Faults with house

howler

howler

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Having just bought a house we discovered some issues, firstly it was left in a filthy state. I'm aware I probably can't do anything about this

However, the door to the ensuite does not close because it hits the door frame and one of the radiators is leaking

Are these things that I can claim back against the vendor for due to them not being disclosed?
 

howler

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I agree ad had I not had to spend an entire day cleaning it I wouldn't really have been bothered but he left it in an awful state and this has really annoyed me
 

Em3bbs

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No you can't. These are things that should have checked before buying, with either a full survey and getting plumbers around to check the central heating.

But that extra would probably have cost more than it will to fix these small issues.
 

robj20

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Depends what was agreed and how good your solicitor is.
We claimed back costs for emptying the garage and disposing of a washing machine and fridge. Didn't have to do any chasing other than sending the solicitor a couple of photos of the garage. We got a cheque a few weeks later for the costs of a skip.
 

MrRockliffe

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Definitely sucks, but as others have said, it's probably not worth the stress.

The sooner you're able to get it fixed yourself, the sooner you're able to enjoy the house.

You don't want to be spending weeks/months chasing something :)
 

samcat

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robj20 said:
Depends what was agreed and how good your solicitor is.
We claimed back costs for emptying the garage and disposing of a washing machine and fridge. Didn't have to do any chasing other than sending the solicitor a couple of photos of the garage. We got a cheque a few weeks later for the costs of a skip.
Click to expand...


Similar here... When we moved 2 years ago got keys, went in, house was perfect, cleaned really well top to toe. Went in garage, not a single thing had been moved, large double garage piled high with a lifetime of junk... :(
Contacted solicitor and estate agent, explained the issue... Our solicitor contacted their solicitor and dealt with it. They offered to let me 'keep the useful tools they left for me'... erm, nope, its junk, I need it gone as I have to move MY tools, classic car etc into the garage!
Long story short, the people we bought the house from turned up (arranged) and spent 8 hrs a day over 2 days emptying the garage into their cars and taking it to the local tip (just up the road).

If it had been a few bits I wouldnt have minded and would just have taken it to the tip... But this was literally a lifetimes worth of junk. :(
 

robj20

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Why some people seem scared of asking things of sellers i don't know. We even argued that they hadn't paid that years ground rent so we got £5 for that as well. It helped that there solicitor was about as cheap as they come and we used the best we could, and it showed we got everything we asked and often more.

Things like the leaky radiator well when we first viewed our offer dropped by 5k as soon as we saw the boiler and radiators then a further 2k for the mains wiring in total we firmly offered 15k below asking price. To fix the issues we found.

If you didnt spot a leaky radiator you didnt look hard enough before putting an offer in.
 

touch

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robj20 said:
Depends what was agreed and how good your solicitor is.
We claimed back costs for emptying the garage and disposing of a washing machine and fridge. Didn't have to do any chasing other than sending the solicitor a couple of photos of the garage. We got a cheque a few weeks later for the costs of a skip.
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It's standard in a contract that the house will be vacated by an agreed date (eg the seller and all of their belongings are no longer in the house) so the seller in your case would have been in breach of that contract.
It's not standard that the contract would specify all doors close properly and no radiators leak, so OP may not have as much success in his case.
 

Em3bbs

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What did your survey say?

i just dug up the one from our house a couple of years ago and here are three points relating to the heating and bathrooms:

"The bathroom suite is dated and worn and complete replacement is recommended in the short term. Plumbing and pipework is largely concealed and an inspection by a plumber prior to purchase is recommended."

"There is a freestanding shower cubicle at ground floor level. Note that shower trays are prone to leakage and an inspection by a plumber prior to purchase is recommended"

"Radiators appear to be of some age and you may wish to consider the merits of upgrading or replacing these during the course of your ownership. An inspection by a plumber prior to purchase is recommended."

For these items (and a lot more) the remedial action was "Subject to specialist's report and quotation." and called for me to get a plumber in for a quote. I didn't bother as I knew we would be replacing these anyway.
 

robj20

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Em3bbs said:
What did your survey say?

i just dug up the one from our house a couple of years ago and here are three points relating to the heating and bathrooms:

"The bathroom suite is dated and worn and complete replacement is recommended in the short term. Plumbing and pipework is largely concealed and an inspection by a plumber prior to purchase is recommended."

"There is a freestanding shower cubicle at ground floor level. Note that shower trays are prone to leakage and an inspection by a plumber prior to purchase is recommended"

"Radiators appear to be of some age and you may wish to consider the merits of upgrading or replacing these during the course of your ownership. An inspection by a plumber prior to purchase is recommended."

For these items (and a lot more) the remedial action was "Subject to specialist's report and quotation." and called for me to get a plumber in for a quote. I didn't bother as I knew we would be replacing these anyway.
Click to expand...

I hope you didn't pay for that survey. It doesn't tell you anything other than to pay to have someone else check things.
 

Em3bbs

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robj20 said:
I hope you didn't pay for that survey. It doesn't tell you anything other than to pay to have someone else check things.
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That's been my experience of all surveys, unless you want to spend a load of money for everything to be checked. A surveyor isn't a qualified electrician, builder, roofer or plumber, they just point out things that they should be looked at as a concern.

Relating to the thread, they would be expected to point out things like a shower door that doesn't close though.
 
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matt100

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howler said:
Having just bought a house we discovered some issues, firstly it was left in a filthy state. I'm aware I probably can't do anything about this

However, the door to the ensuite does not close because it hits the door frame and one of the radiators is leaking

Are these things that I can claim back against the vendor for due to them not being disclosed?
Click to expand...

You get a house isn't a new TV? Unless you bought it new you can't expect it to be new..

Claiming for a door frame lol...
 
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