Solicitor Negligence? Nobody told me they were going to build a bridge...

kafkaesque_2

As it happens my solicitors were pretty uncommunicative and not particularly helpful (despite the fact that I tried to ensure that all bases were covered etc).

sarah_elton

lynzpower wrote: »

No but thereis the issue of the Property Misdescriptions Act, that they have to abide by.

But that's about not making false or misleading statements. I doubt the house particulars said "No bridge will be built next door" or "No building works in the near vicinity".

As others have said, it's your solicitor you may have a claim against if anyone.

Estate agents and sellers are only obliged to answer your questions honestly, and not to say anything untrue. There's nothing that forces them to disclose things without being asked.

maninthestreet

'Caveat Emptor' applies - neither the vendor nor his agent were under any obligation to volunteer information regarding the building of a new bridge.
If you or your solicitor had asked them, they would have to have given an honest answer, though. From your original post it seems the plans for a new bridge were already public knowledge.

kafkaesque_2

Okay estate agent is wrong target (though no doubt the seller knew). Human decency and all that ...

beecher

The building of a new Forth Road Bridge has been heavily covered in the press for a long time. It was a key SNP manifesto commitment. I take it you didn't live in Scotland or else you would definitely have heard of this.

http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Forth-to-get-new-iconic.3606204.jp

I didn't find out until I'd moved into my flat that there was planning permission for new flats to be built joining on to my flat so I'm not 100% sure you have a claim against anyone.

kafkaesque_2

I moved up from England (I only lived in the centre for a short time), so I hadn't heard of it (though apparently everybody else did).

I understand that I may not have any recourse at all, but it doesn't hurt to ask around. I wish that someone had told me before spending so much money on a house that I won't want to live in much longer, and that I doubt anybody else will want either.

ILW

Sounds like they saw the Sassanach*(sp?) coming.

kafkaesque_2

Well I'm actually Northern Irish, but I catch your drift.

SouthCoast

Try this:

http://www.scottishlegalcomplaints.com/home.aspx

blued

The've been talking about it for around 4-5 years and until I noticed you had only stayed in the centre for a short while I was wondering how you hadnt heard of it! I was led to believe that the cables that hold the bridge up are nearing the end of their service and to replace them would mean putting the bridge out of service hence building the new one first. I assumed they'd be taking the old one down when they were finished erecting the new one.

Where do you stay? I'm sure there was a petition from the people in Queensferry.