Any ideas?

FireWyrm

Hi All

I'm probably barking up the wrong tree here, but I'm hopping mad and want to kill someone. Any advice welcome

I have been in the process of buying a new house. I have the money, my solicitor has completed the searches and we were due to exchange on Friday. On Monday, the EA rang me to tell me that the vendors had changed their mind. When I pulled myself together enough to ask the obvious question, he told me that they had no idea either and that the vendor had simply said "Something happened over the weekend...the house is off the market". We know it has nothing to do with our part of the sale, or the sale of the other house that our vendor was going to buy. That vendor is as mad as us and also has lost money. I know that there really isnt much in the way of support in this case, but has anyone ever tried to take such a case to a small claims court? I have lost the general valuation fee, the building survey fee and all my solicitors' costs amounting to about £1500. I know that the vendor can pull out any time, but isnt there some sort of scale, where the vendor has to give a decent reason (or even a reason at all would be good)? House sales go up in smoke all the time, but surely, this close to exchange, where no party has done anything wrong and there is no explanation, there should be something you can do to recover the costs?

zappahey

The answer to all of your questions is no. All you can do is move on.

GAH

No Unfortunately theres nothing you can do.

It sounds a poor excuse but Maybe the vendors did have a genuine reason, as i am sure that they had paid out the same costs as you for the one they are buying.

It does suck, but unfortunately you just have to move on to the next one.

FireWyrm

B****ks! I thought that might be the case. It wouldnt be so bad if I just had a genuine explanation. To be told "we're not prepared to discuss it" is just not fair. Anyway, I'm sure I'll find out sooner or later because its a very small village. I just dont know that I can be civil to the vendor if I see them around as I'm sure to do at the school gates. Absolutely heart breaking and sometimes, I think we should move towards the scottish system where a verbal acceptance is binding. I know it's an old argument, but one we should have as a country IMHO.

tomatoe_2

I agree. This system is not fit for purpose. Too many games can be played by all involved for no penalty. I feel sorry for you. The ea will know, but has no loyalty or interest in you so he won't say, probably data protection issue to discuss other peoples reasons.

lincroft1710

Perhaps one of the vendors has found out they only have 6 months to live and want to spend their remaining time in a property they know.

Probably not the case, but as you don't know, there is no point in not being civil to the vendor. If you are polite, they may tell you why they pulled out of the sale.

FireWyrm

Perhaps one of the vendors has found out they only have 6 months to live and want to spend their remaining time in a property they know.

Probably not the case, but as you don't know, there is no point in not being civil to the vendor. If you are polite, they may tell you why they pulled out of the sale.

I suppose so. Its just the utter frustration. I really loved that house, and only last week the EA was telling me that the vendor was pottering about getting things ready for her move to the last house in the chain....then all of a sudden, with no warning and no explanation, it's just gone, along with the time, effort, money and heartache. I could live with it if I knew why. To not give any explanation at all, however brief, is just beyond rude. At least if I knew the vendor was dying, I could thing "poor sod, well, at least I have my health blah blah", but to not know anything at all :mad:

The EA and I have a resonably good relationship. Another EA tells me that he was very upset after getting off the phone to us earlier in the week and I believe her. I know he owes the vendor his loyalty, but when the vendor pulls out and there is no prospect of a bonus payment, I suspect that this loyalty is severely tested. He's given me no reason to suspect collusion and certainly the behaviour of the houses on Rightmove backs up the story. I dont believe there is another buyer in the equation, or the EA knows he could have come back to me and twisted me for the full asking price....I would have given it to him frankly.

Anyway...we've managed to find another house which is acceptable. Back to square one though...another valuation by the Halifax and another survey etc. I've told the EA that I want this one expadited....and I mean right now - before anyone else changes their bloody mind.

Davesnave

FireWyrm wrote: »

Anyway...we've managed to find another house which is acceptable.

Beware of buying on the rebound.

You want a great house, not an 'acceptable' one.

If all else fails, go into rented for a bit. That's one of the joys of this market.

FireWyrm

Davesnave wrote: »

Beware of buying on the rebound.

You want a great house, not an 'acceptable' one.

If all else fails, go into rented for a bit. That's one of the joys of this market.

I am in rented right now, but we are on a schedule. If we don't complete on a house of our own, we are stuck here for another 6 month contract which I don't want. My landlord is a !!!!y so and so. Perhaps 'acceptable' was a poor choice of word. I wasn't sure about the house to begin with but it's growing on me. I just want a house of my own whopich is the bottom line here. My standards and my budget are somewhat lower than most people seem to be able to manage, but I think this one might actually be better in the long run.

Anyway, thanks for the advice, it would be sensible under different circumstance, but just not what I want to do at the moment.

ceridwen

FireWyrm wrote: »

B****ks! I thought that might be the case. It wouldnt be so bad if I just had a genuine explanation. To be told "we're not prepared to discuss it" is just not fair. Anyway, I'm sure I'll find out sooner or later because its a very small village. I just dont know that I can be civil to the vendor if I see them around as I'm sure to do at the school gates. Absolutely heart breaking and sometimes, I think we should move towards the scottish system where a verbal acceptance is binding. I know it's an old argument, but one we should have as a country IMHO.

I can well understand your fury. That was totally unacceptable conduct on their part.

As you say - "its a small village" - so the truth will out at some point and unless its a VERY good reason indeed for letting down two lots of people like that - then the truth about the character of these sellers will out as well....and they (presumably) have to continue living in this small village with everyone knowing what sort of people they are...

Hope you can sort this situation out satisfactorily. You never know - it may be that you'll end up buying a house thats "a better deal" because of this let-down...so keep your fingers crossed for that.

ceridwen

FireWyrm wrote: »

I am in rented right now, but we are on a schedule. If we don't complete on a house of our own, we are stuck here for another 6 month contract which I don't want. My landlord is a !!!!y so and so. Perhaps 'acceptable' was a poor choice of word. I wasn't sure about the house to begin with but it's growing on me. I just want a house of my own whopich is the bottom line here. My standards and my budget are somewhat lower than most people seem to be able to manage, but I think this one might actually be better in the long run.

Anyway, thanks for the advice, it would be sensible under different circumstance, but just not what I want to do at the moment.

...and when you say you "werent sure about the house to begin with" maybe part of that unsureness was warning bells ringing in your head about the character of the vendor. Unfortunately - in my experience - it does happen that we get those "warning bells" about something and go ahead anyway and those "bells" DID tell us true and we turned out to be wrong to go ahead...:( (ask me how I know:(:mad:).