Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Negotiating price after offer

32 replies

NotApplePie · 07/02/2025 09:01

I offered on a house in September and they have finally found an onward purchase. Obviously this means that I’m now unlikely to complete before the new stamp duty charges come into effect. My accepted offer was 270k which was around 7k under the asking price.

I have also now had a survey done which has highlighted a few things that I hadn’t noticed at the time of viewing or wouldn’t have noticed. The main ones being there is a gap in the party wall in the loft and the small flat roofed area (about 2x2m) is in need of repair.

I’m considering reducing my offer to take into account the above but have no idea how to do this or if I should. I’m aware that they can say no and the market is very quiet in my area plus I don’t want to lose my buyer. I’m buying on my own after divorcing & selling the family home so everything feels a bit overwhelming. None of my family or friends have moved recently so whilst they are offering advice I’m not sure they’re in touch with the current market.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

OP posts:
rainingsnoring · 07/02/2025 15:01

I agree that, if @NotApplePie told the sellers to take as long as they needed to find a property, no hurry at all, then negotiating over the SDLT would be unreasonable. However, that's a big assumption based on what is written in the OP. She may have mentioned the SDLT expiry and chased them repeatedly. We don't know from what is written.

2025willbemytime · 07/02/2025 15:09

rainingsnoring · 07/02/2025 14:55

Your seller sounds difficult but it also sounds as if she may blink first in the negotiations. I expect you are getting fed up!

Show quote history

I am fed up as want to move but tbh I don't think she would. She agreed to one job, the easiest and cheapest. I think she thinks she's in a strong position as house sold after two viewings and in the first two weeks if not less. But one has to think about their ongoing purchase..

GrantMitchell · 07/02/2025 15:17

@NotApplePie I would be more likely to negotiate on the stamp duty increase as that is a clear extra cost incurred by you waiting for your seller. Repairs on survey issues are harder to reach a figure everyone agrees on.

Can’t advise on roof repair costs for the small flat roof but I had similar repair done to a small attic wall last year and it was £350 and about 3 hours work. Made sure to get party wall agreement from neighbour.

nodramaplz · 07/02/2025 15:26

snotathing · 07/02/2025 11:03

I think if you're going to try to blackmail them, you have to stick to one thing. Either you are demanding stamp duty money or you want them to pay for (very minor) repairs from the survey.

You might have a chance with their delay increasing stamp duty but you'd look ridiculous trying it on for tiny issues that a survey should have highlighted 5 months ago.

Black mail??
You should revise that!!
Would you book something and pay Same price if it was broken on collection?

nodramaplz · 07/02/2025 15:27

Op
You need to discuss this with vendors.

rainingsnoring · 07/02/2025 18:14

2025willbemytime · 07/02/2025 15:09

I am fed up as want to move but tbh I don't think she would. She agreed to one job, the easiest and cheapest. I think she thinks she's in a strong position as house sold after two viewings and in the first two weeks if not less. But one has to think about their ongoing purchase..

Show quote history

Worth looking at what the market is doing now in your area in that case and whether it is likely that she would sell as easily again or not. Good luck.

2025willbemytime · 07/02/2025 19:13

rainingsnoring · 07/02/2025 18:14

Worth looking at what the market is doing now in your area in that case and whether it is likely that she would sell as easily again or not. Good luck.

Show quote history

I'm moving a long way. I want this house and I want to move but I will absolutely pull out if I have to.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page