Buying a part ex house and holding fee suddenly refunded? Help.

lilsweetie

Hi all

We’re currently buying a property where the owners are buying a new build from persimmon. We had an offer accepted and paid the estate agents £99 to take the house off the market. Mortgage offer going through and searches etc, now suddenly received a cheque through the post for the £99 back from persimmon! We were told this would be deducted at completion, solicitors and persimmon closed for the weekend and now I’m worrying that something has gone wrong. Was told the owners have exchanged contracts on their new build so can’t be a change of heart. Has this happened to anyone?

Thanks

AdrianC

Are you buying FROM Persimmon? The "owners" have PXed against the new-build?

lilsweetie

The owners have PXed against the new build yes, on all paperwork it says persimmon as the sellers not the owners names etc, whether it has changed hands or not yet I have no idea.

It hasn’t reappeared for sale on rightmove and nothing has changed on our online account with our solicitors. Worried sick now.

da_rule

Who did you pay, the estate agent or Persimmon?

If it’s the agent then they would have to deduct £99 from their bill to Persimmon who would then have to reduce the amount you have to pay to them on completion by £99. That’s a lot of accounting work for the sake of £99. It’s much easier just to return the money. The money was probably only ever meant to show you were serious.

Check your reservation forms as it’s unlikely that the act of simply returning your fee cancels the reservation.

lilsweetie

Thank you da rule for replying, been sat worrying all afternoon. Yes we paid their estate agents the £99, we did start searches on Monday so wondering if now that has begun they have refunded us as it shows we are getting on with the process.

lilsweetie

The reservation form just says how it will be deducted at completion....

Zero_Sum

If your buying why would you be paying estate agent fees?