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Original poster

Bungalow we are currently in the process of buying has given me the ick!

76 replies

ErlingHaalandsManBun · 19/02/2026 17:44

I have posted about this previously but the issues we are having with the bungalow we are buying continue to come in and it has now given me the 'property ick'

I'm not sure I can come back from it but DH is still really keen to buy. Although he won't make me feel bad if I decide I want to walk away.

Issues are:

Bungalow has no completion certificate from when it was built in 2004 (and it has already had a new roof which makes us nervous as to why it has needed one so soon)

Oil tank is knackered and needs replacing. Due to new legislation it can no longer go in the same place as the one already there meaning we need to move the shed losing a chunk of garden on the other side, and the tank itself will be further into an already small garden.

Boiler is knackered and needs replacing.

Searches have shown a drain under the property which is owned by the house next door and the title shows they have rights to come onto our land to maintain or repair this drain. We are also liable for 50% of any costs incurred for this drain.

Searches have shown the property is in a high risk area of both natural ground subsidence and radon.

All of the above have made me fall out of love with what should have been a 'dream relocation' by the sea. DH thinks everything above is fixable and doable and we need to crack on further and get some answers to our questions and have a proper think before we pull out but I feel just about ready to walk away.

We have put our concerns about the above to the sellers solicitors and have requested they get the build signed off retrospectively along with questions about the oil tank and the location of this drain so are waiting for those answers and having a few days to think and talk further.

I just think that when you are buying a property it should be an exciting experience and I am just worried we are buying something that is a potential money pit and it doesn't feel the same property that I thought we were buying and fell in love with.

Would all this put you off or is DH right?

OP posts:
IceOnTheLake · 19/02/2026 17:48

Other than the radon (many parts of the UK are high radon), with that list I'd not be proceeding with a purchase. To many potential issues and risk of costs after purchase. Most of all though, you no longer want it. That's reason enough.

MabelAnderson · 19/02/2026 17:48

Yes that would all put me off, it sounds a money pit, and unless you have the cash and the planning permission to totally rebuild and have radon proofing, and all that is financially sensible, then I would walk away.

Thatescalatedquickly2 · 19/02/2026 17:49

Is this extra work reflected in the price? Have you negotiated money off to pay for boiler works? I’d also get any work signed off. Don’t leave it for you to do.

are there other options? Why is your DH so set on this one?

if a garden is important to you, is there still enough room?

moving is so expensive these days, I wouldn’t buy somewhere that will annoy you for years.

to be honest, I’d walk away from this

BessieSurtees · 19/02/2026 17:52

I’m in a similar position with only one issue giving me doubts and marring the experience. Those issues would be too much for me. Why is everything knackered so soon? You will have no control over costs if your neighbours drain needs maintenance. How long has it been for sale, is it ridiculously cheap for the area?

Tortephant · 19/02/2026 17:55

Something better is out there for you.

Original poster
ErlingHaalandsManBun · 19/02/2026 17:57

Thatescalatedquickly2 · 19/02/2026 17:49

Is this extra work reflected in the price? Have you negotiated money off to pay for boiler works? I’d also get any work signed off. Don’t leave it for you to do.

are there other options? Why is your DH so set on this one?

if a garden is important to you, is there still enough room?

moving is so expensive these days, I wouldn’t buy somewhere that will annoy you for years.

to be honest, I’d walk away from this

No its not reflected in the price. We would definitely have to renegotiate on price for the oil tank and boiler.

The garden was small, small lawned area and a small patio which is all we wanted and was perfect but with having to move the shed (and we need one as there is no garage) then that will take up a chunk of the lawn area. We wanted to get a garden pod but having to move the shed and relocate the boiler then that takes that option off the table.

The uncertainty about this drain concerns me also and I just don't think I would be able to relax there, always wondering if something is going to happen.

DH thinks the loss of space in the garden is something we can live with and that if we can get the build signed off retrospectively and renegotiate on price to cover the boiler cost then it is still okay.

This bungalow is within a stones throw of the sea. Our dream location. The others available are all a further walk, hence his reluctance to just give up. But I have the ick now and I am not sure I can come back from it.

OP posts:
Smallorveryfaraway · 19/02/2026 17:57

The drain thing would be an issue for me. The oil tank not, is it the fire risk and it needing to be further from the building? You can buy double skinned tanks that solve the problem. We got one that was certified to be within 30cm of the house.
Not sure about the subsidence risk, would it be an ongoing concern after 11 years of no movement, and would it affect the whole area?

TwattingDog · 19/02/2026 17:58

If it's by the sea, how close are you talking? Roof replacement could easily be storm damage and not something I'd be too concerned about.

Is it exposed to one direction of wind in particular? Most of our weather in East Cornwall comes in from the south so that side of our house gets battered much harder than the north side. Lots of houses round here are having roof repairs / replacements at the moment due to the massive storms we've had.

Goonyoucanaskme · 19/02/2026 17:58

Don't do it OP, that's too many major problems. Cheaper and less stressful to cut your losses and look for something better.

Original poster
ErlingHaalandsManBun · 19/02/2026 18:02

Smallorveryfaraway · 19/02/2026 17:57

The drain thing would be an issue for me. The oil tank not, is it the fire risk and it needing to be further from the building? You can buy double skinned tanks that solve the problem. We got one that was certified to be within 30cm of the house.
Not sure about the subsidence risk, would it be an ongoing concern after 11 years of no movement, and would it affect the whole area?

The whole area is covered by this subsidence risk so it would no doubt come up on the searches for any property we offered on in the area. So this is of less concern.

The tank issue is having to move it away from where it is now. It is currently tucked away in the corner right by the fence. New guidelines show it would need a better foundation and need to come much further out. The only place we can see it can go is where the shed currently is, but then that means moving that which then means losing a chunk of garden. So its not ideal.

OP posts:
Original poster
ErlingHaalandsManBun · 19/02/2026 18:03

TwattingDog · 19/02/2026 17:58

If it's by the sea, how close are you talking? Roof replacement could easily be storm damage and not something I'd be too concerned about.

Is it exposed to one direction of wind in particular? Most of our weather in East Cornwall comes in from the south so that side of our house gets battered much harder than the north side. Lots of houses round here are having roof repairs / replacements at the moment due to the massive storms we've had.

Its literally a stones throw away, hence my DH not wanting to be too hasty in walking away.

But you are right, the roof replacement could well be storm damage and a question we need to ask of the sellers as to why it was being replaced so soon.
Thanks for that. I never thought about that.

OP posts:
Original poster
ErlingHaalandsManBun · 19/02/2026 18:06

BessieSurtees · 19/02/2026 17:52

I’m in a similar position with only one issue giving me doubts and marring the experience. Those issues would be too much for me. Why is everything knackered so soon? You will have no control over costs if your neighbours drain needs maintenance. How long has it been for sale, is it ridiculously cheap for the area?

The drain issue is the one that has given me the nerves most!! I think I would just be constantly worrying about it.

We are wondering if the build has been done shoddily and that is why everything seems to need replacing. Especially as there was no sign off certificate.

It was for sale for about 9 months before we viewed and offered and I would say its in line, price wise, for others in the area of the same size.

OP posts:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 19/02/2026 18:06

I think you are absolutely right to have major reservations about this house, @ErlingHaalandsManBun - there is no way I would buy it, and I would love a bungalow walking distance from the sea!

TwattingDog · 19/02/2026 18:06

Also, what's stopping the house from falling into the sea? Subsidence is one thing, but what's the cause? Is it the sea?

Original poster
ErlingHaalandsManBun · 19/02/2026 18:08

TwattingDog · 19/02/2026 18:06

Also, what's stopping the house from falling into the sea? Subsidence is one thing, but what's the cause? Is it the sea?

Its not in an area at risk of coastal erosion. The subsidence is natural ground subsidence which is clay at risk from shrink swell apparently. We would most definitely have to get a full structural survey to check if there are any signs of it before we went further also.

OP posts:
Goldfsh · 19/02/2026 18:09

Do you need the oil tank? Can you convert to electric only heating and cooking?

Shared drains are not uncommon in buildings - that wouldn't worry me TBH.

Goldfsh · 19/02/2026 18:10

Clay is unusual for sea isn't it? More a riverside thing?

Any subsidence in the area?

What's the radon risk from?

SixthWorstOption · 19/02/2026 18:16

If the roof issues were caused by storm damage, the chances are it could happen again. You'd probably want to check out the insurance situation in that respect - ie can you get insurance against a repeat occurrence, and at what cost?

Personally, I would think that one (or maybe two) of the problems would be surmountable, but all of them in combination...? You want your home to be a haven where you feel safe and relaxed - the sort of place where your worries fall away as you're driving home from work. Only you and your husband can decide if you can live with the issues or whether they'll be a constant niggle in the background that stops you enjoying the house.

AudiobookListener · 19/02/2026 18:16

If the drain is also used by the bungalow, it is a shared drain and the shared parts may have been transfered to local water co responsibility some time ago. (In England). Boilers only last 6-10 years and most houses for sale need a new one so unless oil-fired ones are very different/expensive, that's in line with the competition. But the new roof so soon would put me off. I'd also get some buildings insurance quotes as that will give you an idea how seriously insurance companies take the local risk level.

Shutuptrevor · 19/02/2026 18:20

Oil tanks and boilers are annoying. We had endless problems with ours and only certain engineers will fix them. And they’re expensive, and the oil smells. And FUCK ME the new legislation makes it hard to sell a house with one. I wouldn’t ever buy a house with one again.

RockaLock · 19/02/2026 18:21

I would double check on the drain thing.

The rules on who is responsible for the repair of shared and lateral drains changed in 2011, and it is now the water company that has to pay for repairs to them (as long as they connect to a public sewer). I think that would supersede what is in the title deeds.

RockaLock · 19/02/2026 18:22

RockaLock · 19/02/2026 18:21

I would double check on the drain thing.

The rules on who is responsible for the repair of shared and lateral drains changed in 2011, and it is now the water company that has to pay for repairs to them (as long as they connect to a public sewer). I think that would supersede what is in the title deeds.

Oh, sorry, I hadn’t seen @AudiobookListener‘s post!

Autumngirl5 · 19/02/2026 18:37

With all those issues you have to really l love the house which it sounds as though you don’t so maybe walk away?

Slightyamusedandsilly · 19/02/2026 19:07

Any older house will have issues. It just depends how many issues is too many for you. But you'll never get perfection in the perfect location.

Ilovefoodandwine · 19/02/2026 19:21

The completion certificate is the only one that would be a deal breaker for me.
Oil tank annoying, but can you take the opportunity to convert to other fuel source?
New boiler after 20 years sounds reasonable. Is it broken down, or just at end of estimated life span?
I'd definitely check flood risk and coastal erosion carefully and shoreline management plan policy for area.