It would be up to you to establish that they knew about and deliberately concealed a serious problem.... Surely if the owners had known about this before selling, then they should have made any buyer aware ...
Sorry to hear about your problems.
It would be up to you to establish that they knew about and deliberately concealed a serious problem.
If this is a private water-supply, did you not include a water-quality test in your pre-purchase survey(s) and inspections?
I don't understand your statements about "as far as I know" and "as far as I am aware".... Pre-purchase survey was standard as far as I know. Got an engineer and he did up a report for the approval. Didn't include any water tests as far as I am aware. ...
Given that as I suspected, the house is connected to a private supply, I as a potential purchaser would certainly have specified that water-quality / acidity / alkalinity / microbial tests be performed. I would also have made receipt of satisfactory test results a condition of sale.... Is a water test supposed to be done?
I don't understand your statements about "as far as I know" and "as far as I am aware".
As the purchaser, laying out a substantial sum on a property, it is up to you to specify the areas you want surveyed and the areas you want reassurance on and I would expect that if you commissioned and paid for structural survey / engineering reports you would at least read them..
If this was a "survey / valuation" for mortgage approval, then I think you'll find that as a commentary on the build quality or even the value of your property it probably isn't worth the paper its written on and almost certainly provides no protection to you as the purchaser...
Given that as I suspected, the house is connected to a private supply, I as a potential purchaser would certainly have specified that water-quality / acidity / alkalinity / microbial tests be performed. I would also have made receipt of satisfactory test results a condition of sale.
I'm sorry if my comments seem unsympathetic or harsh, but I'm dumb-founded at the trust / naiveté displayed by house and apartment purchasers.
Asked my solicitor about this a while back and he said I had no come back on this. Surely if the owners had known about this before selling, then they should have made any buyer aware or be some way liable?? Seller's do not have a duty to make buyer aware unless specifically asked the question, as in 'Is there any problem with the acidity of the water? And who could rely on that in any case.
I've never heard of anyone being able to get money back on the purchase of a house because of a 'fault' in the house. It's called caveat emptor or buyer beware. It is your responsibility to be sure that the house is all that it seems.
In relation to the engineer's not picking it up, I wouldn't know how you could make them liable for not pointing it out to you. They're more on the structural side of things. I've read many engineer's reports and I don't remember any saying anything about the water supply other than it was mains/well/local supply etc.
Can you get a different water supply?
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