flat access

Seems to me you'd be better off asking in uk.legal.

Jon

This surprises me assuming you made appointments with the right people (agent or owner). You need to ask why access was refused. Even before offers are submitted it is unusual not to be able to arrange a visit to the property.

If the property particulars stated that the property had central heating that was untested (as is normal in England), then it is the purchaser's responsibility to fix any faults although it is often possible to persuade the seller to do something. At the end of the day a new central heating pump costs 40 and takes an hour to fit - not a lot of money compared to the price of property.

Its quite common to get access on an informal basis from the current owner to measure for curtains etc. Solicitors often are very wary of this, particularly when a property is empty, as it is not unknown for people to lay carpets or make changes before the entry date. In my experience Scottish solicitors will advise against unsupervised access.

Electrical goods are not often covered in my experience, but central heating is. It will depend on the offer you made. There is a bit of trading goes on. An offer will say central heating must work for a year. The reply will say we'll guarantee it for ten days. You then accept (or otherwise) their amendments to your offer.

Neb

What exactly do you mean by "accepted"? If missives have not concluded, nothing has been accepted. Hasn't your solicitor sent you a copy of his written offer, and of the seller's solicitor's written qualified acceptance? Hasn't he advised you about what the qualifications mean? Or is it still too early in the game?

By whom? Are the sellers still living there?

It is a reasonably standard condition of offer that access for measuring-up be permitted. Your solicitor should have included that as one of the conditions of his offer. On the other hand, it would be unnecessarily disruptive for anyone still living there, to allow such access before they know for certain that the sale is going through.

Best to wait until the missives conclude before asking again.

Good.

Yes.

What estate agent? Are the selling agents "estate agents" or, as is to be expected, solicitors? Estate agents as such are quite rare in Scotland, and most properties are marketed by solicitors.

Ask your solicitor who made the offer on your behalf. Usually it's within 2 weeks or so of the initial informal acceptance, depending on how busy the solicitors are.

If there is the slightest chance you might not get the loan, be sure not to allow missives to conclude. Otherwise you'll be forced to go through with the sale anyway, or to compensate the sellers for their loss involved in putting the property back on the market, and making good any shortfall on the next offer they accept.

This is a matter for the terms of your offer. If your solicitor is any good, he will have made adequate provision, i.e. to require that everything works or else will be fixable at the seller's expense if you notify defects within a week or so after entry date.

I have only had an offer letter sent to me which outlines the basics ie offer price, entry date and white goods inclusive. Am waiting for the full offer conditions. Will ask for this.

The surveyor refused, but I suspect it was the estate agent that told them so because the estate agent knew I wanted to see it again.

It is actually an estate agent chain, not a solicitor.

I will try and get the mortgage confirmed asap.

I will contact the solicitor about my queries.

As it turns out, the estate agent called asking if I wanted to buy any furniture currently in the flat. I said I couldn't remember what there was so the seller has agreed to meet up with me at the flat next week (it is currently unoccupied).

Thanks all for your responses.