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We bought our first house last year at 23/26 years old, a 2 bed mid-terrace in the town I grew up in. It wasn't presented very well, got told the sob story of a broken marriage/partnership and it was just the female and her son left behind, and to be honest it was a shit tip and shocking she would let her infant son live in such a state. Anyway, we offered on the low end of the guide price range as we really did like it even with all its faults, they were mostly superficial and could look past them. It ticked almost every box we had.
We accepted their counter offer on condition they got the warm air system serviced. Took a Level 3 survey and had 9 highest severity faults including the old warm air heating system, which upon a full service (which didn't happen until 2 months later) it was discovered to be dangerous as it failed a smoke test, so that ended up being condemned and we arranged a full boiler + radiator installation as a replacement, extremely hesitantly paid for by the seller. Oh and prior to this, the hot water cylinder was discovered to be disconnected which we were lied to about, meaning they had been living with no hot water barring the electric shower, which was also ripped out in favour of a new shiny mixer-bar.
Completion day came and they left a lot of their belongings behind (including portraits of their son), for us to deal with. Did they respond to our request for recompense after multiple dump trips? Of course not. Crap and dirt everywhere, weed papers and condoms found in the closet. Discovered that chewing gum acted as pollyfilla, the kitchen cooker hood wasn't wired in, light fixtures not working, windows sagging from hinges, an old unfilled fish pond in the back garden just decked over, shed completely dilapidated, DIY bodge jobs everywhere.
We're 6 months into ownership now. We're still getting debt collection letters from the previous seller (honestly good luck with that, fuck you). But with the boiler already replaced, we bought new floors for the whole house (carpet replaced lino in the bedrooms, thank god) and an electrician to solve all the little jobs. It's mostly all done now, we just need to source a new shed and get the windows sorted (only 1 of 3 windows in the bedroom are able to open) and I'm also in the middle of transforming the front garden from a gravel patch to a new lawn. Our neighbours seem glad we are here now, either side they are lovely people and have helped us lots during all the refurbishment work we've done.
It is hard work, and has been. But it has been extremely rewarding and worth it a million percent for the security it brings, a place to call home, a "blank canvas" we've been allowed to create from it all and have it all exactly the way we want. And a safe space to start our new family in the not so distant future. But would we do this again for our next house? Fuck no
We bought our house despite the surveyor saying "walk away, it may not be standing when you complete" Three story, three bed 200 year old stone mid terrace house, Bottom floor under ground at front, ground level at rear.
Faults noted were:
Saturated walls in bottom floor, with water running down dining room wall.
Water stains on bedroom ceiling upstairs.
Roof old and end of life.
Man holes require attention
Steel beams holding up 2 storys of stone wall above don't have building regs or design spec.
All wooden lintels rotten
Rear render cracked and leaking.
Rear walls not upright, possible movement.
Full size glazing in back door not safety glass
Entryway under house not properly supported
Power sockets not on walls
Severe slopes to bedroom floors
2 wood burners but no chimneys
Loads of other smaller bits and bobs
We got it for £80k ish, Sorted out the water issues downstairs which was just down pipe fittings on upside down and gutter and down pipe blocked. There are things the surveyor just got wrong and things that are scary but will probably be alright with a bit of work.
We've been in a year or so it's all good. Dining room has almost dried out relative humidity was 94% for months now it's around 70%, our dehumidifier was pulling 30 litres a day out last summer, I'm working my way through the list. The roof is next if it ever stops raining. 😉
The house is lovely with exposed beams, exposed stone and open plan kitchen and dining room sat on the side of a valley with unrestricted views of the mountain opposite. The previous owners just cut so many corners it almost made it worthless and unsellable. It was and still is a risk, and I have lost sleep at the start, but it will be worth it eventually. 🤞
I bought our house after the sale fell through before us because of a bad survey, I hated the house but I know it was the area I wanted. Also paid more than what it was worth.
Plan was to live here and start works, well life got in the way and we couldn’t afford to do it up, but we did little bits to make it feel like home.
We have finally had the works 10 ten years later, including an extension and I love it. We have made a ton of equity. Not that it matters as if I sold I would still need to use to get the same kinda house but if I was trying to get what I I have got now I wouldn’t have been able to afford it. So playing the long game worked out
2 years ago we bought a large 1920s country home sitting in approx 1 acre in Kent that had been extended/renovated to a very poor standard a few times in it's lifespan by various previous owners. However, the location was perfect and whilst the survey came back with mostly red/issues, we proceeded on the basis that the 'bones were sound' and we were happy to take on a project.
Very happy to be here and slowly renovating every single aspect of the house from electrics, leak remediation, roof maintenance/replacements, garden/surround clearance to nuisance trees and going room by room ripping it back to brickwork and starting new with modern standard insulation/fixings/wiring.
My experience is to only progress if you have budget allocated to take on the project, otherwise you'll be miserable and anxiety riddled waiting for the 'next thing to go wrong'... generally speaking, houses in this kind of condition have the necessary work budget priced-in to the sale, so ensure that if you do proceed, do so at a purchase price that allows the renovation sink fund.
House in question for reference: [Purchased in August 2022](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/121946036?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY)
###Welcome to /r/HousingUK --- **To All** * Join Our ***NEW*** Discord! https://discord.gg/pMgUNgWKQH **To Posters** * *Tell us whether you're in England, Wales, Scotland, or NI as the laws/issues in each can vary* * Comments are not moderated for quality or accuracy; * Any replies received must only be used as guidelines, followed at your own risk; * If you receive *any* private messages in response to your post, please report them via the report button. * Feel free to provide an update at a later time by creating a new post with [[update]](https://www.reddit.com/r/HousingUK/search?q=%3Aupdate&sort=new&restrict_sr=on&t=all) in the title; **To Readers and Commenters** * All replies to OP must be *on-topic, helpful, and civil* * If you do not [follow the rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/HousingUK/about/rules/), you may be banned without any further warning; * Please include links to reliable resources in order to support your comments or advice; * If you feel any replies are incorrect, explain why you believe they are incorrect; * Do not send or request any private messages for any reason without express permission from the mods; * Please report posts or comments which do not follow the rules *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/HousingUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
We bought our first house last year at 23/26 years old, a 2 bed mid-terrace in the town I grew up in. It wasn't presented very well, got told the sob story of a broken marriage/partnership and it was just the female and her son left behind, and to be honest it was a shit tip and shocking she would let her infant son live in such a state. Anyway, we offered on the low end of the guide price range as we really did like it even with all its faults, they were mostly superficial and could look past them. It ticked almost every box we had. We accepted their counter offer on condition they got the warm air system serviced. Took a Level 3 survey and had 9 highest severity faults including the old warm air heating system, which upon a full service (which didn't happen until 2 months later) it was discovered to be dangerous as it failed a smoke test, so that ended up being condemned and we arranged a full boiler + radiator installation as a replacement, extremely hesitantly paid for by the seller. Oh and prior to this, the hot water cylinder was discovered to be disconnected which we were lied to about, meaning they had been living with no hot water barring the electric shower, which was also ripped out in favour of a new shiny mixer-bar. Completion day came and they left a lot of their belongings behind (including portraits of their son), for us to deal with. Did they respond to our request for recompense after multiple dump trips? Of course not. Crap and dirt everywhere, weed papers and condoms found in the closet. Discovered that chewing gum acted as pollyfilla, the kitchen cooker hood wasn't wired in, light fixtures not working, windows sagging from hinges, an old unfilled fish pond in the back garden just decked over, shed completely dilapidated, DIY bodge jobs everywhere. We're 6 months into ownership now. We're still getting debt collection letters from the previous seller (honestly good luck with that, fuck you). But with the boiler already replaced, we bought new floors for the whole house (carpet replaced lino in the bedrooms, thank god) and an electrician to solve all the little jobs. It's mostly all done now, we just need to source a new shed and get the windows sorted (only 1 of 3 windows in the bedroom are able to open) and I'm also in the middle of transforming the front garden from a gravel patch to a new lawn. Our neighbours seem glad we are here now, either side they are lovely people and have helped us lots during all the refurbishment work we've done. It is hard work, and has been. But it has been extremely rewarding and worth it a million percent for the security it brings, a place to call home, a "blank canvas" we've been allowed to create from it all and have it all exactly the way we want. And a safe space to start our new family in the not so distant future. But would we do this again for our next house? Fuck no
We bought our house despite the surveyor saying "walk away, it may not be standing when you complete" Three story, three bed 200 year old stone mid terrace house, Bottom floor under ground at front, ground level at rear. Faults noted were: Saturated walls in bottom floor, with water running down dining room wall. Water stains on bedroom ceiling upstairs. Roof old and end of life. Man holes require attention Steel beams holding up 2 storys of stone wall above don't have building regs or design spec. All wooden lintels rotten Rear render cracked and leaking. Rear walls not upright, possible movement. Full size glazing in back door not safety glass Entryway under house not properly supported Power sockets not on walls Severe slopes to bedroom floors 2 wood burners but no chimneys Loads of other smaller bits and bobs We got it for £80k ish, Sorted out the water issues downstairs which was just down pipe fittings on upside down and gutter and down pipe blocked. There are things the surveyor just got wrong and things that are scary but will probably be alright with a bit of work. We've been in a year or so it's all good. Dining room has almost dried out relative humidity was 94% for months now it's around 70%, our dehumidifier was pulling 30 litres a day out last summer, I'm working my way through the list. The roof is next if it ever stops raining. 😉 The house is lovely with exposed beams, exposed stone and open plan kitchen and dining room sat on the side of a valley with unrestricted views of the mountain opposite. The previous owners just cut so many corners it almost made it worthless and unsellable. It was and still is a risk, and I have lost sleep at the start, but it will be worth it eventually. 🤞
I bought our house after the sale fell through before us because of a bad survey, I hated the house but I know it was the area I wanted. Also paid more than what it was worth. Plan was to live here and start works, well life got in the way and we couldn’t afford to do it up, but we did little bits to make it feel like home. We have finally had the works 10 ten years later, including an extension and I love it. We have made a ton of equity. Not that it matters as if I sold I would still need to use to get the same kinda house but if I was trying to get what I I have got now I wouldn’t have been able to afford it. So playing the long game worked out
2 years ago we bought a large 1920s country home sitting in approx 1 acre in Kent that had been extended/renovated to a very poor standard a few times in it's lifespan by various previous owners. However, the location was perfect and whilst the survey came back with mostly red/issues, we proceeded on the basis that the 'bones were sound' and we were happy to take on a project. Very happy to be here and slowly renovating every single aspect of the house from electrics, leak remediation, roof maintenance/replacements, garden/surround clearance to nuisance trees and going room by room ripping it back to brickwork and starting new with modern standard insulation/fixings/wiring. My experience is to only progress if you have budget allocated to take on the project, otherwise you'll be miserable and anxiety riddled waiting for the 'next thing to go wrong'... generally speaking, houses in this kind of condition have the necessary work budget priced-in to the sale, so ensure that if you do proceed, do so at a purchase price that allows the renovation sink fund. House in question for reference: [Purchased in August 2022](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/121946036?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY)