Buyer threatening civil claim after completion...

fiisch

We completed at the end of April after a rocky exchange, and are loving life in our new home. However, our buyer is threatening a civil claim because:

1. Two missing lightbulbs on the landing;
2. Slight impression in plasterboard from a door handle (builders didn’t put a doorstop due to shape of the hallway);
3. Unclean;
4. Aerial points not working upstairs.

We are not happy as I was mindful to leave the house in a good state - I cut the grass days before completion, deep clean including kitchen cupboards etc. The lightbulbs I could kick myself for - I removed them to avoid glare into baby daughter’s bedroom, and was a genuine oversight not to replace.

The other points I’m mystified by - the indent is barely noticeable and there was no covenant around this (paint intact and would have been evident in viewings), the house was immaculate (maybe doesn’t say much for our standards of cleanliness!) and TV points always worked fine during our time, and house is connected to a communal aerial so unlikely to be an aerial point.

Our buyers purchased via a shared ownership company (we owned outright with a mortgage). Our solicitor isn’t interested - completion done and their contract is with the shared ownership company.

We did everything to try and keep the buyer’s happy (we even ultimately agreed to a lower offer than their original offer), and accepted a furniture delivery prior to completion.

Do we have any cause to worry, or is it just posturing? I don’t fancy the prospect of a court date as I’m a contractor paid by day rate, so can ill-afford a day off with our new much larger mortgage! Would it be worth offering something via estate agent, or would that amount to admitting liability?

davidmcn

I doubt they've got a leg to stand on in your contract with them. Have they given any explanation as to why they think they've got a case?

Herbalus

What was it that Sadiq Khan said about Katie Hopkin's tweet recently? Something along the lines of "I'm not even going to bother dignifying that with a response".

File in the appropriate bin.

(unless it's actual court proceedings).

MovingForwards

Take them two light bulbs and a box of pollyfiller!

Aerial points they should have tested and 'unclean', they should be grateful you cleaned as not all sellers do.

Doubt they have a leg to stand on TBH. If they wanted 'perfect' they should have purchased a new build.....and had a shock with all the imperfections and snag list.

AnotherJoe

I would refer them to Arkell vs Pressdram.

Wanderingpomm

Just ignore them.
Houses are sold as seen and I cannot imagine the paperwork says lightbulbs would be all working!

fiisch

I guess some people are never happy! Thank you for confirming my thoughts - love the Arkell vs Pressdram reference (I had to Google)! Definitely using that in future..!

westernpromise

Agree with those who would TTFO.

GrumpyDil

As others have said. Ignore.

Unless you promised working light bulbs and aerial points they have no grounds for those two elements.

State of cleanliness is subjective and as long as the indent was there when you exchanged then no claim there either. If they are that fussy they should have refused to exchange until they had completed a microscopic assessment of the house.

westernpromise

Are they ex-renters who still imagine they are entitled to have all defects, however minor, repaired by someone else?

Browntoa

Dent in wall , could have been done by their removal people

Aerial sockets , unless you said they were working specifically , then no issue. Again wiring could have been disturbed by their removal people or when stuff put in loft .

2 missing lightbulbs , not a fixture and fitting , ceiling rose and fitting is but still there.