Did Agent misrepresent the property?

olly300

Vetyver wrote: »

I'm a bit cheesed off by this. And before you ask, yes, I did view the property before my offer, but my untrained eye was unable to tell the difference... obviously even someone as experienced as a professional surveyor couldn't tell until I questioned it! Can I do anything at all about this, are there any grounds to complain?

If you felt the property was big enough when you viewed then why are you complaining?

If you saw the property you could see visually how much furniture you could fit in.

When my flat was measured the measurements were for the maximum lengths of the rooms as the rooms in my flat aren't rectangular. So anyone who buys could see the floor area of the rooms is smaller.

Vetyver

olly300 wrote: »

If you felt the property was big enough when you viewed then why are you complaining?

If you saw the property you could see visually how much furniture you could fit in.

When my flat was measured the measurements were for the maximum lengths of the rooms as the rooms in my flat aren't rectangular. So anyone who buys could see the floor area of the rooms is smaller.

I'm not talking about a few sq ft shaved off here and there due to irregular room shapes. This is a 128 sq ft disparity. Apparently, that's a whole house of difference(!!) :eek:

To the untrained eye, it's very difficult to gauge size. Clearly the EA and surveyor couldn't, accurately. And it's not just a case of furniture to fit in, it's a case of value, too.

moneyistooshorttomention

You will probably find it of interest to read the thread that's currently a few lines down from this one - re selling a 2 bed house as a 3 bedroom one just because a dividing wall has been put up in one of the bedrooms.

It's an example of a different sort of space shenanigan that goes on and I'd be willing to bet that some vendors of 2 bed properties DO manage to get a 3 bed price for them - just because there is that wall up and the EA described the place as being "3 bedroom".

There really does seem to be no alternative except to take round a steel measure oneself when viewing a place - I certainly did when viewing recently, rather than taking anyone's word for the size of the places.

kmmr

I think it’s a big difference. One of the first things I check when looking at flats is the floor space.

Even in London there is a price difference between a 40sqm and 50sqm 1 bed flat. It’s not always that easy to assess the space when you are viewing, it’s only when you go to put in furniture etc that you start to ask yourself why everything feels a bit cramped. I know on those TV shows they sometimes say get a small double to make people think it’s a double room.

You are lucky you haven’t exchanged, and if it was me I would renegotiate. Don’t worry about it falling through, if it does, then you will find another, and 1 month is not that long in the scheme of things. You will end up in the flat for years, being annoyed at yourself! If, however, you are paying a great bargain price for the 50sqm, maybe that’s why it was a little cheaper.

Only you can decide what to do. I’d say reduce the offer – you are not bound by the offer, and this is a material change in facts IMHO

laidbackgjr

The key question as far as I'm concerned is, is your offer at the right level for a 40sqm flat, if so then you've no grounds to renegotiate, but if you think your offer is based on a 50sqm flat and you wouldn't have offered the same for a 40sqm flat then you could try renegotiating, but on the basis you saw the flat I think you'll struggle to get the vendor to agree a reduction.

olly300

Vetyver wrote: »

To the untrained eye, it's very difficult to gauge size. Clearly the EA and surveyor couldn't, accurately. And it's not just a case of furniture to fit in, it's a case of value, too.

It isn't.

Are you seriously saying that you cannot tell if a three seater, a two seater and dining table can fit into a living room, or that you cannot tell if a double bed and two large wardrobes can fit into a bedroom?

If you can't then you shouldn't be looking a property on your own and should have taken someone who has lived in a variety of properties.

olly300

laidbackgjr wrote: »

The key question as far as I'm concerned is, is your offer at the right level for a 40sqm flat, if so then you've no grounds to renegotiate, but if you think your offer is based on a 50sqm flat and you wouldn't have offered the same for a 40sqm flat then you could try renegotiating, but on the basis you saw the flat I think you'll struggle to get the vendor to agree a reduction.

I think this was one of the people before who may have come back under a different username who was moaning about finding flats by measured size.

Lots of us explained that housing in England is not brought using this.

donfanatico

phill99 wrote: »

Additionally, the value isn't based on a square footage. It's based on a one bedroom flat of a certain standard in a certain location with certain amenities.

I agree that this is how things are done in the UK but it absolutely laughable.

Everywhere else in Europe people pay by SQM when they purchase and the price per SQM is based on location and finish, new vs old etc.

SO you know your sums exactly. The UK property market is disgusting.
I queried this once with an agent and they laughed at me. I think they are idiots here.

Vetyver

olly300 wrote: »

It isn't.

Are you seriously saying that you cannot tell if a three seater, a two seater and dining table can fit into a living room, or that you cannot tell if a double bed and two large wardrobes can fit into a bedroom?

If you can't then you shouldn't be looking a property on your own and should have taken someone who has lived in a variety of properties.

I am buying on my own. I'm the first of my friends to buy a place of my own. I can't help my circumstances, I'm afraid.

olly300 wrote: »

I think this was one of the people before who may have come back under a different username who was moaning about finding flats by measured size.

Lots of us explained that housing in England is not brought using this.

I'm not. But I sense that is a bigger issue.

pinkshoes

Properties in the UK aren't sold by how many meters squares they are, so surely your offer was based on your OPINION of the CONDITION of the property, compared to other similar properties in the area?

The number of square meters is just a number - it shouldn't change how much you like it.

Only a number has changed, not the physical size of the flat.

I wouldn't bother buying anywhere unless it had 2 bedrooms!

Edit: Go on rightmove and look at other similar sized properties in the area. Are they cheaper? (have they got the right floor area down??)