Previous owner asking to buy back property!

Skiddaw1

Abbafan1972 said:

@JuanBallOfWimbledon Don't forget to update us, if the relative turns up to collect the stuff!

Blooming heck, you could write a novel about this!

It's gripping isn't it?

Norman_Castle

GDB2222 said:

What is really far more bizarre is how worked up some people are on this forum about an elderly couple behaving somewhat oddly

I find it odd. Why are people so keen to be defensive and rude? Whats wrong with being understanding and kind? The op has met the sellers and described them as "lovely people", I'm sure the op's capable of deciding how to behave towards them.

Skiddaw1

I don't think the majority of posters on this thread have been defensive or rude. However, there's a point beyond which being understanding and kind is appropriate. I'm certain the OP wouldn't be rude to the couple, but to my mind it's reached the point where being assertive is essential.

PeterE17

And if the sellers do not collect their property, here are some more tips (that relate to purchases rather than social housing landlords).
https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/news/conveyancing/seller-left-personal-property-in-house-what-can-you-legally-do-6018

GaleSF63

At least they left, and didn't just sit there on completion day saying they'd changed their mind!
Vendors pull out AFTER exchange of contract — MoneySavingExpert Forum

I'll be interested to hear the sister's reaction when she gets back. 

They've only been gone a few days. It's not that uncommon for people to move - especially when it's a distance - and then regret it immediately, but then settle down fairly quickly. The big difference here is the unreasonable expectation of buying the house back for quite a bit less than they were paid. 

GDB2222

Skiddaw1 said:

I don't think the majority of posters on this thread have been defensive or rude. However, there's a point beyond which being understanding and kind is appropriate. I'm certain the OP wouldn't be rude to the couple, but to my mind it's reached the point where being assertive is essential.

The op is being assertive, just in a kindly manner. 

If I were asked whether a previous owner could dig up a time capsule in my garden. My response would probably be  "I'll make the tea. You bring the cake." Other people here are treating it like an armed home invasion.  

Really, none of this unusual behaviour is in the least bit threatening.

bouicca21

I don’t think we actually know whether the couple are elderly.  They have adult children so could be anywhere from 50s up - if they started young maybe even late 40s.  I’m in my 70s and if you call me elderly I won’t spit in your face but I’ll certainly fantasise about doing so.

Being older is not an excuse for behaving badly, nor does it guarantee sympathy for daft behaviour. That is just patronising.

family355

I thought this kind of thing only happened to me...
We bought a house that was a repossession, the previous occupier was in jail for fraud. She had bought it from a family 10 years previously. That family was a man and his son who was now an adult, he was a friend of a friend. 

Whilst living there the adult son and his wife passed remarks about the house renovations by the previous owner, she had painted the wooden conservatory and removed the downstairs toilet (we live in a small village so was easy to 'bump' into them) unbeknown to us we cut down a conifer that his mums ashes were buried under so again remarks were passed.

After a few years we sold via an estate agent but before it went on the open market. We were asked by the adult son why we didn't sell to them? We didn't know they were interested as he could have bought from his dad or as the repossession previously if it meant that much.

The house has just sold again, the adult son was actually selling at the time and bought a similar priced property but not buy 'his' former home this time around either? 

The house we now live in was bought from new in the late 70's, we never heard from the sellers again however, the neighbours that are still here refer to it as the previous owners and have questioned our home and garden renovations over the past 9 years. They had some lovely flowers...we put down astro turf and a football net to suit our children/dog in our family home.

We never did come come across the ashes. People can be strange 

grandadgolfer

Norman_Castle said:

GDB2222 said:

What is really far more bizarre is how worked up some people are on this forum about an elderly couple behaving somewhat oddly

I find it odd. Why are people so keen to be defensive and rude? Whats wrong with being understanding and kind? The op has met the sellers and described them as "lovely people", I'm sure the op's capable of deciding how to behave towards them.

You don't find it odd that they put a name plaque up before they moved and want to bury a time capsule after they moved plus wanting to buy it back for £5k less.......give them all the stuff plus name plate,tin box and tell them straight your staying for the long haul

Bendy_House

GDB2222 said:

Skiddaw1 said:

I don't think the majority of posters on this thread have been defensive or rude. However, there's a point beyond which being understanding and kind is appropriate. I'm certain the OP wouldn't be rude to the couple, but to my mind it's reached the point where being assertive is essential.

The op is being assertive, just in a kindly manner. 

If I were asked whether a previous owner could dig up a time capsule in my garden. My response would probably be  "I'll make the tea. You bring the cake." Other people here are treating it like an armed home invasion.  

Really, none of this unusual behaviour is in the least bit threatening.

There's a lot more going on here, GDB, most of it very unusual, and all of it pointing towards a worrying level of entitlement and delusion.

Yes, if someone turned up at our house asking about a buried time capsule, I'd be intrigued too, and happy to let them get on with digging it up. (The earlier post about the previous owner who asked if they could exhume their cat, I'd absolutely go along with that.)

But... if the seller also changed the nameplate to include their name, between accepting the offer and completion date, I would have serious twitches about their rationality. Leaving lots of valuable goods in 'their' house after completion, too, and making little effort to collect it? And then asking if they could rebuy the house... And more.

What needs to be realised is that these folk believe their behaviour is perfectly normal and acceptable. There is no apology - "Really sorry, but we ran out of time to do this - I wonder if you'd mind..." - but 'expectancy', as if it's their right. Normal. Reasonable.

I really think these folk need to be kept at a distance, or it'll be a recurring issue. Absolutely in as gentle a manner as gets the job done.