legal advice.

[kinstheclaret]

hi all.

i need a bit of advise, please. i bought a house a year ago and the house has had an extention. it was one of 3 identical and i'm the middle one. the guy we bought from was an old guy who seemed to want it done cheaper than the houses at either side - used old boiler, old kitchen units etc, when next door had all new ones. now i've a feeling this guy was a bit of a cowboy, or just cut corners on this extention, because when we bought, none of the electrics were signed off, so we had to get them done befire completion.

now, i have a problem with something on the etxntion, so my question is - am i intitled to get this guy back to rectify this problem? does he have a legal obligation?

also, will there have been any regulation that will have needed be adhered to? how often will the inspectors come round to look at this etc? any help would be much appreciated.

kins.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

You need to speak to your solicitor that was involved in the purchase of the house and check on any pre-contract enquiries and if the house owner has made any mis-representations.

 

[Bahco]

Caveat emptor.

 

[big-all]

its fully your responcibility to ask the right questions and for him to give accurate answers
as said above if he has told lies then you have a case if he knowingly decived you then you have a case
did the answers to the questions you asked him match what you found ???

 

[kinstheclaret]

al, i've not asked the builder any question because I've never met him.

Basically, what I’m trying to find out is if he’s under any obligation to fix any faults that may have occurred due to him being a John Wayne double? If I find a fault, can I call him and get him round to repair the work, even though it was carried out for the previous owner?

Also, would this guys work have been inspected periodically throughout the build i.e. building inspectors reports etc before it was signed off? And will my solicitors have had to have seen these before signing was completed?
Thanks for the above and thanks in advance.

 

[big-all]

you need to ask the seller searching questions and he must answer honestly
if you don't ask the questions then you have no claim unless there's misrepresentation for example kitchen extension with certification when in fact theres no certification

if he just says kitchen extension its up to you to ask who done it and what certification is there for the gas electric etc BEFORE you buy the house

 

[kinstheclaret]

i see, all.

know the solicitors wouldn’t let us complete until the electrics were signed off. We eventually got them signed off by someone. This would lead me to think that our solicitors have checked all other certificates, etc?

Also, it is one of 3 extensions, completed at the same time, all next to each. Now I know the guy we bought from wasn’t too fussed about checking everything (so I assume) but surely there are regs that the builder has to adhere to? And also, next door either side will have also kept a close eye on the developments and ensured everything was signed off to a feasible standard. Which would lead me to the question that, if the inspector visited either side, then surely he’s have done the same with mine?

Big-all, are there set regs that an extension has to comply with and would these have been scrutinised by our solicitor when we signed?
Thanks again,

 

[Deluks]

When was the extension built and what are the problems that you are having that need rectification?

 

[kinstheclaret]

When was the extension built and what are the problems that you are having that need rectification?

I'd say about 5 - 6 years tops, deluks.


No real majoy problems tbh. Basically, in one one the returns on the exteria wall, there seems to be a slight dark damp patch. i was thinking that this may have been striking down and through the roof of the extention, but it seems in good repaid. I've since establishment that the soil pipe runs from the bathroom and through the extention ceiling and down the external drain. The soil pipe has started making a loud tap, every 10 seconds apart, once the batch is being emptied. The soil pipe has been boxed in so can''t inspect any closer. Also, I've noticed the guy hasn't tacked the celing properly, so is lose in one corner.

Cowboys, eh,

 

[^woody^]

Once you purchase a [second hand] property no-one owes you any duty for faulty or poor quality work

The idea is that you get the place surveyed, and then make an offer based on its condition

Any builder used by the previous owner has no contractual obligations to you at all

The building regulations which the extension would have conformed to have little to do with quality or subsequent problems, so you will have no redress there either