What would you call this?

[kirinm]

We've made an offer on a house and I'm a bit worried about whether we'd actually get through the sales process as there are lots of questions about ownership / tenancies etc.

Anyway, the house is in a pretty awful condition. I was describing it as if it's occupied by hoarders but I'm not sure if that's right. Every room is a bit like below. Does that constitute hoarding or am I overthinking?

I think my confusion is because there are so many bags full of stuff rather than the stuff being loose.

Looks like hoarding to me. Maybe not the most extreme version, but if someone is showing a house to sell like that, that suggests declutterimg is hard for them.

Is your concern how much they leave behind? If so, offer on the assumption that you may need house clearance to be done.

If the current occupiers are tenants, can you make it a condition that the landlord will clear it and give you true vacant possession?

I am in Scotland btw, but for a recent house sale, my solicitor went through standard terms which included something about unwanted items left behind would be removed at my expense

The fact that it's in bags makes me wonder if the person has moved from somewhere bigger and now has all their possessions in a smaller space. What is the ownership set-up? Owner-occupied and all rooms like that? Or house-share/multiple occupation?

Two siblings inherited from their father - they're both adults and I'd guess in their 30-40s. They live in the property now. There are other people in the property too but the agent doesn't know who they are and on what basis they are there (something we've asked them to find out)!

It was an HMO at some point. Entirely unclear if it still is but all but one room has a bed in and fridges. All doors have locks and there is a second kitchen on the 3rd floor.

My concern is how viable is this as a sale. All of the rooms are in a terrible state with people living in them. That people are living like this suggests they are vulnerable and if any of them are tenants they're going to need a lot of help to move.

Some people have that level of rubbish on the bed and sleep in it too.

If we buy it, it will need to be gutted but waste removal is going to be very expensive so it would obviously be preferable if all the owners belongings have been removed before we start that process but I think we are alive to the potential that it will be us paying to clear anything that is left.

Is it being offered for sale with vacant possession? (I think that's what it is called)

That would definitely be the only way we'd buy it and we've been told that is the plan.

The EA knows very little which is not very helpful. We sent them a list of questions to answer and are waiting for a response. They suggested that there's no chain, they're all going into rented and we'd get the sale through in a couple of months. I beg to differ!

How do they reach out to the coat hanger?

We had a firm cleared my grans house and wasn’t too expensive. Mind you not messy. My Dad did take some stuff to the council tip. It sounds a bit odd though. I would be concerned that the people wouldn’t move out and might involve social services. I hope you have a good lawyer x

You can check if it's an HMO by checking the local council HMO register online.

Make sure it’s vacant on exchange, not completion.

Definitely hoarding

Plus no storage space

Ie no shelves, wardrobes or chest of drawers

legally having adults in the house that are not family and don't own the house is a massive red flag. Are they tenants? Do they have contracts? Not sure if it is better or worse if they have contracts!
Those adults can refuse to move and you can't force them because of the lack of contracts etc.

That to me is a bigger issue.
I think you need a serious talk with your solicitor.
You need to be sure of getting vacant possession, and I would want the extra people out before exchange.

As to the pile of junk/possessions, I would just assume that a lot will be left behind, so I would factor in that cost into whatI was willing to pay.
You can say things like - they will be responsible for the cost of removing anything left behind, but it is much simpler just to think OK that will cost us £5,000 to clear so I am dropping that from the asking price.

The last problem is that if there is a lot of stuff in the rooms, can a surveyor actually get to see the things they need ot see. If the junk is too big, the weight can effect the floor and structure, and/or there oculd be mould, rats etc hiding in it. So you need to factor in that cost as well.

On the other hand, you could get a bargain because no-one else wants it, and then it is a few days/weeks hard work to clear it out and you get a great house.

Honestly OP how on earth can you even view this property ?
Everything is so covered in crap you can't see what horrors the house may have . I know you are resigned to renovation but ....who knows what you will have to end up doing .

Well we've now been told that there are no tenants, just family members however contrary to what we'd been told they will be in a chain and don't even have bloody probate yet 🙄

oh, probate can take a year or more at the moment!

I agree. Anything could be under that crap! Have you had a survey?

Walk away!!

We've spent no money on this place, just viewed it and offered. The offer is low and we've said we will be continuing to look because they're not in a position to accept it anyway. We certainly don't intend on doing anything else at this stage. Probate and a long chain is the opposite of what we were told and getting into the house in the summer to gut it, was one of the main / only benefits!