Buyer Beware?

sonastin

Let him take you to court and sleep well in the knowledge that the judge will laugh him out of the court room.

"hmmm, your contract of sale says you can only rely on representations in writing from the vendor's solicitor. show me the communication that misrepresents the state of the roof.... I'm sorry, that post-completion text message isn't what I asked to see. You don't have anything. OK, goodbye. Make sure you pay these good people their costs on your way out"

(maybe paraphrased it a little - do you think they'll give me a job as script-writer on "Silks"?!)

F_T_Buyer

Seriously you have nothing to worry about. Do nothing, I very much doubt they would take you to court as they know they would not win.

WellKnownSid

dorsoduro wrote: »

It did - all was well when we completed in November 2010; the purchasers were converting part of the house into business premises, so the property was empty apart from builders working there (and still is).

Ah, then the property may be uninsured. If you read the small print on most policies, houses that are empty undergoing any kind of construction or repair are normally NOT covered for most risks.

Their insurers probably told them to take a running jump...

muskoka

WellKnownSid wrote: »

Ah, then the property may be uninsured. If you read the small print on most policies, houses that are empty undergoing any kind of construction or repair are normally NOT covered for most risks.

Their insurers probably told them to take a running jump...

I suspect the buyers may not even have tried their iNusrance co as they would know their insurance was void if the property was empty for an extended period

Vendor - Dont worry about it. The buyers are just trying it on. Let them take you to court . And dont waste your money on a solicitor. I really think (though Im no solicitor)they dont have a leg to stand on.

I've recently bought a house full of woodworm, no gas to it (even though vendors said in writing gas was laid to front door), but I'm not pursuing it. Was a probate property - such is life I bought it, I sort it out! No way would I go after vendors. I didnt have a gas inspection done, so hey, ho such is life

WellKnownSid

muskoka wrote: »

I suspect the buyers may not even have tried their iNusrance co as they would know their insurance was void if the property was empty for an extended period

My insurance covers the house being empty for extended periods of time for all risks. It does not cover the house at all during any form of refurbishment work beyond simple painting and decorating.

Misrepresentation requires the vendor to have made claims, which as others have said can be ignored except those made via the solicitor. The buyers haven't got a leg to stand on... but clearly are having the desired effect putting the willies up the vendors.

mufi

I doubt that any insurer would cover a flat roof going wrong if the house has been recently purchased and the purchaser did not have a proper survey. Does anyone happen to know?

It appears the OP has little to fear - does the purchaser have any evidence whatsoever of either negligent or fraudulent misrepresentation? My understanding is that only those two conditions can override either caveat emptor or the special conditions in the contract - am I correct?