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Is this normal?!
LegalNim
Posts: 66 Forumite
We had an offer accepted on a house at the end of May - it's no chain and vacant. We're also no chain so should have been really quick and simple. The problem we're having is that the vendor and/or their solicitor are just not responding!
We had a survey booked which, granted, was slower than usual but that's supposedly due to a Covid backlog. Our solicitor then contacted their solicitor because the vendor had declared that they hadn't done any work to the property on their declaration - but our surveyor said the work was recently done and not done properly. It had no building regs or planning permission. We also asked to see a copy of the gas check given that the property had been let out until recently. It took over a month to get a response - which was simply "the vendor says he hasn't done any work on the property" and "we don't have a gas check".
We then got a builder to look at the work and cost it - they clarified it must have been done during the vendor's time owning the property. We spoke to the neighbour (as some of it was on the party wall) and they confirmed that they had discussed it and it was done by the vendor. Our solicitor chased it up again. Weeks later, we got the response of "nope, he's not done any work and didn't have a gas check done".
So, we paid for our own gas check while our solicitor got back to the vendor's solicitors about the work on the property. It failed the gas check. The EA contacted us about how the gas check went and we said it had failed and that we're concerned the vendor doesn't actually want to sell because of his slow responses and denials (we also found an advert online that the property is available to let). The next day, I get a call back from the EA to say that it was all a big misunderstanding, the vendor was confused about what work we were referring to (which was major, structural work including work to exterior, windows, electrics etc). He confirmed he had done the work. Our solicitor got an email the next day saying the vendor has no paperwork relating to the works, it was done by his mate (basically) and then provided a gas check (which doesn't actually look genuine) supposedly done in the middle of lockdown saying it's passed.
We've costed up how much fixing everything will cost (based on our own builders and gas safety engineers - I don't trust a word the vendor or EA have said) and would still like to proceed. We are completely ready to exchange, we're waiting on nothing but the vendor and he hasn't replied in weeks.
Is this normal? I didn't imagine that for a sale with no chain on either side, we would be two months in and not have even exchanged (when there's been no further negotiation on price etc).
We had a survey booked which, granted, was slower than usual but that's supposedly due to a Covid backlog. Our solicitor then contacted their solicitor because the vendor had declared that they hadn't done any work to the property on their declaration - but our surveyor said the work was recently done and not done properly. It had no building regs or planning permission. We also asked to see a copy of the gas check given that the property had been let out until recently. It took over a month to get a response - which was simply "the vendor says he hasn't done any work on the property" and "we don't have a gas check".
We then got a builder to look at the work and cost it - they clarified it must have been done during the vendor's time owning the property. We spoke to the neighbour (as some of it was on the party wall) and they confirmed that they had discussed it and it was done by the vendor. Our solicitor chased it up again. Weeks later, we got the response of "nope, he's not done any work and didn't have a gas check done".
So, we paid for our own gas check while our solicitor got back to the vendor's solicitors about the work on the property. It failed the gas check. The EA contacted us about how the gas check went and we said it had failed and that we're concerned the vendor doesn't actually want to sell because of his slow responses and denials (we also found an advert online that the property is available to let). The next day, I get a call back from the EA to say that it was all a big misunderstanding, the vendor was confused about what work we were referring to (which was major, structural work including work to exterior, windows, electrics etc). He confirmed he had done the work. Our solicitor got an email the next day saying the vendor has no paperwork relating to the works, it was done by his mate (basically) and then provided a gas check (which doesn't actually look genuine) supposedly done in the middle of lockdown saying it's passed.
We've costed up how much fixing everything will cost (based on our own builders and gas safety engineers - I don't trust a word the vendor or EA have said) and would still like to proceed. We are completely ready to exchange, we're waiting on nothing but the vendor and he hasn't replied in weeks.
Is this normal? I didn't imagine that for a sale with no chain on either side, we would be two months in and not have even exchanged (when there's been no further negotiation on price etc).
0
Comments
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Dear OP - pull out best thing.0
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@Mickey666 I just wanted to know really whether solicitors tend to get muddles so this happens a lot or if vendors often are apathetic about selling (I would've expected them to be as keen as we are).
The vendor only has the one property. Purchased within the last decade, moved in with his girlfriend two years ago, then let the property out and it's been vacant for around 9 months. So, wouldn't be confused with another property. The property is mortgaged so you'd expect him to want to stop having to pay it!
It does appear that whenever the EA chases him up we get an immediate response but it shouldn't really be necessary. It's just so tedious to be honest.
We did begin to look at other properties again because we don't trust him but we really love this one - it's unique to our needs.0
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