Help - Estate Agent mislead on a property purchse which has now cost us thousands of pounds losses

worried_jim

Surrey_EA wrote: »

However, if the previous owner hung himself from the banisters 6 months ago, that would need to be disclosed today.

House round the corner still had the hook they used in the ceiling in the EA's photos. How's that for honesty!

quantumlobster

davidmcn wrote: »

I really don't think so, unless it was a particularly notorious incident.

Why would this make a difference? Because tourists? (and yes, I am led to believe that there are people who go round looking at houses where terrible things happened)

Surrey_EA

quantumlobster wrote: »

Interesting. Why is this the case?

Also, "hanged" :cool2:

Whoops, of course!

Gwendo40

Just how much info are agents obliged to divulge?

There's a property near me recently come up for sale for £150k less than it was bought for only 8 months ago (down from £400k to £250k So a HUGE reduction)

The advert does state ''in need of remedial work'' but there's absolutely nothing obvious to the untrained eye as to just what that ''remedial work'' might be... the roof looks fine, no cracks on the exterior or interior, no signs of damp and it's modernised to a good if rather basic standard.

I can't imagine what's so seriously wrong with it that the current owners are willing to accept a £150k loss only 8 months after buying it.

Yet on making enquiries with the agent as to any further info on the nature of the remedial work their only response was as they haven't carried out a full survey they're ''not in a position to comment further on the nature or extent of remedial work required''

Surely it's not acceptable that they can basically just say ''there's something wrong with it'' and not be obliged to offer up any further info? They must have at least a vague idea of what is wrong with it?

moneyistooshorttomention

Gwendo40 wrote: »

Just how much info are agents obliged to divulge?

There's a property near me recently come up for sale for £150k less than it was bought for only 8 months ago (down from £400k to £250k So a HUGE reduction)

The advert does state ''in need of remedial work'' but there's absolutely nothing obvious to the untrained eye as to just what that ''remedial work'' might be... the roof looks fine, no cracks on the exterior or interior, no signs of damp and it's modernised to a good if rather basic standard.

I can't imagine what's so seriously wrong with it that the current owners are willing to accept a £150k loss only 8 months after buying it.

Yet on making enquiries with the agent as to any further info on the nature of the remedial work their only response was as they haven't carried out a full survey they're ''not in a position to comment further on the nature or extent of remedial work required''

Surely it's not acceptable that they can basically just say ''there's something wrong with it'' and not be obliged to offer up any further info? They must have at least a vague idea of what is wrong with it?

Could be that - but could also be some person/couple has made a "Get out Instantly" decision and figures the quickest way to "Go Instant" is to make such a huge reduction and they can afford to lose that much money or arent thinking that logically about bearing such a loss.

Davesnave

Gwendo40 wrote: »

....on making enquiries with the agent as to any further info on the nature of the remedial work their only response was as they haven't carried out a full survey they're ''not in a position to comment further on the nature or extent of remedial work required''

Surely it's not acceptable that they can basically just say ''there's something wrong with it'' and not be obliged to offer up any further info? They must have at least a vague idea of what is wrong with it?

Seems absolutely fine to me.

The owners have acknowledged there's a problem with the property by reducing it. Unless you were prepared to view, I don't see why their agent should divulge any more.

No doubt those who do view and disclose their own circumstances would find the agent more forthcoming, but to be blunt, they don't want to waste time on curious people and dreamers.


Why give a 'vague idea about what's wrong with it' to someone who only has a vague interest?

davidmcn

quantumlobster wrote: »

Why would this make a difference? Because tourists?

Yes, and the occasional "true crime" publication using photos of your front door, and because people tend to find it a bit icky to think of what has gone on before (or might still be buried under the patio).

Gwendo40

Davesnave wrote: »

Why give a 'vague idea about what's wrong with it' to someone who only has a vague interest?

Fair point I suppose. I don't deny the enquiry was purely of a nosy/curious nature!

But at what point can the agent be accused of withholding info?
What if they still refuse to offer up any further info if a serious buyer does make enquiries?

Davesnave

Gwendo40 wrote: »

Fair point I suppose. I don't deny the enquiry was purely of a nosy/curious nature!

But at what point can the agent be accused of withholding info?
What if they still refuse to offer up any further info if a serious buyer does make enquiries?

If they were not forthcoming about a known defect after conducting the viewing and being asked why the house was so much cheaper than before, then they would have broken consumer law, which has required such disclosure from EAs since 2014.


The problem, as always, is being able to prove what they know.

Red-Squirrel_2

Simonr66 wrote: »

Estate agents are required by law to disclose any aspect of a property that may influence your decision to purchase, this is a requirement under the Property Misdescription act.


So surely there is some form of recourse via Trading Standards

That’s bonkers, where would it end? I know someone who ruled out houses because of ridiculous things like there not being a Sainsbury’s near enough, should the estate agent have highlighted that? :rotfl: