of compensation from the previous owners?
Thanks in advance for any tips and advice you may have!

OP posts:
KievLoverTwo · 10/09/2023 16:54

C'mon OP. Would you buy a farm and sue for cow shit?

My first thought was: crime scene cleaners.

FloweryName · 10/09/2023 16:57

ShoreSick · 10/09/2023 16:43

Thanks all. I have considered asking the vendors exactly what chemicals were used. I am just not sure I can rely on their answers as they may want to minimise the issue?
We have changed all soft furnishing. The source of smell seems to be one particular cabinet, which was closed during the viewing so not so visible really. I need to check what the survey says.
What if their business was illegal, I.e. they couldn't run it from a home? Would it make a difference? I think I've found it online and it's about cosmetics

What’s with the desperation for free money from someone? You are coming across as very grabby.

If you think the smell is coming from one cabinet, why can’t you move that? Is it built in?

Floralnomad · 10/09/2023 16:58

You have no claim against anyone . It’s no different to buying a house where someone has kept several big dogs , knowing it smells and then discovering you can’t get rid of the smell .

Original poster
ShoreSick · 10/09/2023 17:00

I appreciate we were very naive but please be kind.
No I am not planning on blackmailing - and
would have thought there is a difference between chemicals, that perhaps shouldn't have been there in first place, and dog pee or cow shit.

OP posts:
ClematisBlue49 · 10/09/2023 17:04

I assume your priority is to get rid of the smell as soon as possible so you can start using the space as you planned. I wouldn't waste time seeking redress for reasons others have stated.

If you have already tried deep cleaning the cabinet in question and that has failed, I would rip it out and deep clean behind and underneath where it has been. If the smell is more widespread, call a specialist commercial cleaning company and get their advice and a quote. I wouldn't waste time or money hiring a new surveyor - your priority is to remove the smell, not to identify it. The Cleaners might have come across it in any case.

Meanwhile, leave the garage door open as much as you can to ensure ventilation.

nevynevster · 10/09/2023 17:04

ShoreSick · 10/09/2023 17:00

I appreciate we were very naive but please be kind.
No I am not planning on blackmailing - and
would have thought there is a difference between chemicals, that perhaps shouldn't have been there in first place, and dog pee or cow shit.

OP, dig out the pack your solicitor sent you on purchase. That will have the details of what questions were asked. These are a set of standard questions and one may cover any illegal activities. But if they were running a legit business and using chemicals then really you have no recourse I'm afraid.

HappyMavis · 10/09/2023 17:05

ShoreSick · 10/09/2023 17:00

I appreciate we were very naive but please be kind.
No I am not planning on blackmailing - and
would have thought there is a difference between chemicals, that perhaps shouldn't have been there in first place, and dog pee or cow shit.

Wouldn't expect animal excrement to have been there in the first place tbh, maybe I have higher standards though.

Alwaysdecorating · 10/09/2023 17:06

ShoreSick · 10/09/2023 17:00

I appreciate we were very naive but please be kind.
No I am not planning on blackmailing - and
would have thought there is a difference between chemicals, that perhaps shouldn't have been there in first place, and dog pee or cow shit.

Is it a built in cabinet? What’s the cabinet made of?

What have you tried to so far? In regards to getting rid of the smell?

There’s no difference on wether they were legally acting or not. You saw what they had. You think it was cosmetic production. But that doesn’t matter. The time to ask questions was when you saw it. Not a year later.

It wasn’t hidden.

Scaredycatttt · 10/09/2023 17:07

I'm not sure that it is any different from buying a house that smells of dog pee. What does it smell like exactly? If the smell is coming from a particular cupboard then surely the obvious answer is get rid of the cupboard?

Original poster
ShoreSick · 10/09/2023 17:10

Thanks clematis and Nevy. It sounds like I really need to strip out the cabinet (in built). I've been reluctant to do so as it would compromise the rest of the wall joinery amd aesthetic, but sounds like it's the only way out...

OP posts:
Thatladdo · 10/09/2023 17:12

And alarm bells werent ringing at the time?

Anyway.

The smell you can smell there, have you smelled it before away from your house and if you have can you think where you might have smelled it?
Describing a smell is probably too objective

ActDottie · 10/09/2023 17:18

No chance. You buy it in the condition it is in. You knew the condition.

C4tastrophe · 10/09/2023 17:27

Take out the cabinet but try not to damage it. If that fixes the issue get another one made and installed, or see if that cabinet can be salvaged.

Floralnomad · 10/09/2023 17:29

What have you tried cleaning it with as someone may be able to come up with something that will work

50lessfat · 10/09/2023 17:31

Meth lab? Watch Breaking Bad!

CutesyUserName · 10/09/2023 17:33

Have you thought of looking up the previous owners name on Companies House to see if they run a business that might give you an answer to what sort of chemicals may have been used?

KievLoverTwo · 10/09/2023 17:34

So you want to sue the previous owners for a cabinet and we are instructed to be kind to you?

Errr....?

There's a Facebook group called Help I Don't Know How To Clean This. Many very experienced folk on there. They might be able to suggest some old wife's substance (eg bicarcb) to sit in there to absorb the smell or a bullet proof, tried and tested cleaning solution.

Nosleepforthismum · 10/09/2023 17:52

Being kind OP because I’ve read this is your first house, you really should have bought up your concerns when you were in the process of purchasing the property. Caveat emptor is still applied when buying houses meaning that you (the buyer) are responsible for making all necessary checks before committing to purchase. Unless you can prove the seller has lied about anything you have no recourse against either the seller or the surveyor I’m afraid. I’d focus on the good advice from PP’s about getting rid of the smell and just take this as a bit of a learning experience.

Crochetablanket · 10/09/2023 18:19

Surely the simplest thing is to get in touch with the seller and simply ask?

VeloVixen · 10/09/2023 18:28

Definitely rip the cabinet out and hopefully that will solve it. If some sort of chemical has soaked into the wood you’ll never get rid of the smell by cleaning.

years ago I viewed a house and the whole house had a weird acidic smell. I was too polite to ask them what the hell the smell was but also didn’t offer on the house as I was scared the smell might remain!

Hedgehodge · 10/09/2023 18:33

No, you have no claim.

The smell was there when you viewed it. You bought the house very aware of the issue. Just because it’s worse than you expected, you don’t have a right to any damages.

Pinktottenham · 10/09/2023 18:36

You can't sue for damages.

We bought a house with a converted office in the garage. It was insulated, electricity and Internet. Survey said it was good.

A year later it's green with mould and it turns out the construction was a massive (and dangerous) bodge job. I have to work in the kitchen.

I can't sue for damages either.

We have strip back and start again. Just like you!

(I'd be more concerned about WHAT experiments were being done. And was there a dead body involved? Or maybe I watched too many horror movies!)

BudO · 10/09/2023 18:37

@ShoreSick before you rip it out, have a watch of this video by a woman who restores furniture, there are lots of ways to get rid of smells in wood and seal them in too. Personally I would go with the baking soda and suggestion and then the BIN primer, the red tin is oil based and probably the best, the blue BIN 123 bullseye (both by Zinsser) can be used on walls/ceilings and is water based.

7 ways to get the STINK out of OLD FURNITURE!

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https://youtu.be/OnKO0pM7Ko0?si=bTJC83sUeCFy8nCY

wutheringkites · 10/09/2023 19:49

I rented a flat about 8 years ago that had a weird smell one room that didn't go away, it turned out the previous tenant was making vape liquids there.

Drews · 10/09/2023 19:53

How do you know they are carcinogenic if you don't know what they are?

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