Selling my house, am I obliged to say it has flooded?

[Nagel]

I'm selling my house that was flooded in 2007. Am I obliged to declare this on the form that I fill in for the solicitor or does the incident become 'spent' after so many years like a criminal conviction?

 

The Property Information Form asks 'Has the seller ever made any buildings insurance claims? If Yes, please give details.'

 

I have heard that after 5 years buildings insurance claims don't need to be declared to insurance companies when arranging household insurance, but what about when selling a house?

 

I've searched the Internet and haven't found an answer to this question, so any help will be appreciated.

[Ghozer]

Why not just ask your Estate Agent?

[Nagel]

Why not just ask your Estate Agent?

 

Because it's Saturday night and I won't get an answer till Monday morning.

[cgksheff]

Why worry about the insurance question, when the standard Property Information Form has a section specifically asking about Flooding?

[Nagel]

Why worry about the insurance question, when the standard Property Information Form has a section specifically asking about Flooding?

 

Well exactly. Why?

 

The buyer knows that the property flooded in 2007, just doesn't know how big the insurance claim was.

 

---------- Post added 18-08-2014 at 15:40 ----------

 

I found the answer to my question in the Law Society's guidance notes to filling out the Law Society Property Information Form.

 

The question on the form is:

 

Question 6.3

Has the seller made any building insurance claims? If Yes please give details.

 

And the guidance notes say:

 

Question 6.3

The seller should provide details of any current insurance claim.

 

 

Since the claim was in 2007 and is not current I'm not obliged to declare it.

[kidley]

the surveyor will find out its been flooded or on a flood plane, you wont get away with it, yes i know you are not trying to.

[geared]

Just be upfront about it.

When the surveyor or someone finds it out later it's just going to look like a poor attempt to cover it up.

 

If that happened and I was the buyer I'd pull the plug immediately.

[AJSanderson]

Ask a legal professional

[dongle]

when you bought it would you have walked away knowing it had flooded previously?

[truman]

Just be upfront about it.

When the surveyor or someone finds it out later it's just going to look like a poor attempt to cover it up.

 

If that happened and I was the buyer I'd pull the plug immediately.

 

Dead right.. if you catch the vendor covering up about one thing you have to wonder what else is being hidden..