Currently buying/selling a house? How is it going? READ MOD NOTE POST #1

You'll do two evaluations.

First is a preliminary one to move you to the next stage.

Second is just before drawdown to confirm the house is completed to spec. It's just a drive by. Chances are the same estate agent is doing a few houses in the estate and just copy-pastes the form. Easy 150 euro.

Interesting, thanks.

We are Sale Agreed, and just got a call from our Surveyor that there are planning irregularities with the house. Basically it was built in the 40s (exempt development by the council) and a comprehensive extension built in the early 70s, by a previous owner. The extension drawings, as granted planning permission, had a dining room (pitched roof extension) and flat roof garage beside it, but that whole section is now a pitched roof and is a larger room. There is also a porch at the rear of the house, which isnt on the drawings. There are also sheds not on the drawings. And some of the windows/doors are not where they are shown.

Now the drawing are from the early 70s is incredibly basic, hand drawn by the applicant himself (not the current owner).

The Sellers Solicitor has already sent the Contract and it included the planning permission for the extension, and also a Letter from an architect in the mid 80s (when the current owner purchased the house) certifying that it was largely compliant.

Surveyor is now saying it is likely retention is needed here. The house has been for sale for over a year, the previous buyers pulled out and I am starting to wonder if this is why. Surely if the seller knew this would be an issue he would have gone and got it sorted at this stage?

Will the seller argue that the compliant letter supplied with the contact is sufficient here? I know that if our solicitor cant confirm it is compliant it will affect our mortgage.

It is utterly frustrating and disappointing, I am really hoping there is a solution to this. We are not in a chain, but equally we dont want to wait months and months either.

Anyone else been in a similar situation?

I recently bought a house that was advertised as "attic conversion ready".

Finally got the builder in to do the conversion and he told me the ceiling height is too low to be considered a bedroom. It's going to be about 10cm lower than the minimum, so cannot be considered a habitable room. I'm fuming about this. Fair enough that it won't affect day to day living, but I can't advertise this as a bedroom if I ever go to sell the house.

Unfortunately estate agents get away with saying what they like to sell a house. The ad for the house we bought said the windows were pvc when they were clearly aluminium (obviously I could see this when I viewed it) but still, frustrating. The buyer has to do their own fact checking basically and use their surveyor and solicitor to the max to check things out, as these are the ones that are working for the buyer and paid by the buyer. Estate agents paid by the seller to sell.

As you say, won't affect daily living and most people can see if an attic conversion is advertised as an "office" that it is pretty much a bedroom if willing to use it in that way.

Ceiling height is just one factor. Another is means of access- if it’s a Stira only job then it will be classed as storage. Any stairs will need to meet regs also.

I went sale agreed last Friday, after a loooong, stop-start search. By yesterday, already had my lender's valuation done, and my formal loan offer through from Avant. A bit surprised at how quickly that went! Feels a great relief to be past the point (hopefully) of needing my bank statements to be ready for inspection, my broker says they might just ask for updated payslips at the point of drawdown.

I now have the world and its mother trying to sell me mortgage premium protection insurance...

Ha - there are plenty of twists and turns to come for both of us, I'm sure, so you might overtake me yet! Very best of luck with it all.

That's great news - really pleased for you! Ha, I love 'Law Dog', sounds like she's a proper rottweiler, let her rip!

I've hit my first possible bump in the road - running through the questions for mortgage protection insurance, lots of 'do you have / have you ever had X, Y, Z etc.', flying through them going 'nope nope nope nope oh actually er wait...' Something v minor that I have an open referral out with the HSE on (which I'd pretty much given up anything happening), but they may not insure me until there's a resolution on that. So now I'm in the hands of the public health sector, yikes... A-chasing I do go..!

Question for people currently going through the application process. How are ye finding it?

are most institutions all online now? Do they still request in person meetings and so on? Do they look to meet both people involved or is it just a case of getting a signature and moving on with things etc. same questions goes for brokers.

Thanks

Brilliant thanks. Just I remember the first time back in 2016 they wanted us both in to confirm stuff and sign things, can’t remember what, but that was grand as we worked close by but we work an hour apart now so getting any sort of time to go to any bank would be hard! So all online is huge

The developer we are sale agreed with has refused to add the “subject to loan” clause in our contract. Not great times to be a buyer in this market.

Hi,

Just wonder has anyone came across an issue we're having with BOI. We're close to the sale closing but before they issue the funds they're looking for the solicitor to confirm that the council will eventually take charge of the estate. Our solicitor seems very reluctant to do this and has passed it on to the vendors solicitor. Any advice appreciated as this has been incredibly frustrating.