How to legally warn others NOT to Buy

sophiaswaight

HI,

Yesterday we had to walk away from a house we were wishing to purchase following our survey.

Cosmetically the property had been refurbished beautifully but underneath this was hiding a multitude of sins - Structural problems, Rising damp, Sub-timber problems. We had additional damp and timber and will tie surveys done and they confirmed the problems were severe, with the bank placing a retention on the mortgage.

We thought we were buying a refurbished house, as indicated on the right move sales particulars, The house will only appeal to first time buyers, who like us, dont have the cash to waste to be mislead like this.

As the house has now been re-advertised on rightmove, with the same sales particulars , what can we do to warn buyers of the real condition of the property!

The reports we have on the damp/timber and structural problems were carried out by large professional chains,

Thanks

moneyistooshorttomention

Tell the estate agent selling the place. They should now tell buyers of any defects they know of.

Giddypip

This article states that the seller must disclose any sales that have fallen through due to bad surveys or risk being sued.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/house-prices/10864514/Failed-property-survey-Now-sellers-must-disclose-all.html

Someone posted a link to a website on here not long ago where you can share your survey results but I cannot find the link or remember the name, sorry.

sophiaswaight

Thanks,

We organised the additional surveys through their estate agents and wouldn't trust them to warn any new perspective buyers. They were a joke! There response was that the interior of the property had been fully refurbished and at no time indicated the condition of the buildings structure.

Countrywide have been sent additional copies of the reports, will they be held on file and bought up should anyone else proceed to survey.

However as the survey cost near £500 pounds, really we want to advise people before reaching this stage. The vendors and estate agent are just sharks, who have polished a turd.

ambioni

This is one of the advantages of the Scottish system of home reports: problems like this are identified without potential buyers having to pay for a survey. I would agree with previos posts: inform the EA, they should have a duty to inform potential buyers. I don't think there is any other way to warn people unfortunately.

Ozzuk

I'd tread carefully. Sure, send reports to the agents but just leave it after that. It makes no difference to you, people should do their own due diligence and you could be opening yourself up to legal action.

Frustrating, yes, and I get why you want to warn others, but not your place. IMO of course.

mrginge

If you're hell bent on revenge then I suppose you could....

1. Write to the EA reminding them of their legal obligations to inform future buyers of these results.
2. In a month or two, get someone to mystery shop them.
3. If the house sells, go speak to the buyer.

ambioni

It really is caveat emptor when buying a house (or anything really)- onus is on the buyer to fully investigate and satisfy themselves about the condition of the house before committing to it.

Landofwood

Got a link to the property?

DRP

mrginge wrote: »

If you're hell bent on revenge then I suppose you could....

1. Write to the EA reminding them of their legal obligations to inform future buyers of these results.
2. In a month or two, get someone to mystery shop them.
3. If the house sells, go speak to the buyer.

^it's got to be this hasn't it?

or at least #1

By the way OP, are you still house-hunting? you wouldn't want to sour relationships with your local EA(s) by getting a reputation - just something to bear in mind.

moneyistooshorttomention

Well since there has been mention - for some reason - of a specific chain of EA's and they do seem to be rather well-known (for all the wrong reasons) - then obviously other EAs will be aware of what they're like.

It may well not be revenge OP is after - I took it as more like wanting to be sure other people don't end up innocently following in their footsteps and wasting time/emotional energy and money on what is going to be an abortive purchase. I'd say that's commendable.