House Survey

buyermse1233

I would like some advice. I was recently purchasing a house where the seller was very keen to get a quick sale, constantly pushing me to get stuff done quickly etc becase they were moving abroad. I was purchasing the property for 200k. I got the house surveyed by a small regional company for £430. The day after he called me and said you're getting a bargain I would value the house at 240k and there isn't any problems. A few hours later the seller then informed me she was pulling out the sale because she believes she can get more money for the house. I was suspicious that the surveyor had breached their contract and told the seller about the survey. My suspicions were confirmed when I drove past the house and the same company who done the survey now has the house advertised for sale. I spoke to the surveyor who denies any wrongdoing and citizens advice said it would be up to me to prove that they breached the contract which would be difficult to do. Does anyone have any advice on what to do next as I have lost £500 in fees and a huge knock on effect with the sale of my partners house. TIA 😃.

Jemma01

buyermse1233 said:

I would like some advice. I was recently purchasing a house where the seller was very keen to get a quick sale, constantly pushing me to get stuff done quickly etc becase they were moving abroad. I was purchasing the property for 200k. I got the house surveyed by a small regional company for £430. The day after he called me and said you're getting a bargain I would value the house at 240k and there isn't any problems. A few hours later the seller then informed me she was pulling out the sale because she believes she can get more money for the house. I was suspicious that the surveyor had breached their contract and told the seller about the survey. My suspicions were confirmed when I drove past the house and the same company who done the survey now has the house advertised for sale. I spoke to the surveyor who denies any wrongdoing and citizens advice said it would be up to me to prove that they breached the contract which would be difficult to do. Does anyone have any advice on what to do next as I have lost £500 in fees and a huge knock on effect with the sale of my partners house. TIA 😃.

Why is it difficult to prove, if the surveyor had not advertised the property until you brought it up to their attention? 

Hoenir

Perhaps the seller is no longer in a hurry. £40k is a lot of money to throw away. 

buyermse1233

@jemma01 it's difficult to prove because the surveyor denies any breach. He has said that the seller pulled from the sale and decided to give them a call off their own back to put the house up for sale which apparently that's within their rights 🤷‍♂️

buyermse1233

@Hoenir agreed, however the discussion is that the surveyor legally should not of informed them of the price of the house. It is a confidentiality brief which is only supposed to be seen between me and the surveyor. After all I paid him to work for me not for the seller.

Jemma01

buyermse1233 said:

@jemma01 it's difficult to prove because the surveyor denies any breach. He has said that the seller pulled from the sale and decided to give them a call off their own back to put the house up for sale which apparently that's within their rights 🤷‍♂️

Ah, right. That would be difficult to prove. Sorry, it does sound awful. 

youth_leader

I'm so very sorry.  I didn't have any proof, but I felt uneasy about my buyer and his surveyor. 

Is the property history listed on Rightmove?