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Original poster

Reasonable or not

13 replies

kirinm · 06/10/2024 10:52

We've had a survey done on the house we want to buy. We knew it was in a poor state although not to the extent it is. One of the major issues is damp. Like, extensive damp that has caused joists to rot. We will absolutely have to go back to brick due to the extent of damage caused.

However, the issue for us is that there is still water entering the property. The guttering is leaking at the front and back and needs re sealing / replacement and realigning. We can't seriously buy a house which we know is going to be exposed to rain throughout the conveyancing process. It is also empty and has been for months, so no heating on,

If you were selling a house with active water ingress, would you fix it to facilitate the purchase? I think we are going to have to make it a condition of the sale. The ground level is also built up too high and is causing water ingress. I can't see that being fixed but at least fixing the guttering / drainpipes would limit the water.

Is that a reasonable thing you ask? Would you agree to do it?

OP posts:
Original poster
kirinm · 06/10/2024 11:00

I'm flip flopping all over the place with this. It is a reasonable thing to ask and we'd be foolish not to ask it. But would a reasonable vendor agree (not sure we have a reasonable vendor tbh).

OP posts:
shesamarshmallow · 06/10/2024 11:04

In your shoes I think I’d pull out and look for something else.

Original poster
kirinm · 06/10/2024 11:15

shesamarshmallow · 06/10/2024 11:04

In your shoes I think I’d pull out and look for something else.

If we can get it for the right price then we won't pull out because it's the perfect location and literally nothing else has come on the market for months. We are fortunate enough to have access to trades - my DP is an electrician and works with an architect firm and their builders / plumbers.

Obviously it's only something to pursue if the price is right and it's not left to rot for the next four months.

The problem with having a tradesman as a partner is that they come across this stuff all the time and know it can be sorted so dismiss what any normal person wouldn't.

OP posts:
Pocketfullofdogtreats · 06/10/2024 11:19

I agree with your last paragraph. My DS (a builder) has taken on nightmare projects and turned them into beautiful houses.
But I don't think you can force your vendor to do anything. Just get it for the right price. I hope you've got somewhere to live while it's being rebuilt?

NewFriendlyLadybird · 06/10/2024 11:20

kirinm · 06/10/2024 11:00

I'm flip flopping all over the place with this. It is a reasonable thing to ask and we'd be foolish not to ask it. But would a reasonable vendor agree (not sure we have a reasonable vendor tbh).

You can only ask. If they won’t agree I do suggest pulling out though.

Original poster
kirinm · 06/10/2024 11:46

@NewFriendlyLadybird we will walk away if they won't fix it. I'd imagine any lender would be reluctant to lend where there is active water ingress.

OP posts:
Original poster
kirinm · 06/10/2024 11:48

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 06/10/2024 11:19

I agree with your last paragraph. My DS (a builder) has taken on nightmare projects and turned them into beautiful houses.
But I don't think you can force your vendor to do anything. Just get it for the right price. I hope you've got somewhere to live while it's being rebuilt?

Do also thinks we can live in it so long as we have a couple of okay rooms. The problem here is that he loves the house and things he wouldn't usually accept aren't bothering him now. They bother me though!

It all comes down to money doesn't it? No point buying it if you can't fix it all immediately.

OP posts:
BarbaraHoward · 06/10/2024 11:50

Personally I wouldn't buy it unless the plan was for a massive renovation anyway. Damp can be awful.

Original poster
kirinm · 06/10/2024 11:55

BarbaraHoward · 06/10/2024 11:50

Personally I wouldn't buy it unless the plan was for a massive renovation anyway. Damp can be awful.

Yeah it was always a fixer upper but being considered because it would also be a very long term home.

OP posts:
Figsonit · 06/10/2024 12:24

If you were selling a house with active water ingress, would you fix it to facilitate the purchase?

Sure I would, but this is being sold (and presumably priced) as a fixer upper by someone who seems to want to get rid of it 'as is'. The gutters have probably been leaking for years so a couple more months shouldn't make that much difference.

Do you really want to make the seller do a bodge job on it? Maybe when you exchange, the seller would let you arrange to have it done yourself before completion.

Original poster
kirinm · 06/10/2024 12:32

Figsonit · 06/10/2024 12:24

If you were selling a house with active water ingress, would you fix it to facilitate the purchase?

Sure I would, but this is being sold (and presumably priced) as a fixer upper by someone who seems to want to get rid of it 'as is'. The gutters have probably been leaking for years so a couple more months shouldn't make that much difference.

Do you really want to make the seller do a bodge job on it? Maybe when you exchange, the seller would let you arrange to have it done yourself before completion.

He's being forced to sell it as something that needs fixing. He didn't price that in to start with and is reluctant to do it at all.

OP posts:
BlueMongoose · 06/10/2024 15:48

Figsonit · 06/10/2024 12:24

If you were selling a house with active water ingress, would you fix it to facilitate the purchase?

Sure I would, but this is being sold (and presumably priced) as a fixer upper by someone who seems to want to get rid of it 'as is'. The gutters have probably been leaking for years so a couple more months shouldn't make that much difference.

Do you really want to make the seller do a bodge job on it? Maybe when you exchange, the seller would let you arrange to have it done yourself before completion.

^this
He'll just want you to pay for it one way or another, and you'll get conflict that won't gain you much if anything. If your partner isn't bothered and they are an experienced tradesperson, I'd go along with that. Partner may well think as I generally do- that any work the seller did would be rubbish anyway as they have no incentive to do it right, only to do it cheap.

MaggieFS · 06/10/2024 16:52

If I were the seller no, I wouldn't. Given how you've described it, I'd just want it off my hands for minimum effort.

As the buyer, I also probably wouldn't expect the work to be done. But I would absolutely estimate the damage bill and make sure that's factored into what I would offer.

It can't hurt to open the discussion, and yes, it will just come down to money.

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