The all new buyers/sellers waiting room (continued) thread

[sweetpickle2]

New thread!

The sinking fund has covered the roof. She can't confirm a quote for the works that will be doing on the property and she said they will be on top of the service charge, so I'm just wondering if the seller will come back with an indication of what works will be done as the information he provided to the estate agents once for August 2023.

its £240k for a 2 bed but it will need a new bath, flooring and kitchen

@MotherOfRatios I'd take the loft issue to probably literally be about access - probably there's no loft ladder and estate agents aren't about to get a ladder to bring round so you can look up there.

Re certainty: In some ways I think you are trying to get clarity on a lot of things before you get your solicitor to proceed, when they are really things that it's part of the solicitors job and the buying process to establish. It's the point when you finally have certainty about everything that you exchange. These things take time and expertise. I totally get that you don't want to spend money on the solicitor, searches, survey etc if what comes out means you don't go through with the purchase, but that's how the system works and so it's just a risk we all have to suck up.

You definitely need to have a think about how certain you are personally about this purchase though - sounds like you have a lot of doubts, and definitely it's better to pull out now before you spend money if you aren't comfortable.

Everything's gone very quiet for mine after a bit of a flurry of activity last week. I'm told my vendors have returned their paperwork to their solicitor, but I've had nothing from mine, so I'll chase that later this week. Had the survey on mine last week, but we've had nothing from my buyers yet either. I'm assuming they are waiting for the survey before raising enquiries and I'm not sure how long a survey takes to actually arrive with the buyers.

Agree with @Tupster I'm afraid @MotherOfRatios - fair enough if you have cold feet, but a lot of this information should only really come out through the solicitor process.

Major works aren't inherently an issue as there is a risk of this with any flat you buy- you could complete on a flat and be sent a bill for upcoming works the next day. How the management company handle eg sinking fund, and communication, and following correct process (eg has a section 20 been issued if the works total more than £250 per flat etc) is what's key here.

I'm just waiting for a few answers to my questions, especially regarding the section 20. I think it's just so expensive and in a cost-of-living crisis to be wasting left right and centre, right?
Once I know what the major works are on the up to date form then I can proceed from there. But at the moment I can't make a decision as the form is out of date.

I can't believe your vendor doesn't know the cost of the works already. I'd be nervous she's trying to be shady about it. Is it anything to do with cladding remediation? If so, tread carefully because she may not know the full extent of the costs yet as it could be under negotiation and she wants to sell before the final sum is disclosed. If it's a block of flats rather than a house, I would also ask her/the agent to confirm the fire rating - if it's A or B1, you're fine, if it's B2 and above she should have an EWS1 certificate. If they don't then most lenders will decline a mortgage application.

Is it ex council? If it is she should definitely know all the major works planned and costs. For a private block the service charge and building sinking fund is normally enough to cover anything and buildings insurance covers the rest.

WE'VE EXCHANGED!!!! Finally!!!!!!

Was worried I'd feel flat but honestly so elated. Can't believe it!!

No cladding it was the managing agent I spoke to you about the works currently been done and potential work.
it's not ex council. It's 4 storeys so it doesn't meet the building safety act regulations (I have had one fall through because of that so I'm very well versed in that area)

so despite the management agent telling me this morning, there was planned Work on the building and work already happening on the roof because of the scaffolding the seller has come back to the estate agent to say that the scaffolding is up for window cleaning, and has not mentioned any of the planned work the managing agent told me about. The has to know about this as they would have notified the seller. I can't work out if the estate agent is lying and not putting my questions to be vendor or if the vendor is lying. The gas safety certificate has expired and they haven't renewed. I think I might sleep on it because with all these issues, I don't think it's worth the agreed price if I'm to proceed. I think if I do decide after tonight, I want to proceed. I think I would want to renegotiate the price. The planned works could be £20k+ just from googling other flat owners experiences of the works.

it just seems like it's a Landlord who can't be bothered and just wants to sell the flat.

congratulations! You must feel so relieved after all that waiting! Yay! It’s really happening now

@sweetpickle2 congratulations! So happy for you! And it’s good that you feel so good about it!

Great news @sweetpickle2 😃🍾🎉!

@MotherOfRatios , I think you need to follow your instincts. If you do go ahead you need to get your solicitor to obtain confirmation in writing, as it sounds like someone isn't telling the truth.

Just got the call, we have finally exchanged also! Feel so good! Only 3 days till we complete

Congrats!

@ClematisBlue49 agree I think I might take the night to sleep on it as clearly someone is not telling each other the truth and I don't think it's the managing agent. I did just receive a phone call from estate agents asking me to be a freehold house in London which is rare that one is in my budget, but I said yes okay then.

Yay @sweetpickle2@PC96 !!! this is a lucky thread today :-)

HURRAAAHHH! Congratulations @sweetpickle2 🍾🎆

Congratulations @PC96 Good luck with the packing!
📦 📦 📦

Ahhhh congrats to you too @PC96 !!!!

Next Friday for us completion wise- just enough time to get everything sorted I think. Honestly can't believe it!

@MotherOfRatios if your flat has a residents FB group I'd join so you can see the discussions on major works there.

What a good sleep you will have today! Congratulations!

I have searched and there doesn't seem to be any it seems to be mainly private renters

@sweetpickle2 @PC96 many many congrats!!! You made it over the line 🥳🍾

Congratulations @PC96 and @sweetpickle2 so happy for you!

I can only dream of that day

No news whatsoever today. It's like bloody Groundhog Day. Only news we ever get is more enquiries. We're nearing the 9 week mark of the enquiries stage and 13 weeks since offers accepted.

Congratulations, @sweetpickle2. I'm voting for not cleaning that house again. 😁 What a relief!

And congratulations to you too, @PC96.

Congratulations @sweetpickle2 (at last!!!) Glad you are elated and not flat.

Congrats too @PC96 fantastic news.

Also, brilliant @ibelieveinmirrorballs, so good to hear how happy you are as soon as you have set foot in the new place. I hope the kids are just as delighted too.

@GoldieLookingBoots I feel your pain, I lost my buyers at the start of Feb. I have been fortunate to have had a flurry of viewings and went under offer again a couple of weeks ago. I am still buying the place I was buying initially too. I hope you manage to do similar and that your sellers hang on for you if possible. You are still a speedier prospect than someone starting from scratch as your solicitor has probably done most of the work surrounding your purchase.

@MotherOfRatios it is good to research as much as possible before you have spent too much, but you do sound very unsure. This is before the horror of the process of all the searches and surveys. Definitely sleep on it and view the freehold house too before deciding...

Congrats @sweetpickle2 and @PC96 ! 🎉