Advise needed please

ALJones

Advice needed please, I hope it’s what I want to hear.

I recently accepted an offer on my late parents house. It’s been empty for 4 years since my father passed away and did need quite a lot of work. Had it on the market 13 months lowered price by 20k and finally accepted an offer from young family in October.
Between me and my late mum we made several claims for subsidence during the past 10 years due to cracks in the cellar (floor to ceiling ones) we covered these with a blue sheet for viewings as didn’t want to put people off.
Our buyers seemed really keen to have a project and I offered them to come In rip out the kitchen and bathroom before exchange so they could move quicker and also hoped this would mean the subsidence wouldn’t put them off.
The claims have now come to light and they’ve informed me they want to pull out??? Can I sue them for the kitchen being ripped out as I told them verbally so they don’t have any proof I agreed to it?
Thanks

Comms69

obviously not!


This is your own fault.


You tried to hide a big issue. (which was a stupid thing to do as a surveyor would see this in seconds)


and you offered them access to the property to begin renovations before having a contract in place.


What are you going to claim; they broke in and ripped out the kitchen? Ridiculous

ALJones

Yes because I can’t put it on the market again now without a kitchen. They have been phoning me upset because they are now out of pocket and she’s pregnant and asked why I wasn’t just honest at first; well because they wouldn’t of bought it?

So do I have to pay for a new kitchen? I can prove they ripped it out because they sent messages and asking what time they could drop the key back off.

ALJones

Can’t I claim that they damaged the house that wasnt their house? Criminal damage? I’m not sure.

lindens

ALJones wrote: »

Yes because I can’t put it on the market again now without a kitchen. They have been phoning me upset because they are now out of pocket and she’s pregnant and asked why I wasn’t just honest at first; well because they wouldn’t of bought it?

So do I have to pay for a new kitchen? I can prove they ripped it out because they sent messages and asking what time they could drop the key back off.

you invited them to rip it out!! end of

ALJones

But they can’t prove that because I told them face to face. So I could deny it technically?

I really don’t want to have to pay for a new kitchen.

cajef

ALJones wrote: »

Can’t I claim that they damaged the house that wasnt their house? Criminal damage? I’m not sure.

How is it criminal damage when you let them in the house and gave permission to rip out the kitchen and bathroom, more likely they could claim against you for deception for hiding the subsidence.

hazyjo

In the 'benefit of the doubt' scenario that this is actually real and not a wind-up...


How are you going to claim they gained entry?


Did you actually give them a key?

SallyDucati

I honestly don't think you can do anything. I know you are keen to sell to but to hide the previous subsidence issues because you knew it would be an issue was a mistake. You admit they wouldn't have bought the house if you hadn't covered it up - it was always going to be found out unless a buyer didn't do any form of survey which would be unlikely. How would you have felt if it was the other way around?

You gambled and lost, time to learn and move on.

Comms69

ALJones wrote: »

Yes because I can’t put it on the market again now without a kitchen. They have been phoning me upset because they are now out of pocket and she’s pregnant and asked why I wasn’t just honest at first; well because they wouldn’t of bought it? - Frankly you're lucky that deception / fraud (a criminal charge) is rarely investigated these days for such cases

So do I have to pay for a new kitchen? I can prove they ripped it out because they sent messages and asking what time they could drop the key back off.

No. You can sell without a kitchen. There's no legal requirement to have one. Your fault; your mess to clean up

ALJones wrote: »

Can’t I claim that they damaged the house that wasnt their house? Criminal damage? I’m not sure.

Obviously not. I strongly recommend not going through with this; perjury is a serious offence

ALJones wrote: »

But they can’t prove that because I told them face to face. So I could deny it technically?

I really don’t want to have to pay for a new kitchen.

Sure, deny it. Courts convict on 'beyond reasonable doubt'. There is, obviously, significant doubt about your claim. Almost no doubt though about your deception...

ALJones

Yes I gave them the key so they could do it. But what I mean is that they can’t prove I gave it to them because I told them face to face