Accepted house offer withdrawn

simon_blay

Evening all,

I have been viewing properties for a number of months and finally found something a fortnight ago. The property had received 2 previous bids over the months but these fell through, hence the property was back on the market.

Anyway, after a viewing and some negotiation, we put an offer in which was accepted. We had a mortgage in principle and appointed a solicitor with an initial payment of £300 put down to the solicitor in question. The estate agent put the sold sign up and removed the property from their website.

Fast forward 10 days and I receive a call. The estate agent has had to withdraw our offer as a previous (higher!) offer that had pulled out some months ago had circumstances change and was now able to complete.

I am informed by the estate agent that the person in question was further down the line that me at the time when they had to pull out, and that by law, his offer still stood over ours.

Where do we stand? It feels like because the offer in question was higher, the estate agent is after an extra fee and has stitched us up.

Is there any comeback against the estate agent or does law actually state that this is a fair procedure?

Thrugelmir

simon_blay wrote: »

Is there any comeback against the estate agent or does law actually state that this is a fair procedure?

The vendor not the EA is playing games.

Walk away and be thankful. As what other stunts will the vendor pull.

Tell the EA you regard the matter as unacceptable so won't be viewing any other properties through them. You'll also be telling your friends to avoid them in future as well. Nothing like bad publicity.

desperate_times

One of those things unfortunately and you have no recompense. I can see where the vendor is coming from - higher offer and can compete more quickly. I would probably do the same even if the estate agent objected albeit not feeling very good about it.

TrickyDicky101

simon_blay wrote: »

Is there any comeback against the estate agent or does law actually state that this is a fair procedure?

As Thrugelmir pointed out this won't be the EA but the vendor (make's sod all difference to the EA if a £100k+ house goes for an extra £1k or two or even £10k+).

The law doesn't state anything of the kind - EA is lying on this point, but no, you have no come back against the EA.

I thought Thrugelmir's suggestions re telling EA you won't be viewing anything else with them/tell all your friends are excellent.