Vendor doing work after exchange

robatwork

Do let us know how it went - this isn't something I have seen come up here before.

Jcakes

Apparently they went ahead and done the work as they were advised to do so by their estate agent. They seem to think that we requested for the work to be carried out which we didn't as it was only mentioned in passing during a viewing that they planned to do it if they weren't selling.


Been informed that the work was completed about 6 weeks ago which we know it hadn't. Bit disappointed as don't want the gate there and it currently serves no purpose as cant use it as an access point so guess will now just have to sort it out at our expense once moved in.


Just waiting for clarification form solicitor that there is no comeback to us on this work eg. that no planning permission was needed and that it doesn't break any of the restrictive covenants.

SuzieSue

Jcakes wrote: »

Apparently they went ahead and done the work as they were advised to do so by their estate agent. They seem to think that we requested for the work to be carried out which we didn't as it was only mentioned in passing during a viewing that they planned to do it if they weren't selling.


Been informed that the work was completed about 6 weeks ago which we know it hadn't. Bit disappointed as don't want the gate there and it currently serves no purpose as cant use it as an access point so guess will now just have to sort it out at our expense once moved in.


Just waiting for clarification form solicitor that there is no comeback to us on this work eg. that no planning permission was needed and that it doesn't break any of the restrictive covenants.

This is exactly why we communicated directly with the vendor. We did not speak to the EA after our offer was accepted until we picked up the keys.

Cakeguts

Why would an estate agent tell someone to put a gate into a wall that goes around a house that they had just sold? The estate agent isn't interested by that time they aren't going to get any more money for selling the house.

They know that you didn't request the work to be carried out. They didn't ask you if you wanted it.

Do you have any photos of the house from 6 weeks ago that prove that this statement is a lie?

I would suggest that you go round to the house again soon to make sure that they haven't done anymore work to this gate because they can't at present use it and it would have cost them money to put it there. (Skip hire etc) They obviously aren't very truthful about doing this work so they may not be very truthful about continuing it. Take photos of the condition of the garden around the gate so that they can't alter it and then say that it was like that when they put the gate in.

mysterymurdoch

I'd be asking things to be returned to the way they were when you viewed/offered

GDB2222

Jcakes wrote: »

Apparently they went ahead and done the work as they were advised to do so by their estate agent. They seem to think that we requested for the work to be carried out which we didn't as it was only mentioned in passing during a viewing that they planned to do it if they weren't selling.


Been informed that the work was completed about 6 weeks ago which we know it hadn't. Bit disappointed as don't want the gate there and it currently serves no purpose as cant use it as an access point so guess will now just have to sort it out at our expense once moved in.


Just waiting for clarification form solicitor that there is no comeback to us on this work eg. that no planning permission was needed and that it doesn't break any of the restrictive covenants.

I imagine the vendors think they are doing you a big favour by completing the work they probably did start before exchange of contracts. Would you rather they stop now and leave it half built?

Maybe, after you've lived in the house for a few months you'll come round to the view that the gate is useful after all?

Rain_Shadow

Jcakes wrote: »

We did knock on the door there was nobody in.

Probably sneaked out through the side gate.

moneyistooshorttomention

Guess there might have been some mis-communication going on. It never ceases to astonish me how many people don't listen properly to what is being said to them - and either havent heard it or have mis-heard it. Lots of people have their own thoughts going on in their heads rather than listening properly and/or are getting distracted by a young child nearby persistently trying to be "centre of attention".

So I guess benefit of doubt that there might have been some of that (courtesy of EA as intermediary) - but I would be feeling wary about being told it had been going on for 6 weeks - when it hadnt been at all.

There is some marginal possibility of miscommunication there - in that they might be referring to 6 weeks because that's when they booked for the work to start. Whereas you are referring to when the physical work on ground actually started.

Either way - you need to have another go at catching them in - to see if you can talk about this in person.

Jcakes

No don't have any photo's from 6 weeks ago, it appears they believe the work is completed but from what we could see you can't use that gate as an access point as the planted bushes are still in the way.


Been unable to go back around so far this week as property not local as relocating, do have family in the area so see if one of them can go over as estate agent isn't returning calls.


I do hope they believed they were doing us a favour as to be fair they have been really good through the whole process.

Cakeguts

Jcakes wrote: »

No don't have any photo's from 6 weeks ago, it appears they believe the work is completed but from what we could see you can't use that gate as an access point as the planted bushes are still in the way.


Been unable to go back around so far this week as property not local as relocating, do have family in the area so see if one of them can go over as estate agent isn't returning calls.


I do hope they believed they were doing us a favour as to be fair they have been really good through the whole process.

I would suggest that someone goes round for a look in case you would like to keep the planted bushes. Have you told the sellers not to do anymore work now that they have exchanged?