Do sellers/ estate agents have to disclose defects?

[FTBregret]

First time buyer recently moved into my flat (which I’m hating more and more each day LOL)

In the main bathroom the shower doesn’t work - as in doesn’t turn on. It’s a shower head above a bath, and the bath taps do work.
I did think the main bathroom shower head looked suspiciously too clean for London (no limescale) whereas the en-suite shower head is covered in limescale.

Were sellers supposed to mention this upfront? Guess it’s yet another issue I’ll have to fix and pay for… already dreaming of selling it and being free

Shpuld I mention it to estate agent or is it too late now that I’ve stupidly bought the place.
As there were tenants living in the flat when I came to view it, I didn’t think to inspect everything in depth without being disrespectful

You should always test stuff like that - turn taps on, flush toilets etc
however I don’t think you have any come back now as it’s done so I’d bite the bullet and get a new shower head - shouldn’t be too expensive

Sounds like a 20min job, grow up.

Caveat emptor (buyer beware). A thorough survey might not check all taps tbh. There are always niggles with any new place - nowhere is perfect - and replacing a shower head is overall a small issue. Unless there are other issues youve not mentioned I doubt the estate agent would be interested in a blocked showerhead as the sale has gone through now.

God forbid you had a bigger issue.

whilst frustrating and probably money you currently do not have to fix, it’s a small matter overall and buyers are not expected to disclose every tiny issue

I'm guessing you're not in one of the 'caring' professions.

I think it's down to you as a buyer to ensure you are satisfied with everything. I've never checked all the taps but usually check one to see what water pressure is like.

Welcome to home ownership op, it's expensive!

You only have a chance of any comeback if you’d specifically asked the question ‘Does the shower work’, and they had lied and said yes. Then you would have a case for misrepresentation.

However as you didn’t do this, then it’s a case of buyer beware. So you’ll just need to file
it in the category of shit happens.

When I read the thread title I was expecting a major structural problem or something. But a non working shower? Very minor issue.

Depends where you are - in Scotland you have 5 days to notify yr solicitor of defects - things like broken shower, boiler - not things you would see during a viewing or survey.
If it's the showerhead not working, that's easy to fix and just file it under "shit happens". If the shower head isn't attached to any pipework...? Surely you must have s9me comeback on that type of deliberate pretence?

Short answer, no. No-one has to disclose anything except as a response to a direct question. If you want a working shower, it's up to you to check/ask that that's available.

The sellers didn’t have to mention this upfront, in England at least.

When you move to a new house there is normally something not working. The Sellers are happy to have got rid of a problem until they find their new house has at least one thing not working too.