Previous owner asking to buy back property!

Abbafan1972

Hopefully everything turns out ok and you get to enjoy your lovely new home.

If the sister gives you the impression she is "normal" and doesn't get on with the other family members, I would be careful about saying anything bad about them, as she could go back and tell them. 

Good luck and keep us posted. 

Flugelhorn

Be polite to the sister if you see her - any mention of it still being the old vendors house / you not moving out again / you not planting the time capsule / not allowing plants to be dug up / removing the name plate - then just turn and walk away. 

I have a weekend flat by the sea one of the permanent residents of the block likes playing to the gallery and being the centre of attention - am busy training her at present, mostly by ignoring her.

Flugelhorn

Bendy_House said:

'Always the hero. Always the victim. Never the villain.'

oh so true

TripleH

@juanballofwimbledon, if you get a solicitor's letter, remember they will send one as they are paid to by their client no matter how daft therequest. Hopefully the collection of their belongings is the end of the matter. Now they are just relatives of your neighbour with the same right of access to your property as me, nothing more.

Please don't let this experience spoil your first home. In 2 years time you will be sitting back and laughing at it.

Leggitte

user1977 said:

Well, what's the reason for their time capsule being in that garden, and not the garden in their new place (or their sister's garden, or somewhere completely neutral)? And not sure why they couldn't be bothered burying it themselves! V bizarre.

I wonder if the reason could be that when they buried it themselves, it would change ownership after selling the house. If it is buried after the sale, it remains their property and they think they have a legal right to come back and dig it up. My advise would also be to peacefully hand it back with the other stuff.

Edit: ok, time capsule given back, and buried in neighbour (or yours) garden.

Woolsery

Look on the bright side, with such controlling people it's unlikely neighbours will have been sorry to see them go. They'll probably welcome you with open arms.

I thought of this thread last night when I heard an apparently pleasant person living at the end of our private lane had suggested another neighbour and I re-paint the walls of the visibility splay in white, "Because it would look so much nicer and improve the value of our properties." Currently they're cream and in good condition having been refurbed and painted by us in 2020.

"What shall we tell him?" the other wall owner asked.

I can't write my exact answer here, but it was short. I'm all for being polite and I'm sure she will be, but these kinds of people seem to be totally unaware of others' rights and feelings.

Leggitte

Having read every post in this thread I do not think the sellers are malicious, just extremely oblivious of their behaviour. The brorher, who picked up the stuff, might be borderline malicious. For you, OP, I hope that the sister, who lives next door is different and you will get on fine with her.

pinkshoes

I can't believe the brother just marched through the house and thought it was OK to just go digging up plants in the garden!!! The whole family seem to have a screw loose...

If there was another property in the area that was suitable, personally I would offer to sell back to them. BUT... at the price paid, plus all moving costs and fees for the next purchase, plus an extra £10k for the hassle. I'd put the offer on the table for 28 days then say after this time, if they do not accept then you consider the matter closed. If they do accept, it is on the provision that another suitable property for purchase can be found.

Skiddaw1

OP, I can't add anything to what has already been said, but I think you handled the brother's visit with aplomb and I'm extremely glad you've contacted your solicitor (and had security cameras fitted). I'd like to hope that'll be the end of the matter and that things will settle down but definitely keep a record of everything that's happened.

What a family! Very much hope that the sister proves to be a bit saner.

Silvertabby

pinkshoes said:

I can't believe the brother just marched through the house and thought it was OK to just go digging up plants in the garden!!! The whole family seem to have a screw loose...

If there was another property in the area that was suitable, personally I would offer to sell back to them. BUT... at the price paid, plus all moving costs and fees for the next purchase, plus an extra £10k for the hassle. I'd put the offer on the table for 28 days then say after this time, if they do not accept then you consider the matter closed. If they do accept, it is on the provision that another suitable property for purchase can be found.

Ooh No!  They'll just see that you have offered to sell the house back to them, and any prices quoted will only be the start of the haggling process.  You'll never be rid of them!