House Sale

[suffolkman]

We are moving house and the sale of our house is moving quicker than our purchase. We have signed contracts with our buyer but no date or exchange has happened yet. We have since become aware of an issue at our property, which we haven’t put on the property information form as this was returned sometime ago. Should we pull out of the sale or is it not too late to bring this up? The issue is regarding electrical work that isn’t certified

[Buenchico]

See here
https://www.pmms.org.uk/selling-your-home-with-missing-electrical-installation-certificate/
and, in particular, note the information under 'Indemnity insurance'.

[suffolkman]

I have seen this, but my issue is we have already completed the forms and returned them. Is this an issue? If contracts haven’t been exchanged can we still be sued for misrepresentation?

[Tuvok]

Can you rectify it?

[Buenchico]

You should check with your solicitor but my understanding is that the buyer's solicitor is likely to be satisfied with an indemnity insurance certificate in place of an electrical installation certificate. Simply be up front with the buyer and his/her solicitor and see what happens.

PS: Welcome to the site, from a rather damp Needham Market ;-)

[suffolkman]

It’s not easy to rectify. It’s a new fuse board...could mean a potential rewire...was fitted 8 years ago and we don’t have any paper work! Only just remembered about it this weekend when in the cupboard under the stairs and it looked us both in the face! Absolutely gutted

[bobbinwales]

We were asked to provide all sorts of docs such as electric cars, window guarantees ect. If they didn't ask are you sure it's a problem. What had you said that turns out wasnt true?

[murraymints]

is it not the buyer's survey /surveyor that takes responsibility for checking this ?

[DTCwordfan]

I doubt that a fuseboard from 8 years ago is not certifiable....I would go back to your electrician who did the work...if not in business, I wouldn't think it's a massive end-of-the-world job to fit a new one in and get the certification - and no rewiring of the house would be necessary. I may be wrong though....

[theshedman]

I thought similar to murraymints that it was up to the buyers surveyor to do this and it had to be in order before they signed. We had some things we didn't kow about with my parents house but the solicitors sorted them before signing.

[suffolkman]

We have signed but not exchanged and only just realised the issue...can contracts be changed now are is it too late

[bobbinwales]

Ignore my last post , must of missed one of yours. For piece of mind let the solicitor know.

[Peter Pedant]

see if you cant get it certified
then tell the solicitor

[Barmaid]

You must say before contracts are exchanged. If you exchange knowing this it is a clear misrepresentation. Tell them asap. Once you've exchanged they pull the strings. Before you've exchanged you have ways of sorting it.

[Peter Pedant]

thanks BM
I did wonder what the right answer was
rather than what everyone er might have done

deleted answer any good?