Bought flat only to find seller has taken the lawn!

xylophone

Since you had bought the flat, this amounts to criminal damage to your property?

The vendors have acknowledged fault in the note?

Speak to your solicitor. Obtain three quotes for professional restoration.

Try the small claims court?

getmore4less

Were they buying a new build?

DCFC79

Not sure what else to say that hasnt already been said. Hope you get it sorted OP.
A very odd thing to take with you when you move, all the mess involved removing it and relaying it.

artbaron

Definitely sue them, even if you can afford to replace the lawn. It's the principle that's important. People like that make me retch. When I left my house not only did I leave all the blinds (£1500's worth), I left a load of spare bulbs because I knew those type were difficult to get hold of, and £150 cash because the washing machine (which I also left) had recently developed a fault. I guess these people got a free lawn but they still have the disadvantage of living their lives as scum.

Contessa

That is extraordinary! Even stranger would be if your flat had no side entrance to the garden-I can just imagine them carrying the lawn through the flat! I know some terrace houses only have access to the garden through the house and now I can see that this might be an advantage.
Seriously though, I really hope you get recompense.

t0rt0ise

They'll never get a lawn to grow in in this weather so it's not all bad.

dacouch

t0rt0ise wrote: »

They'll never get a lawn to grow in in this weather so it's not all bad.

and would have spent a hell of a lot of time taking it up and rolling it

harrup

Can't help feeling that there is more to this story. Who in their right mind steals a soggy piece of lawn and then leaves an apologetic note without offering a rationale?!

Perhaps they sprinkled their parents ashes on it mixed with wildflower seeds....or maybe it was a pets ashes...or maybe he proposed on the lawn, or, or. But I think it likely has some sentimental reason which they felt foolish to explain.

Either way, before you start legal proceedings - is there any way for you to contact them? Just let them know that whatever the reason for their attachment to the lawn - they can either replace it or reimburse you to the cost of (calculate what turf plus laying it will be). Briefly express your disappointment about the underhand action and how it marred the enjoyment of your new home, reiterate that you have been fair, reliable & accomodating throughout, but that your patience has now fully evaporated. Give them a time limit to respond (NB make it a reasonable one...or they can claim they were on vacation until after the limit had lapsed and didn't know what to do afterwards, blah,blah,blah). Send it recorded!

Good luck

bitsandpieces

ElleBR wrote: »

However, I was a little shocked to find that the sellers have stripped the garden - the lawn that was prominently mentioned in the sales description, pictured in photos and shown to me in person when I visited has been completely removed! No explanation, other than a note from the sellers saying "Sorry about the garden".

I can't answer your question. However, not sure if it's just me, but somehow taken the lawn and then leaving a short 'sorry' note seems even worse than just taking it - insult to injury? :eek: And who'd strip their garden and then feel that leaving a short note somehow helps!

ElleBR

Contessa wrote: »

That is extraordinary! Even stranger would be if your flat had no side entrance to the garden-I can just imagine them carrying the lawn through the flat! I know some terrace houses only have access to the garden through the house and now I can see that this might be an advantage.
Seriously though, I really hope you get recompense.

There isn't a side access, so they would indeed have to have carried the turf through the flat!