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Who owns property left in sold house?
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AnotherJoe
Posts: 19,622 Forumite

We've all seen those TVs programmes where someone finds s Stradivarius or a Rembrandt in their attic left behind by the previous owners and gets mega bucks when they sell them*.
So, having seen an episode of Flog It tonight where someone got a few hundred quid for a bit of tat that they found in their cellar after buying a house, I wondered what the legal position is.
Could the owner claim the money? Is there a time limit after which it becomes the buyers property ?
* unless it was a painting by Stradivarius and a violin by Rembrandt :rotfl: Apologies to Mr T Cooper.
So, having seen an episode of Flog It tonight where someone got a few hundred quid for a bit of tat that they found in their cellar after buying a house, I wondered what the legal position is.
Could the owner claim the money? Is there a time limit after which it becomes the buyers property ?
* unless it was a painting by Stradivarius and a violin by Rembrandt :rotfl: Apologies to Mr T Cooper.
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Comments
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Unless it's part of the fixtures and fittings, it's not the buyers.
Simple question - is there a difference in ownership whether it's a skipful of rubbish left, or a valuable painting? Would you demand the vendor removed the rubbish?
If you make the vendor aware that they've left goods behind, and give them a reasonable deadline to collect, then you can safely say that it's yours if ever they launch a claim against you.0 -
You could perhaps charge the previous owner expenses for removal of said items, albeit to the auction house or to your local recycling centre."It is prudent when shopping for something important, not to limit yourself to Pound land/Estate Agents"
G_M/ Bowlhead99 RIP0 -
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If you make the vendor aware that they've left goods behind, and give them a reasonable deadline to collect, then you can safely say that it's yours if ever they launch a claim against you.
Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 (S12)
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