Freehold landlord interfering in sale

koppite412

Can the landlord who owns the leasing details on my flat actively interfere in the attempts I am making to sell it?

I have been informed that, following an advertisment for the sale of the property, he has directly approached the estate agent and has given his own details suggesting they should correct the advertisement to his way of thinking. This is my property, he merely owns the leasehold. This is my sale, he has no right to interfere. This is harrassment is it not?

Any help would be greatfully received, thank you.

silvercar

The estate agent has a contract with you not the freeholder, so shouldn't be taking instruction from the freeholder. The only problem may be if the freeholder has told the estate agent something that means the EA description is factually inaccurate and therefore the EA is obliged to modify his info. Has this happened?

koppite412

The EA listed the property as an 'investment opportunity', which could mean anything. The freeholder complained directly to the estate agent becuase of this due to an ambiguous clause in the lease that says you cannot sublet. However, any property is an investment, particulary in a rising market, so it could be argued on that basis he should leave the EA alone to do his job.

silvercar

So now the estate agent is aware that the property would be unsuitable to anyone seeking a buy-to-let; at least he knows the score. You would be on to a loser if a buyer pulled out 4 weeks down the line when he found this out.

The property could still be an investment opportunity in that it could be updated and sold on at a profit.

koppite412

Well, the EA was aware of that from the word go, so the BTL clause is being disclosed to potential investors. Thats not really the problem because if they want to buy it like that, so be it. The problem is the freeholder's approach to the EA with what he thinks are the facts. It makes you wonder what else he could do to prevent the sale to someone else and try to get it for himself. He's made no offer or approach to buy, almost as if he's hoping the price will drop with each throw of his dice, putting him in a position to buy. Can somebody do this?