Nice People Thread Number 11 - A Treasury of Nice People

chewmylegoff

Ugh. After pushing for a date for exchange and completion for weeks and getting no reply, I have just received a call from agent.

Wants us to exchange tomorrow but not complete for 5-6 weeks. Gave me a load of talk about being reasonable and flexible and said property at top of chain (which is empty) has been burgled and all copper pipe/wiring stolen.

I said that disappointed on delay to completion but not really happy to exchange now would prefer to exchange a week before completion. Got a load more about being reasonable and flexible and industry standard for 4 weeks exchange to completion.

I think the person at the top of the chain doesn't want to repair the house only to be gazundered on exchange day so wants to lock in the price now. All very well but we have to stump up a very large amount as a deposit to make exchange happen and then live in an expensive short term rental for a month- I.e. All the costs and "flexibility" are borne by us and none of them by the person at the top of the chain who is the problem.

Should we just agree or wot?

PasturesNew

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

... everyone should know how to check the oil and vinegar in a car....

Is that for when you stop off at the chippy on the way home?
They never seem to give enough vinegar.

tomterm8

I've had a remarkably unproductive day, in which much has failed to be accomplished.

Highlight of day: Making appointment with new dentist, to be added to list.
Lowlight of day: Realizing this will mean I have to go to an appointment with dentist.

Appointment is in the distant future, though, and I am trying not to think about it.

Don't mind dentists, as long as they don't have anything that makes your mouth hurt in their hands...

chewmylegoff

PasturesNew wrote: »

I don't know where the West End is ..... I tried using commutefrom.com but they don't have the West End as a destination on the drop downs.

Postcode is SE5 7PQ

Oh - just found Oxford Circus ..... which sounds like Oxford Street, which might be the West End? commutefrom says 12 mins then change and 3 mins. With trains every 8 minutes.

Yeah west end is Piccadilly Circus / Oxford Circus and all that bit with tourists doing shopping. East End is a social paradise where everyone works part time in the local cafe or runs a market stall selling tat but afford to live in a £1.5 million four storey townhouse.

PasturesNew

chewmylegoff wrote: »

....we have to stump up a very large amount as a deposit to make exchange happen and then live in an expensive short term rental for a month- I.e. All the costs and "flexibility" are borne by us and none of them by the person at the top of the chain who is the problem.

Should we just agree or wot?

Tricky one. You have to do it so somebody else doesn't have to is what it equates to.

So, on the basis somebody has to go into a short-term rental are you prepared to stand your ground, or go with the flow?

neverdespairgirl

PasturesNew wrote: »

I don't know where the West End is ..... I tried using commutefrom.com but they don't have the West End as a destination on the drop downs.

Postcode is SE5 7PQ

Oh - just found Oxford Circus ..... which sounds like Oxford Street, which might be the West End? commutefrom says 12 mins then change and 3 mins. With trains every 8 minutes.

Oxford Circus is certainly in the West End - about half-way up Oxford Street. Junction with Regent Street.

But you really can't call Camberwell and West End 10 mins apart without doing some serious truth-stretching.

PasturesNew

tomterm8 wrote: »

...

I've to make an appointment ... and somebody would find it handy if I housesit on a particular weekend next month. Both 200 miles away.

I was holding off for house date/news before making the appointment and committing to the sitting .... each day that goes by is a chance there'll be no slots left on my preferred 2-3 days I could flexibly travel to achieve both.....

And, it'd be mean to stay for the dentist when I couldn't do the sitting the previous or following weekend instead.

PasturesNew

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Oxford Circus is certainly in the West End - about half-way up Oxford Street. Junction with Regent Street.

But you really can't call Camberwell and West End 10 mins apart without doing some serious truth-stretching.

It's still a spacious flat, in London, for £125k though .... which, we're told repeatedly, just doesn't exist.

Ex-council, looks like only one other bought in the block .... so while the tenant's paying just shy of £1000/month, his neighbours are probably paying £400.

silvercar

chewmylegoff wrote: »

Ugh. After pushing for a date for exchange and completion for weeks and getting no reply, I have just received a call from agent.

Wants us to exchange tomorrow but not complete for 5-6 weeks. Gave me a load of talk about being reasonable and flexible and said property at top of chain (which is empty) has been burgled and all copper pipe/wiring stolen.

I said that disappointed on delay to completion but not really happy to exchange now would prefer to exchange a week before completion. Got a load more about being reasonable and flexible and industry standard for 4 weeks exchange to completion.

I think the person at the top of the chain doesn't want to repair the house only to be gazundered on exchange day so wants to lock in the price now. All very well but we have to stump up a very large amount as a deposit to make exchange happen and then live in an expensive short term rental for a month- I.e. All the costs and "flexibility" are borne by us and none of them by the person at the top of the chain who is the problem.

Should we just agree or wot?

You should exchange now so you know the deal is done.

Be prepared to negotiate on the completion date, press for earlier completion and let someone else live in a hotel for a fortnight.

lemonjelly

chewmylegoff wrote: »

Ugh. After pushing for a date for exchange and completion for weeks and getting no reply, I have just received a call from agent.

Wants us to exchange tomorrow but not complete for 5-6 weeks. Gave me a load of talk about being reasonable and flexible and said property at top of chain (which is empty) has been burgled and all copper pipe/wiring stolen.

I said that disappointed on delay to completion but not really happy to exchange now would prefer to exchange a week before completion. Got a load more about being reasonable and flexible and industry standard for 4 weeks exchange to completion.

I think the person at the top of the chain doesn't want to repair the house only to be gazundered on exchange day so wants to lock in the price now. All very well but we have to stump up a very large amount as a deposit to make exchange happen and then live in an expensive short term rental for a month- I.e. All the costs and "flexibility" are borne by us and none of them by the person at the top of the chain who is the problem.

Should we just agree or wot?

I'd turn it around & state they've not been reasonable or flexible with you, when you've pushed for this for weeks with no success.
24 hours notice is (imo) not a reasonable time frame either. That's neither reasonable, nor flexible.
They're going to have to repair, or sell as a wreck/do-er upper.
Offer to meet in the middle - exchange in a week/2 weeks or similar where you have evidence the work is being carried out, & also the place is more secure & no further delays.