Question on Surveys and council properties, need an answer tonight

[Linnet]

When buying a council flat if the survey shows up loose slates on the roof, is it the council responsibility to fix them before the sale goes through? Or can they refuse?

Are you already living in the flat - then yes as long as you haven't exchanged contracts yet

Or you can negociate the price down

I don't think I can negotiate the price down as it's a right to buy, we haven't exchanted anything yet, haven't signed anything.

The survey mentions some loose slates on roof and it also mentions the chimney needs looking at. My solicitor has said that I could ask them to do these repairs but they probably wouldn't do them, which to me seems odd.

Especially since out of the blue last week a contractor appeared and had a look at the chimney and the slates, he didn't do anything just had a look.

I've got a horrible feeling that they've got a copy of my survey, seen the chimney and slates mentioned and sent a contractor out to look at it, but will wait until after we've completed to do any work then get me to pay half the bill.

Should I ignore the solicitor and ask that they do these repairs?

bump

If you have submitted your "Notice of right to buy" then they have 'no requirements to repair unless an emergency'

My dad knows these things & I phoned hime to ask

If the roof is actually leaking then they do have to fix it

HTH

Thanks KatyMac. No the roof isn't leaking, I just wondered if these were things that should be fixed before buying, but am discovering that there are a whole lot of different rules for right to buy.

I know that if any repairs are done to the roof I have to pay a share and I'm happy to do that but just wondered if this should be repaired first seeing as the survey mentioned it.

All their responsibilities as landlord end when you put in your 'notice of right to buy' apart from the legal responsibility to give you a property which is water tight & has water & elec