Re: Bad house survey but still willing to buy then vendors pull out

D

Delphi

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Hi all,

I got a house survey done recently and there was a large area of the roof leaking which the surveyor was very concerned about and advised me to get my own roofer in to check the damage and also get a damp expert in.

The vendors went along with the roofer checking the roof but the day the damp expert was due to check the house the vendors cancelled the appointment and they have now pulled out of the sale :(

I absolutely loved the house (it looked to be in showhouse condition) and am gutted to be honest (first time buyer). I dont know if they pulled out because there was damp in the house or if I just insulted them. I have been told that they are unwilling to sell the house to me.

You have to laugh really (I pay for survey, valuation, roofer and then they pull out)

Ok rant over.

My question is what to do next time. Do I listen to the surveyor or was I overly cautious do you think? so much for a buyers market
 
You pay (relative to the potential costs of a wreck of a house) your surveyor and roofer a small fee to avoid possible major heart and wallet ache. Listen to your surveyor, one of the few individuals on the house-buyer's side in these major transactions.

The reason the vendors pulled out is because your surveyor found them out and copped on to their dishonesty. They cannot hide major known structural and damp defects and pretend they don't exist - it's illegal. Even if you had gone to the contract stage I'm sure your solicitor given sight of the reports from the surveyor, roofer and damp expert would have advised you to pull out of the deal.

You did the right things and got the perfect outcome for a small outlay
 
Things usually work for the best in the end. Run away from it. Plenty more houses out there with most likely a lot less trouble attached than this one.
 
I agree with mathepac, you were lucky to escape that purchase. Clearly the vendors want to find a buyer who won't have it surveyed and will buy a house that ends up costing a fortune. Perhaps it's the roof / damp causing them to sell?? Anyway would you not also write a letter to the estate agent (registering it) saying your survey had shown the hosue they are selling to have structural roof defects and that they have an obligation to disclose that to potential future buyers since they are now aware of it. The reason I would write a letter is that it would be awful for these dishonest vendors to be allowed to sell to another person who doesn't have the knowledge to get a survey done.
 
You could always wait 6 months to see if the house hasn't sold (which it probably won't if the vendors are being that stupid) and then put in a lower offer then what you put in now and see what they're reaction will be.

In the meantime, keep looking, no shortage of property out there and if you find the right house for you in the meantime, go for it
 
Bad house survey but still willing to buy then vendors pull out

Hi all,


Thanks for taking the time to reply. I never knew that vendors had to disclose any structural roof defects. Thank god for surveys.

Anyway no need to write to the Estate Agent as I was very upfront about what was found in survey and still agreed to go ahead with the sale and that I would not ask for reduction in price if damp was found (what an idiot I feel now).

After survey was done the vendors did get the roof repaired themselves (by a "friend of the family") but as there was a lot of work to be done I needed to know what work had been carried out and asked them to supply this in writing. This was obviously a bad idea.

I know that to anyone selling a house this would be a hassle but buyers need to know what they are buying and that vendors should not take offence and that they should count themselves lucky if the buyer is still willing to go ahead.

Anyway next time I will keep running and not put myself to so much trouble.

Thanks again :)
 
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