Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
dunno.
if the contract says that X, Y and Z are included as part of the fixtures and fittings, and then they aren't there when you move in, then there's probably legal avenues you can pursue, but it may be complicated...
Buying a home and don't know how anything works
- Thread starter miss direct
- Start date
dunno.
if the contract says that X, Y and Z are included as part of the fixtures and fittings, and then they aren't there when you move in, then there's probably legal avenues you can pursue, but it may be complicated...
kebabking
Not a Girly Swot, but I like them....
My own experience is that apart from the price, the contract isn't worth the paper it's written on because of the cost of enforcing it.
Unless the seller takes the roof off, or demolishes the garage, it's simply more hassle than its worth to try and get them to stump up.
There are clauses in the contract about penalty clauses if someone pulls out - but they are rarely enforced, it's simply a lot easier, quicker, and cheaper to walk away and find a different house, or a different buyer, than it is to go to court, spend a fortune in solicitors fees and wait for the End of Days to get a judgement, and then enforcement of that judgement, and then walk away and find a different house or a different buyer.
Unless the seller takes the roof off, or demolishes the garage, it's simply more hassle than its worth to try and get them to stump up.
There are clauses in the contract about penalty clauses if someone pulls out - but they are rarely enforced, it's simply a lot easier, quicker, and cheaper to walk away and find a different house, or a different buyer, than it is to go to court, spend a fortune in solicitors fees and wait for the End of Days to get a judgement, and then enforcement of that judgement, and then walk away and find a different house or a different buyer.
miss direct
misfungled
Ok ill let that go then. Just thought they might be annoyed at me and remove other stuff. Hopefully they don't have time for that.
AnnO'Neemus
Is so vanilla
If the current leaseholders have a surplus in their service charge/'sinking fund' accounts, those monies would normally be reimbursed to them, I think.
A friend who recently sold her ex-council flat received a refund of overpaid service charge, part of which probably included contributions to a 'sinking fund' (kitty for contributions to future major works).
I don't think our housing association does a sinking fund any more, I think leaseholders are supposedly consulted and then billed, and those who can't pay the whole amount can reach an agreement over a payment plan. Previously, it would have been expected that there might be enough in their contributions to the sinking fund to cover major works.
AnnO'Neemus
Is so vanilla
Four storey? Is there a lift?
Iirc, you mentioned maisonette much earlier in the thread, so I assumed it was one of those buildings where it's a house on top of another house, but in a much more recent post you mentioned your flat being in a block of twelve.
I'm a bit confused about what sort of property you're buying.
If you're buying a flat in a four storey block, if it has a lift then that can potentially give rise to expensive lift repairs and replacement in future.
I don't know if this is relevant or not?
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
This was already asked and she said no lift iirc
(Maisonettes are simply flats that each have their own entrance, usually off a communal balcony/walkway for the upper floors, with stairways being external - rather than a shared front door with an internal staircase/hallway)
AnnO'Neemus
Is so vanilla
All council tenancy agreement and leases say pets aren't allowed.
Those clauses are ignored by tenants and leaseholders alike, at least in Manchester they are.
In theory, people aren't allowed pets on my ex-council-turned-housing-association estate, but there's dozens of cats and dogs around the place. The housing officers turn a blind eye to cat flaps and cat ramps/ladders running up the side of buildings, obvious signs of pets.
I wouldn't worry about it.
Also, iirc, there's a proposal to change the law so people aren't banned from keeping pets in tenanted properties. And if that goes through, it would be an anomaly to still preclude leaseholders from keeping pets. (Or the proposed law might already cover leaseholders, I haven't checked details.)
steveseagull
Well-Known Member
I think that was one of Jeremy Corbyn's manifesto pledges so Starmzy is not going to go near it with a bargepole
Shippou-Sensei
4:1:2.5
cybershot
Well-Known Member
You're within your rights to ask to go in again to measure up in my opinion, especially as you could say once you know a completion date you want to book people in for the job ASAP (it validates why you wanted a reduction and shows them how much of pain in the arse removing the carpets has caused you) and not have to wait until after completion to measure up and then try and book people in, which could be 1-4 weeks later depending on who you choose.
After all last time you weren't expecting the carpets to be removed (do your fixtures/fittings and contents mention the carpet) obviously it's hard to spot stuff on a form that's NOT there that you'd only realise after you're in.
However, it WILL make the vendors nervous. You might want to wait until after exchange which will less likely freak them out because a milestone will have been reached, where as while exchange is still being dragged on they will get very nervous about you spotting something else and pulling out or trying to further renegotiate.
It depends I guess on how much you don't want make your sellers nervous wrecks, or if you purely don't care and want to make sure you are getting value for money and want to be sure they haven't done any other shitness in between.
Of course as said above, are you really going to contest that they said they would include all the lightbulbs, but when you got there they had removed them, just to piss you off.
hash tag
Books, not bombs
Once contracts are signed and exchanged there is no going back (it is possible to exchange and complete on the same day).
bellaozzydog
rolling turds in glitter
One day passed the deadline and solicitor can’t get hold of lenders solicitor…..fucks sake
estate agent saying if it’s not done within a few days it’s getting remarketed
this is driving me mad
estate agent saying if it’s not done within a few days it’s getting remarketed
this is driving me mad
miss direct
misfungled
Hang in there Bella. Were you meant to be completing, exchanging?
Seems to be my seller's solicitor holding things up too.
Wish they wouldn't write in gobbledegook. What does this mean?
"As soon as the sellers solicitors let us have the outstanding information required, we will set a completion date and workout the apportionments."
Seems to be my seller's solicitor holding things up too.
Wish they wouldn't write in gobbledegook. What does this mean?
"As soon as the sellers solicitors let us have the outstanding information required, we will set a completion date and workout the apportionments."
Boudicca
Seaside Queen
My best guess is how they are going to divide the cash between the vendors, their mortgage provider and the boiler people they owe money to.
cybershot
Well-Known Member
Ask your solicitor for a breakdown of what outstanding information is still required so you a) can either tell your solicitor to ignore it and move on. Or B) phone your estate agent and say can you chase the sellers and/or their solicitor to send this information on please. Ask the agent to let you know what response they get from seller/sellers solicitor E.g. if sellers solicitor replies saying "we did this 19 days ago" you can then go back to your solicitor and say check your emails from 19 days ago.
platinumsage
HaveMyPassword123
If the vendor paid e.g. six months worth of service charge in May, the solicitor works out what proportion of that should have been paid by you from completion date onwards.
These adjustments can obviously only be made once they have a confirmed date. The solicitors will swap some funds as necessary so that everything is fairly apportioned around the move date.
miss direct
misfungled
I have already been on to the estate agent saying this is the only thing holding things up now.
That makes sense. Can I assume the same goes for bills like gas and electric? I think they're both on meters so maybe not (not quite sure how it works with meters and am hoping to get them changed).
platinumsage
HaveMyPassword123
No, with the gas and electric you just give the opening meter readings to the existing supplier and pay for what you use, the solicitors don’t get involved.
You can change supplier, get smart meters etc after completion date but there will at least be a short period when you must deal with the current supplier, maybe only a week or two if you change straight away.
miss direct
misfungled
Yes, a bit worried about internet because all my work relies on it and I have a few new courses in July. I may need to find some alternative locations to work from. I don't think hotspotting data is going to cut it for hours of video calls.
Elpenor
Dancing as fast as I can
If it’s any use, I ordered BT internet a few days before I moved into my rented flat (I ordered it after I had signed the contract), and it was fully set up with all equipment arrived etc 8 days later.
You could put a week between exchange and completion for that purpose if it would help. I asked for 2 weeks gap last year when I sold as I planned to rent a flat but did not intend to sign a contract until I knew I’d exchanged.
You could put a week between exchange and completion for that purpose if it would help. I asked for 2 weeks gap last year when I sold as I planned to rent a flat but did not intend to sign a contract until I knew I’d exchanged.
miss direct
misfungled
The problem is I am supposed to leave my current place by the 8th July. Unsure as to whether the room is available for longer - if it is, I could negotiate a week or two just to go there and work. But I don't want to ask the landlord until I have an idea of completion. In an ideal world I'd be able to move out and not have to stay on. I realise now I'm away how unhappy that houseshare has been making me.
Cid
Proper break this time
Try emailing/phoning an internet supplier with decent customer service. I used Zen internet and had to talk to them when I was setting up, their people seemed to know what they were doing. They'll be limited in the help they can provide since it's not your property yet, and you don't have the number. But may be able to give you some idea of process and timing.
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
Indeed. The solicitors wouldn't get involved with that sort of thing, or water, council tax, TV licence.
Previous resident will need to settle up for their use / residence, you will be liable from the day you take ownership.
for anything with a meter (gas, electric and maybe water) it's possibly worth taking a photograph of the meters on the day you move in, just in case previous resident had been under-reporting the meter readings
cybershot
Well-Known Member
You're going to need to really hassle everyone involved now daily, If you haven't already stressed to your solicitor and agent that you will essentially be homeless on July 8th, now is the time!! Perhaps even have an email chain that includes your solicitor and estate agent. Follow up every phone call with an email 'as per phone conversation with......'
Hopefully at some point one will slip and include the sellers and or sellers solicitor email as well, and then you can include everyone in the email chain.
20Bees
Well-Known Member
This ^
I was about to say take photos of all the meters and readings BEFORE you switch anything on, or use any water (taps or loo)
miss direct
misfungled
The estate agent seems pretty on it, to be fair. I am now happy to keep emailing and calling until I have a date. They all think I will be homeless by the end of June, not even July 
Cid
Proper break this time
I posted links to switching stuff waaay back in the early bits of this thread. Or was it separate?... I won't repost links because lazy, but should be findable.
Companies are:
Yorkshire water
Sheffield council for council tax (bit obvious that one!)
You can chose who you want for Gas/Leccy. I'd recommend Octopus or Bulb.
You can chose who you want for internet, I use Zen.
They'll all have a bit about switching/moving.
Companies are:
Yorkshire water
Sheffield council for council tax (bit obvious that one!)
You can chose who you want for Gas/Leccy. I'd recommend Octopus or Bulb.
You can chose who you want for internet, I use Zen.
They'll all have a bit about switching/moving.
sleaterkinney
Well-Known Member
We have completed and got the keys today. It doesn't feel like home yet, full of other people's painting etc but I guess that will come.
miss direct
misfungled
Yay sleaterkinney Have you moved in already? Or between two places?
The outstanding paperwork we are waiting for is that thing about the charges on the property (re the boiler). Which I've already been informed has been dealt with, and is being chased up. Won't hesitate to chase it tomorrow - I don't teach till 5pm so have plenty of time to merrily harass everyone involved.
The outstanding paperwork we are waiting for is that thing about the charges on the property (re the boiler). Which I've already been informed has been dealt with, and is being chased up. Won't hesitate to chase it tomorrow - I don't teach till 5pm so have plenty of time to merrily harass everyone involved.
