Found out seller is going to prison!

nervousftbuy23

Long time lurker first time poster. More letting this off my chest than advice needed

After over a month of getting over the huge process of trying to get a mortgage, which I eventually got, I found out from my conveyancer today that the seller is due to go to prison! They mentioned now this means possibly going to a power of attorney. More delays!
Anyone had experiences of this? I like the house but part of me wants to just pull out. You've got to do serious stuff to actually go to prison!

greatcrested

Once you get in, check under the floorboards for hidden loot.....

tacpot12

You are right that these days you have to have done something serious to be sent to prison, and it is therefore a relatively unusual reason for delay, but house-buying is fraught with delays and the Coronavirus situation will not be making things easier. 

My advice would be to review the market to see if there are any better houses available for the mortgage you are able to get. You might as well use the delay to look around. If you find something better and want to make an offer, check where the vendor is up to with the PoA, and if they are no further forward, withdraw your offer on the first house. 

mrschaucer

It is possible he is just giving his solicitor POA (note not LPOA) to deal with the sale on his behalf.  If so, little hold-up at all.

Finchy2018

greatcrested said:

Once you get in, check under the floorboards for hidden loot.....

I dread to think what is under the newly laid patio.... 

Davesnave

greatcrested said:

Once you get in, check under the floorboards for hidden loot.....

It would be OK if it was that sort of offence, but it's equally likely it was something nastier. If the nasty stuff went on in the house it might put some purchasers off.

 I'd  Google Mr or Ms Soontobebangedup and see what address was given at the trial. You don't want a load of Daily Star-reading vigilantes banging on the door looking for that "bloody pervert peedoe!"

Slithery

If the vendor still wants to sell then it shouldn't be any hold up at all, they just have to sign a POA that authorises their solicitor to complete the sale on their behalf.

AdrianC

Do you mean you want to pull out because of the complications to the conveyancing?

Or that you want to pull out on principle because you don't want to live in a prisoner's former home?

Do you even know what he's going down for? Is it in any way related to the property...?

nervousftbuy23

I googled the owner's name and nothing has come up. Even paid the £3 just to double check the name on the title register, which showed the middle name but no still nothing except companies house stuff which does show the date of birth. I'm probably just worrying but don't want to move into somewhere and get a knock on the door from 'the boys' asking 'where's my money!?' 

AdrianC

Why does the fact he's going to prison mean you're any more or less likely to have creditors visiting?

Plenty of people outside prison owe money, to creditors of varying degrees of persuasiveness and legality...

Perhaps he's going down for a serious driving offence or pub fight?
Perhaps he's a lifer being recalled to prison after many years of going straight, because of some minor infraction that would see anybody else getting a small fine?

MovingForwards

Search the local criminal court records to see if his name is listed and it should give an indication as to what offence it is.