Blocking purchase

pip_on_the_move

The couple we were selling to turned out to be total nutcases. We refused to sell to them, so they have made an offer on the house we were going to buy. We have a huge flat, and they want the extra space. The house we were going to buy is teeny tiny because we want a smaller place, and we know they don't actually want to buy it.

How long can they go on pretending they're going to buy the house before they have to own up and pull out of the purchase?

Is this common?

Bossyboots

Have you told the sellers of the house you were going to buy what has happened? You need to be careful not to slander the couple but you can give facts. Otherwise, you are just going to have to leave them to and look elsewhere.

pip_on_the_move

Before the agent confirmed the identity of the buyers of the house, my husband told the agent what had happened to us - threats etc, voicemail messages, us having to call the police, the woman trespassing and all that. He gave the agent the names of the couple and said she should make up her own mind about how to proceed. She then confirmed the identity of the buyers, but I don't know what will happen next. Maybe the agent/sellers will just hope for the best and pretend none of it is happening.

callmelinda

You sound like you've been very unfortunate to come across what sounds like a nightmare couple.

Has the seller actually accepted their bid? If she hasn't but is going to, then she could ask that the survey be done within 7 days for example so it would at least cost the stupid people money if they wanted to go along the route of being timewasters. Or if they don't want to actually waste money pursuing this then you'd know within 7 days.

If she has accepted their offer, I assume they are now in the process of waiting for or carrying out searches/surveys?

Are you waiting to sell and then offer or have you also offered and they're outbiding you?

If it's unlikely it will come to anything (ie, they won't follow through and actually move), it may pan out fine without further intervention?

As for all the harrassment etc, try to keep as much evidence and if it got to be a real worry for safety, you could pursue an order against them to keep away I would imagine.

pip_on_the_move

callmelinda wrote:

Has the seller actually accepted their bid?

Yes, she's desperate to sell. She's been trying for more than a year with no success. They seemed like dream buyers I imagine... cash offer, promise of a speedy completion...

callmelinda wrote:

If she has accepted their offer, I assume they are now in the process of waiting for or carrying out searches/surveys?

They've offered her cash, their solicitor has confirmed that they have the money, and they'll most likely say they don't require a survey as they're not getting a mortgage. I'm assuming they could string her along and she wouldn't know whereabouts they were in the process.

callmelinda wrote:

Are you waiting to sell and then offer or have you also offered and they're outbiding you?

We made an offer on the place when this couple were our buyers, but they wouldn't confirm their firm offer to the agent selling the house we want, so it slowed everything down. They started behaving oddly and 'phoning us accusing us of being under the influence of evil, so we refused to sell to them. So we were waiting to get another buyer in order to buy the house. Next thing we heard they've offered on the house and the seller's accepted their offer.

callmelinda wrote:

If it's unlikely it will come to anything (ie, they won't follow through and actually move), it may pan out fine without further intervention?

We think they'll offer to swap... we sell our flat to them and they release the house. We're worried that when this stunt doesn't force us to sell to them that they'll start on something else. They are convinced that they're meant to live here... obsessed with our flat - she believes the spirit of the original Victorian owner speaks to her. :rolleyes2

We think they'll put all their energy into this stunt, but when they're found out they'll start on something else... so I'm wondering how long they can keep the pretense up. The woman shows up here and insists she's going to get our flat with or without our consent, so I don't think she's going to give up on this. We think they'll move on to something else after this, so we're trying to get an idea of how long it will be before that happens.

callmelinda wrote:

As for all the harrassment etc, try to keep as much evidence and if it got to be a real worry for safety, you could pursue an order against them to keep away I would imagine.

We're going to speak to a solicitor. We think this has become very personal for them, and obviously they know where we live. :rolleyes2

You don't expect to end up in this situation just because you're trying to sell a flat.

callmelinda

That's just shocking, I absolutely sympathise with you. It's a hassle at the best of times but who on earth needs to be dealing with people like them? Crazy.

Timeline, I think if the seller's accepted a cash bid, an exchange of contracts could be done within 2 weeks, and the whole process done in 6-8 weeks. I don't know if the seller has a place sorted already though.

After reading what you've said, my main concern isn't even whether the seller realised what this couple are doing - I'm more concerned that these nutcases would know where you lived if you went on to move into the house you want at the moment and if they don't get your flat, they might continue with their harassment. So yes, speak to your solicitor for some advice on an injunction/order or whatever they're called.

Maybe try to keep your moving options option as well - you never know, there might be a better house for you out there even if your heart is currently set on one in particular. And by doing this the idiot couple might not feel they have their "bargaining" tool to use over you if you seem to be happy to move elsewhere anyway.

silvercar

they are nutters and will drive you mad until you exchange and beyond. Who knows what stunt they will try on the day of exchange. I would forget them and remarket the property.

ashcarrot

could you move some where temporary between the two flats, Im thinking sell your place to someone sane, move out have the money ready for when the "people" back down and then buy.

And most importantly tell us the whole story, your under the influence of evil, have they tried to excercise(or however its spelt) you yet? maybe a nakid dance round a fire on your lawn?

pip_on_the_move

callmelinda wrote:

I'm more concerned that these nutcases would know where you lived if you went on to move into the house you want at the moment and if they don't get your flat, they might continue with their harassment.

I don't think they'll stop unless we give in and let them buy this flat, so I think they'd follow us to the ends of the earth. So, moving to the house would probably just mean we'd transfer the problem there because they'd be forever blaming us for not selling the flat to them.

The woman is still obsessed with her old neighbours, and she hasn't spoken to them for years. She still wants to sue them and have them evicted, so I think she's got a long memory.

She came round here a couple of nights ago to question our neighbour, and then she came here, but hubbie told her to get lost. The thing that's worrying is that sane people have boundaries (or at least you hope they do), but this pair are not sane, so where do they stop?

She basically believes that by stopping her coming "home" to our flat we are preventing her from fulfilling her destiny (we are most likely acting under the command of some evil being :rolleyes2 )

We also think they might send friends round to view our flat, and try to buy this place through a third party. Oh and by the way, when they do buy (because they're certain they will) they are going to sue us for not disclosing that there's a dispute at the property. They know there was one, and that it was sorted out two years ago, and they have been actively trying to start it back up again.

We've told them they'll never get us to sell to them, but it's hopeless. :wall:

Tiger_greeneyes

They sound like a nighmare

You didn't mention why you withdrew the property from them in the first place so my post may not be relevant...

I know it's not the way you want to go, but could you change your mind and sell to the couple? If they're so determined then it might just be the quickest and easiest way forwards.

It could be that you lose the house you want if this goes on long enough.

Otherwise, remarket your flat with another agent, insisting they don't send Mr & Mrs Nutcase to view... that way you'll get another buyer, and by then, your vendor might have sussed out the nutters and blown them off/reverted to selling to you.

The nutcases will show their true colours to your vendor, as they have done to you.

It's well worth keeping a diary of every little thing that happens with the nutters, just in case it may be needed for evidence (hope it won't come to it but it's always best to be prepared).

pip_on_the_move

Tiger_greeneyes wrote:

You didn't mention why you withdrew the property from them in the first place so my post may not be relevant...

They came around to do the whole measuring up thing, to get ready to have built in wardrobes put in, and the woman started telling me she wanted the work done before we even exchanged. Then she told me I had to paint the rooms for her, again before exchange. They wanted us to move into their flat while they were buying our flat so they could rip everything out in here and make it how they want it. :shocked:

Then she asked if we'd help her set up our neighbours so she could sue them when she moved in here. She wanted us to make up evidence, sign statements, do all sorts of nonsense.

When we tried to reason with her she said we were trying to make a profit from selling the flat, that she wanted £20,000 off the price she'd agreed, and that we should blackmail the vendor of the house we wanted, or she'd do it for us, :shocked:

Then she said we were being influenced by evil. She reckoned she has connections who will have people killed, and that she will get this place whether we like it or not.

We would rather burn the place to the ground than sell to them. Honestly, we feel that strongly. They make my skin crawl.