Sold a flat June 2012 and still having problems with buyer

HarryBarry

I don't think having a clearly visible (which it probably will be, if it looks ok, stop at that) patch up job on your staircase is putting it back to how it was, therefore making the whole of the staircase look the same is not betterment.

And even if it is betterment. GOOD. The OP has damaged her property, she didnt want it to be damaged in the first place so it was hardly a master plan to get a painted staircase for free. To be honest, after damaging someones property I'd feel embarrassed to be causing such a fuss like this in getting it repaired (ok the £500 was a bit cheeky of her, but last offer from her seems acceptable to me).

I've damaged some property that was not mine in the past. I paid for the repair, they got a good deal out of it and definite betterment. Putting it back to how it was, was impossible, but it was cost they would not have otherwise had so I thought it was only fair. I was happy to go a bit beyond what was (legally) needed as I was embarrassed about causing damage and causing them inconvenience.

Naya

HarryBarry wrote: »

I don't think having a clearly visible (which it probably will be, if it looks ok, stop at that) patch up job on your staircase is putting it back to how it was, therefore making the whole of the staircase look the same is not betterment.

And even if it is betterment. GOOD. The OP has damaged her property, she didnt want it to be damaged in the first place so it was hardly a master plan to get a painted staircase for free. To be honest, after damaging someones property I'd feel embarrassed to be causing such a fuss like this in getting it repaired (ok the £500 was a bit cheeky of her, but last offer from her seems acceptable to me).

I've damaged some property that was not mine in the past. I paid for the repair, they got a good deal out of it and definite betterment. Putting it back to how it was, was impossible, but it was cost they would not have otherwise had so I thought it was only fair. I was happy to go a bit beyond what was (legally) needed as I was embarrassed about causing damage and causing them inconvenience.

I understand your point of view, but I do not see the point why I should pay £300 for a £70 job. Is that fair to you?
I am not refusing to pay for it nor making a fuss but wants a more reasonable down to earth price. I did not do it on purpose, it was while I was moving out accidentally and I do not have loads of cash lying around. If I had i would have given her £500 no problem. That's why I am trying to afford what I can.

HarryBarry

Naya wrote: »

I understand your point of view, but I do not see the point why I should pay £300 for a £70 job. Is that fair to you?
I am not refusing to pay for it nor making a fuss but wants a more reasonable down to earth price. I did not do it on purpose, it was while I was moving out accidentally and I do not have loads of cash lying around. If I had i would have given her £500 no problem. That's why I am trying to afford what I can.

Yes that seems fair. It's not a £70 job though is it ? To do the job that seems acceptable involves the quote for £240. The £70 job probably means she will then have to take the time/money to do the rest of it herself, something that wouldnt be happening if you hadnt caused the damage. I think she is just trying to cover herself incase it looks really bad patched up.

And I know you didnt do it on purpose, but you still caused it. It's unlucky, but painting the rest of it doesnt seem that unreasonable and considering you damaged her property, its one of those situations where you should be thinking "well... yeah ok I suppose...".

cabbage

it will probably cost about the same as the original offer to take you to court so she might be bluffing.

grifferz

cabbage wrote: »

it will probably cost about the same as the original offer to take you to court so she might be bluffing.

One man's bluffing is another man's "I really hope they do what is right because I can't actually afford to take them to court."

I'm in the camp that believes that "making good" does not equate to leaving a differently-coloured patch on someone's wall and do not believe that it would be morally right to get out of that duty purely because it is too expensive to force me to live up to it.

Perhaps OP could come to some compromise whereby they pay for the patch to be repainted and then if the complainant can show in a photo that it is a visibly different colour then they will pay for the rest to be repainted?

I appreciate that OP cannot afford this, but I cannot see any way in which just leaving a patch of paint on someone's wall is adequate resolution of an issue that OP admits being responsible for.

sammyjammy

The staircase probably isn't even the same colour, especially as she says she threw the pot of paint away! I'd call her bluff an ignore her.

pimento

Wasn't she insured?

Naya

I have offered her to pay the plasterer to paint the staircase with a colour of her choice and she provides the paint cause I cannot chose for her or else I will have it painted white.

This is what she replied to me today. She wants the staircase replastered with a smooth plaster.

She offered to paint the wall herself if I pay for the replastering of the staircase, £500.00

Quote from email:


Marie
I will not provide the paint, I offered it only in the case that my plasterercarries out the work as I'd do the landing at the same time and would thenmatch the colours.
I had several plasterers looking at it and they all said that it would be difficultto match it all exactly to the existing wall in regards to the texture andcolour, hence they all suggested that smoothing the walls will be the bestsolution.
I do not wish for any difference to be visible and this is how I'd like therepair to be carried out. I will not be happy with any other result. Would youhave reported the damage when it happened before completion as you should havedone it could have been handeled in a different way but now I need to ensurethat the wall is in a good condition.
Even if Stuart manages to match the artex exactly the whole staircase will needto be painted so there is no difference between the repaired part of the walland the rest of the staircase.

Please advise what you propose.
Regards
End of quote.


I had hoped yesterday that offering the paint the staircase will close the matter, I did not see that coming. I am at a total lost now. CAB office told me that she has no grounds to sue me as I have offered to repair the damage and paint the staircase.

I cannot understand how she expects me to plaster an whole staircase when the artex damage can be repaired.

Your suggestions and comments are most welcomed.

Naya

grifferz wrote: »

One man's bluffing is another man's "I really hope they do what is right because I can't actually afford to take them to court."

I'm in the camp that believes that "making good" does not equate to leaving a differently-coloured patch on someone's wall and do not believe that it would be morally right to get out of that duty purely because it is too expensive to force me to live up to it.

Perhaps OP could come to some compromise whereby they pay for the patch to be repainted and then if the complainant can show in a photo that it is a visibly different colour then they will pay for the rest to be repainted?

I appreciate that OP cannot afford this, but I cannot see any way in which just leaving a patch of paint on someone's wall is adequate resolution of an issue that OP admits being responsible for.

I was not planning to leave a patch on the wall as I had retouch that wall myself before selling it and the paint dried the same and no difference was visible. I would never do that to anyone since I am trying to arrive to a sensible conclusion with her.

YoungBusinessman

I would personally just say ok see you in court and leave it at that.