Gazumped & angry

EssexHebridean

Karma will out - and it seems as though your former sellers have now discovered this. 

It really is possible for people to deal with buying and selling ethically - the first agent we dealt with when we sold our flat fully expected that if we reached the point of accepting an offer we would still want to hear any higher offers even after the flat was removed from the market. We said categorically not - that anyone offering after that point should be informed that if the existing agreed sale fell through then we would get back to them, but otherwise, no, offer accepted meant exactly that. 

TheJP

Schwarzwald said:

Jemma01 said:

TBG01 said:

silvercar said:

fluffymuffy said:

A good question is "Who is the villain?"

The homeowner was desperate to move (for good reasons). The buyer went out of their way to entice them with their new offer. The house was no longer on the market when they made their approach. What sort of person does that?

Now we need to find somewhere to buy urgently. We're looking at those with "No Chain" on the advert. 

A "good" seller wouldn't show to anyone else or accept any offers. 

We've had buyers and sellers behaving badly in the past, it's all part of the stupid England house buying system.

The seller hasn't done anything wrong.

The system is only stupid because either side wants double standards.

One side wants to do what's best for them, but then plays victim when the other side also does wants whats best for them.

It is wrong, everyone knows that gazumping is morally wrong, even if it is legal. We're not living in a jungle where everyone eats the other. We're all supposed to be civil, whether the law mandates or doesn't. 

two wrong dont make a right.
but i go against the popular opininion here, i would consider reporting it and let the seller know about that.
might force him to inform the new buyer at one point before exchange anyway.
and "teach" the seller a lesson.

but it wont help your situation, just your feelings and giving into your impulse.
but i wouldnt judge on you if you did it ...

Report to who? The OP has no contract/agreement with the estate agent, nothing illegal has happened. The seller will give that any notice and why would they, they've sold their house and moving on with their lives as should the OP.

Anything is on the table until contracts are exchanged, that's the rule, everyone knows that and that's the way its been for a long time.

propertyrental

Unfortunately we do 'live in a jungle'. That's why we need, and have, laws and a legal system.

Unfortunately, the system is not perfect and  does not (perhaps cannot) regulate absolutely every aspect of our lives.

Indeed, if it cries of 'nanny state' would echo round every pub...................

fluffymuffy

TheJP said

Report to who? 

Building Control 

sheramber

fluffymuffy said:

TheJP said

Report to who? 

Building Control 

Why do you think Building Control would have any interest or jurisdiction over gazumping?

RHemmings

sheramber said:

fluffymuffy said:

TheJP said

Report to who? 

Building Control 

Why do you think Building Control would have any interest or jurisdiction over gazumping?

The OP is not suggesting that in the least. The first post in the thread is quite clear. 

TheJP

fluffymuffy said:

TheJP said

Report to who? 

Building Control 

The OP has no intrest in the property or no legal connection so again, who do they complain to?

Answer - No one!

EssexHebridean

Honestly OP - you have two choices here, you can allow this to colour your lives,  make you resentful and vindictive - in which case, go ahead and make an anonymous report to building control if that is what floats your boat. Will it make things better for you overall? No. Will you very likely have to live in years to come with the knowledge that it was a pretty spiteful thing to do? Yes. 

Your alternative is to shrug your shoulders, acknowledge that you were treated in a way which just wasn’t very nice, but sadly was legal. If everyone adopted an ethical approach to things like selling houses it wouldn’t happen - but as with life generally, there are some folk who try to do things in the “right way” and some who are just out for everything they can get.  Personally I’d sooner be the former than the latter. 

The seller has already been “taught a lesson” as they are now presumably without a buyer. Real karma would be if they ended up selling at a price below what you had offered - but only time will tell on that. 

Seriously - move on. (And keep an eye on the Land Reg data for the sale price as and when - if it IS lower, then have a drink to celebrate a moral victory!) 

RHemmings

TheJP said:

fluffymuffy said:

TheJP said

Report to who? 

Building Control 

The OP has no intrest in the property or no legal connection so again, who do they complain to?

Answer - No one!

I think from the first post, that a more accurate characterisation of what the OP was thinking of doing is 'dobbing in for revenge', not 'complaining'. And, as per discussion here, if the OP decides to do that, then there is an answer. The appropriate Building Control department of the relevant council. As per @fluffymuffy's post. 

I'm not saying that the OP should do that, but this thread seems to have wandered off-topic. But, 'Building Control' would be the correct place should the OP want to dob in the house owner for revenge. There is absolutely no need for an (e.g. financial) interest in the property or legal connection to the property in order to dob somebody in.