Selling House - Nightmare Neighbour/Drain Issue

Skiddaw1

To be honest, Romano, based on what you've said, I don't think the EA has done anything wrong. It sounds like your offer hadn't been formally accepted and it isn't really their fault that the seller's daughter decided to accept another offer regardless of the progress of events. I can understand why you wanted to push ahead with things (and that you're now out of pocket) but ultimately it was your decision (and let's face it, it's an occupational hazard of buying houses unfortunately...)


I'd say you have enough on your plate without fighting another war (and one which I don't think you can win). I'd write it off to experience if I were you, and be more wary next time of opening yourself up to any significant financial exposure until you're certain your offer has been accepted. There's bound to be another house out there (especially if you're prepared to travel 8 hours to view the one that fell through). At least you have a fair idea of what your budget is now.


Good luck.


Edited to say: posted the same time as Adrian. We obviously think along similar lines...

Romano10

Just to be clear my offer had been accepted, and the other offer was lower than mine. I never met either the seller or her daughter. The supposed reason the other buyer was sold to over me, was because the offer was made 'just before mine' yet the offer was never mentioned, despite us repeatedly asked if there were any other offers or interest in the property. We specifically asked all of this, having travelled great distances before, only to get there and be told that the property concerned had just gone SSTC etc, so didn't want to do that again obviously. Then we were told, after all this happened, that the reason for it, was that the offer was made 'just before mine' that is my issue with it, either that isn't true, or the offer was concealed all along. Obviously if I had known about the offer, I would never have visited the property in the first place, and no expense/energy etc would have been incurred. Both were only incurred because we were either lied to from the beginning or we were lied to afterwards, to excuse the seller pulling out. What we did get were quite a lot of prejudiced nasty comments (from the estate agent and about us not being local or and I quote "No longer being able to afford to live in shithole London" so daring to try and buy a house there) and harassment afterwards when we complained about that, so we think that might have something to do with it, but who knows. That is why I'm complaining.

The mess I was left in was bad enough, the nastiness afterwards which was a kind of, 'now we don't need you anymore we're just going to treat you even worse' was just insult to injury.

Skiddaw1

So sounds like you were effectively gazumped.. not nice I know (been there). Sounds like the EA was less than tactful but I do wonder, Romano (and please forgive me if I'm speaking out of turn) if events have (understandably) got on top of you to the point where you're seeing things a little skewed? It's easy I know to start imagining that everyone is personally out to get you when you're under a great deal of pressure, when actually it's just the usual cut and thrust of house buying and selling. I just don't think that trying to take them on is going to gain you anything other than more stress and sleepless nights (and it may be that at some point you'll want to view other properties that they're marketing- you don't want to burn bridges to the point that you can never deal with them again).



Anyway, as I say, I don't know the full circumstances so I realise I may be quite mistaken. I hope that you find somewhere appropriate very soon and that 2020 proves to be much happier year for you.

AdrianC

Romano10 wrote: »

The supposed reason the other buyer was sold to over me, was because the offer was made 'just before mine' yet the offer was never mentioned, despite us repeatedly asked if there were any other offers or interest in the property. We specifically asked all of this

It doesn't matter. The EA may well have answered to the best of their knowledge. Perhaps that actually was the situation, and the vendor is lying to them. It really doesn't matter WHY the vendor changed their mind, and you have zero come-back against the agent.

Until exchange of contracts, either side can pull out for whatever reason they like...

Sell this place ASAP, relocate into rented. Make your life easy.

hazyjo

Another vote for move into rented. Small as you can - save as much as you can. Then buy. No way would I have lost my buyer. As above, 1 in 3 fall through. Absolutely no comeback on the EA or anyone else. S... happens (as tough as that sometimes is to take).


Good luck.

Davesnave

Romano10 wrote: »

Davesnave in answer to your amateur psychology, that is NOT what you would have done, had you actually been in MY situation, it's what you THINK you would have done, actually clearly having no idea or real understanding of my situation.


It's not really on is it, and it's not particularly constructive.

It's interesting that you suggest I'm undertaking amateur psychology and then write paragraphs telling me what you think I'm thinking from the few short lines of my comment!

I didn't claim to have a full understanding of the situation, but assuming I comprehend it to some degree, I really am the person best qualified to say what I'd do.

None of us was aware that you'd entered into negotiations to buy another property and been gazumped, so the second part of my post may be disregarded. It was written because your post suggested no great commitment to change anything, except the drains.

I can see now why you are still fretting about the drains, but my opinion remains exactly the same: if I were you, I'd focus on leaving.

Just a final point. The access cover to the neighbours' part of the drain is theirs, not the water authority's, so it's unlikely they will accept any alteration to it. That's just another dead end to avoid going down IMO.

Smodlet

I know how vile neighbours can take over your life; believe me, I do. Having said which, I think you may be too close to the problem to see clearly, Romano. There is good advice on here; you may need to sift through it to see what is most pertinent to you and your circumstances as we all bring our own baggage to these discussions; we are, after all, only human.

If this problem has been ongoing (if not at the same level as presently) for ten years, I can say only that I would have resorted either to litigation or to moving long before now.

I don't see why anyone should have to sell at a huge loss and resort to renting when they own their own home purely to escape unbearable neighbours, hence my previous comment.

Am I wrong to imagine you have already exhausted all avenues with your local council?

mimi1234

I can only sympathise with you as we have evil people living next to us also.

If I were you, I would sell and run as far as you can. If you can't get the price you are wanting, just sell anyway. Wouldn't it be better to have some enjoyment back in your life than the constant fear of what these animals might do next to torment you?

Thankfully for us, we have not taken the issue with the vile beasts any further because the local authority said noise nuisance day in day out 24/7 is normal!!!! So when it does come to selling, we won't have to declare anything but people know what the beasts next to us are like so it will probably be a very hard sell.

Good luck and I hope it works out for you.