How to legally warn others NOT to Buy

DRP

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

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.

I don;t think it makes much/any difference to the steps to be taken to 'warn others', whether revenge or altrusim is their motivation.

IMO it would be foolhardy to 'go public' with any warning (risk action from vendor and EA), so mrginge's advice would be the way to go...

mrginge

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

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.

The thread title would suggest otherwise.

martinsurrey

sophiaswaight wrote: »

damp/timber and structural problems were carried out by large professional chains,

Thanks

Were these all paid for services and do their terms allow you to disclose the results to anyone else. I ask because £500 for all of those surveys seems VERY cheap.


quite a lot of these "professional chains" are in the business of finding faults as they just so happen to offer the services to fix them. If they don't limit their liability and are found to be exaggerating their claims, and you share the results, the owner could sue them.

I would also be careful what you do during and subsequent sale, for all you know the owner has had their own survey done and they have said the house is in keeping with its age and condition, and by sticking your nose in you open yourself up to legal action.

not saying your surveys are wrong, just that they might not be the whole picture.

jamesperrett

You're a first time buyer. These reports often appear daunting if you aren't used to the language and the way they phrase things in order to generate more business for the damp proofing companies and suchlike. A more experienced buyer will probably just take a builder friend round to check for these issues.

phill99

OP you really do have a chip on your shoulder. Its not up to you to tell others what they should or shouldn't buy. Someone may be willing to take the oroperty on (maybe at a reduced price) and rectify the faults.

Go down this route at your peril.

Innys1

OP - it's not your job to police the housing market.

sophiaswaight

jamesperrett wrote: »

You're a first time buyer. These reports often appear daunting if you aren't used to the language and the way they phrase things in order to generate more business for the damp proofing companies and suchlike. A more experienced buyer will probably just take a builder friend round to check for these issues.

Hi,

Thanks, jamesperrett for your comment. Yes although i am a first time buyer, Im not overly sensitive. If you had read my post correctly you would have seen that the bank imposed a retention and were taking these problems very seriously.

To elaborate they imposed a fixed £5000 retention which would remain even if the vendors reduced the asking price by an equivalent amount

moneyistooshorttomention

mrginge wrote: »

The thread title would suggest otherwise.

I read the thread title as meaning "I want to warn off others from wasting their time/money/etc like we've done - without getting into schtuck ourselves for doing so" and that's fair enough imo.

There are often times when one does want to warn off "innocent others" from getting into trouble - but, understandably, wanting to protect oneself from any comeback from would-be Naughty Party.

moneyistooshorttomention

Innys1 wrote: »

OP - it's not your job to police the housing market.

I disagree strongly there - yes we ARE our brothers/or sisters keeper.

We would want other people to do the same for us and warn us off any potential "perils" we might not have spotted for ourselves wouldn't we?

sophiaswaight

To elaborate: The property was advertised as being fully refurbished, beautiful sanded floors, open fire, new kitchen, new bathroom, new central heating. The asking price was breaking the ceiling price of street but with the high spec of the interior we thought it was worth it. The property had only been on the market 5 days and already had 6 offers on the table. As we were in a strong position, no chain, didnt want to use help to buy and assured them we could move quickly, we went in at the full asking price and managed to secure it.

Then homebuyers survey came back stating Damp and timber and wall tie problems, suggesting to the bank to retain £5K. To try and be impartial as possible we asked the sellers estate agent to arrange the additional surveys required to lift the retention. These came back: finding damp in all the down stairs rooms, rotten joists in the timber floors and defective wall ties and brick mortar in all the exterior walls. The vendors however refused to accept the level of work needed and refused to negotiate, stating that they would not move from the agreed asking price. Consequently we walked away, losing out in total with solicitors fees and searches to the tune of over £750.

The vendors were very pushy and kept playing there are other buyers wanting this property card, forcing our hand to undertake the searches before the valuation report.

We therefore want to stop anyone else wasting their time and money entering into a false dream.