Any reason why vendor would lie about living at the property?

tsolrm

I am just curious. It seems that the vendor is fibbing about living at the property (I have my reasons to suspect that) and I am not sure what reason behind that could be. They have indicated that they live at the property on the property information form. The reasons could be irrelevant to us as buyers but if they lied about that it does make me wonder what else they could be lying about.

SpiderLegs

Have they let the property?

VintageHistorian

I think buildings and/or contents insurance often has a clause that the house cannot be vacant for more than a certain number of days (might be 30?). I'm sure I've also read that some councils charge a higher council tax if the property is empty (to encourage people to sell if they don't want to live in it).

theartfullodger

V likely part of a plot to defraud HMRC (ie us lot ) of the CGT they should pay if this ISN'T their personal home.

(Possibly) a mortgage or insurance fiddle...

By all means buy from them but....

a) Recognise they've almost certainly fiddled tax so probably fiddled other things... dunno what, dodgy electrics, building work, not signed off my building regs, not safe gas etc etc..

b) Grass 'em up to HMRC after buying.  If they genuinely did live there they'll have all the documents to prove it.

Alternatively, it's not their property, they don;t own it, you've got a big problem

davidmcn

What are your "reasons for suspecting" that they don't live there? Do you mean somebody else is living there? Probably not unreasonable for the vendor to say they "live" there if they did but have already moved out, or it's e.g. a second home.

ProDave

The NO 1 thing as eluded to is MAKE SURE they have not let the property and it WILL have vacant possession on completion.

hazyjo

My vendor did the same. She apparently had family staying with her, but I don't think she was there at all and they were renting off her. She'd prob not done things by the book and thought it would slow or complicate (or lose!) the sale, so lied.

annetheman

ProDave said:

The NO 1 thing as eluded to is MAKE SURE they have not let the property and it WILL have vacant possession on completion.

This ^. Saw another thread recently about an inherited property which has tenants with no formal agreement living in it. It seems to be absolutely impossible to legally get them out if they are unwilling to move, should you "inherit" them as part of the purchase! Very messy...

I know of someone who knows of someone who knows of someone who doesn't live where they live but is saying they do for favourable tax purposes. I really can't think of any other reason why that would be of benefit to the vendor.

davidmcn

VintageHistorian said:

I think buildings and/or contents insurance often has a clause that the house cannot be vacant for more than a certain number of days. I'm sure I've also read that some councils charge a higher council tax if the property is empty.

theartfullodger said:

V likely part of a plot to defraud HMRC (ie us lot ) of the CGT they should pay if this ISN'T their personal home.

(Possibly) a mortgage or insurance fiddle...

But none of those third parties is even going to see the property information form, never mind believe what it says...

macman

annetheman said:

ProDave said:

The NO 1 thing as eluded to is MAKE SURE they have not let the property and it WILL have vacant possession on completion.

This ^. Saw another thread recently about an inherited property which has tenants with no formal agreement living in it. It seems to be absolutely impossible to legally get them out if they are unwilling to move, should you "inherit" them as part of the purchase! Very messy...

I know of someone who knows of someone who knows of someone who doesn't live where they live but is saying they do for favourable tax purposes. I really can't think of any other reason why that would be of benefit to the vendor.

As has always been the case, if there is a legal tenancy, then it simply continues under the new landlord/owner. If they wish to end it, they can certainly do so, but only by issuing an S21 and waiting for the 6m notice to expire. Perfectly legally possible, but under the present restrictions it could take a year or more to gain possession.

tsolrm

SpiderLegs said:

Have they let the property?

No, the house is just empty.