Seller has lied on Law Societies Property Information Form (TA6)

moneyistooshorttomention

getmore4less wrote: »

They may be quite decent people to live next to at least they made an effort for you not to get stitched up.

I'm afraid I don't see it that way personally.

It does look to me like they are trying to say "My way or the highway" in effect to OP.

I may be wrong and be unduly cynical and I hope (for OP's sake) that I am....

Personally, I would tend to take them informing EA as translating into "I AM going to do whatever I decide...and I'm just telling EA in order to cover my back that its your fault if things go pear-shaped in the future if you purchase this house".:cool:

Hoploz

I think it's mighty odd that they laid foundations 14 years ago and have not progressed the build. Why?

You mentioned that you have had building plans drawn up. I wonder whether it could be practical to adjust your plans so that this side window 5 feet from your boundary could have a wall of yours built facing it? Then you get your extension and the as yet unbuilt annexe would not be overlooking you.

A bit of a radical suggestion I know, but if everything else wis right with the house - location etc - then maybe it'd be worth exploring a way to make it work?

If not then leave the 7k and run!

moneyistooshorttomention

The two instances I can think of personally where foundations of a building have been laid - but, some years later, that's as far as its gone have concerned a plot that has "A Problem" (ie Japanese Knotweed in both cases). In both cases - its very clear the vendor of that bit of land is hoping to get away with it re the JK by naïve vendors thinking "It cant be that bad a problem - and its worth taking a punt on it because planning permission has already been granted".:cool:

There may well be quite a variety of reasons why someone would lay the foundations for a place but (years later) it still hasn't happened and that could include unexpected loss of income.

But I would, personally, be pretty concerned with just why exactly the neighbour hasn't done anything about those "foundations" in all that time.

I have yet to come across a valid/believable reason for "foundations down one year - but many years later that's as far as it has gone"...

Andypandyboy

Maybe the annexe was intended for a relative who, for whatever reason, no longer needs such accomodation? Or for an office for a line of work the occupant no longer does. There could be a lot of "innocent" reasons why the build was halted.

Winter_Phoenix

Hoploz wrote: »

I think it's mighty odd that they laid foundations 14 years ago and have not progressed the build. Why?

This is just a guess, but:

I imagine that having open-ended planning permission for a large extension (in a very expensive housing area) will add a substantial amount of value to the neighbour's house if and when he comes to sell it - without adding anything to the Council Tax and other costs meanwhile.

Quite a clever move, really.

moneyistooshorttomention

I wondered about that as well WinterP...but thought "Surely they wouldn't be prepared to put up with foundations sitting there in their garden for however-many years cluttering the place up and making it look ugly?".

Maybe that was the original reason for those foundations - but next door subsequently decided against selling the place and is actually wanting the money to grub those foundations back up again now and turn the garden back into garden. Hmmmm....the cost of doing that could help explain why the neighbour tried to blackmail vendor for £75k (few thousand £s to cover cost of doing that and reinstating garden and the rest as profit...).

getmore4less

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I wondered about that as well WinterP...but thought "Surely they wouldn't be prepared to put up with foundations sitting there in their garden for however-many years cluttering the place up and making it look ugly?".

People viewing next door thought it was a patio so not that ugly.


Sounds like it was a slab, which you could see as a patio.

Perhaps if the OP decides against the purchase they may provide a link.


Time line is the wierd one, planning 2001 new build next door 2006 with windows overlooking the garden of next door.

Wonder who owned the building plot, perhaps it was previously part the garden of the house with the foundations.

paddy's_mum

I'm really surprised that people are calling this 'blackmail'!

The ManNextDoor has a lawful, legitimate and paid for right to build, which was obtained through all the proper channels.

The vendor wants to block his right to progress the project at a time when it might suit MND. MND is saying that he will sell/surrender/give up his rights, for which he must originally have paid hard cash (architects plans, planning permission etc) in return for a sum of money.

Isn't that what normal trade or business is?

I've got something, you want it, you pay for it.

System

Wouldn't the buyer's own solicitor have searched for planning approvals by the local authority?

pinkshoes

If the neighbour specifically wrote to the EA and vendor asking them to make clear to any buyer of the planning permission for an extension, then both the EA and vendor havr deliberately mislead you.

The neigbour didnt happen to get proof of postage did they??

With the extention built, would you be willing to buy the property at £100k less or is it of no interest?