House sale but now threatened with legal action.

RAS

The_Original_Red1 said:

RAS said:

Ask MIL if she would like an Ring or similar installing and setting up to record these visits? She'd need to work out where to stand capture the neighbour.

She still needs to go back and check, not what she thinks she "said", but exactly what she put on the TA6. 

Maybe even get a copy, refer to that when the neighbour comes round, and hand her a copy?

And keep a diary of every visit about the flooding.

We will get in touch with solicitors to make sure what was put on the forms but like MiL says she knew nothing but will check

It's nothing to do with doubting MIL. And the stark fact is caveat emptor. 

It's about being seen to give the neighbour tangible evidence of the facts. And having evidence to demonstrate that her repeated visits are unreasonable. 

I don't think it will necessarily shut her up, it's just one bit the package.

By the way, MIL needs to know that if the neighbour goes to a solicitor, they will write a letter with the neighbour's demands for a few quid. Doesn't mean they'd take in the case.

pinkshoes

The_Original_Red1 said:

RAS said:

So mother in law would have known if the garden flooded?

And these are verbal threats?

What did she reply on the TA6 form? 

Yes she would've known as she has lived there for over 20years and never seen any flooding. On the Ta6 form she put there was nothing wrong with the property as the previous owner never had any problems.And as for the threats the person keeps coming round saying she is at fault and threatening legal action against her. The mother in law told her that she knows nothing of any problems before she inherited it but she keeps on coming round with her mother daily.

In which case it sounds like she has nothing to worry about.

She has lived in the street for 20 years, she can say the deceased person had no issues in the X years they owned it, the current owner has had no issues for 4 years, in which case it is likely that the garden flooding has been caused by something else more recent caused by the current owner or perhaps other building work in the area.

(e.g. a village near me they built SO many new houses on land that was prone to flooding. A friend who lives in a 1980s house not far away who has never had any issues, now has a waterlogged garden for 4 months of the year.)

Constantly coming round is not acceptable. I'd suggest a ring doorbell to record the visit, and then make it clear that any further visits will be deemed as harassment and the police notified.  

Albermarle

When the buyer bought the house their solicitor would have checked if it was in a flood zone. If it is then the buyer must have accepted the risk at the time. If it is not in a flood zone, then it sounds like something has happened recently, such as some specific drain issue.
Check the long term flood risk for an area in England - GOV.UK

RHemmings

Albermarle said:

When the buyer bought the house their solicitor would have checked if it was in a flood zone. If it is then the buyer must have accepted the risk at the time. If it is not in a flood zone, then it sounds like something has happened recently, such as some specific drain issue.
Check the long term flood risk for an area in England - GOV.UK

You can also get a flood history report for a property, though it seems it will take 20 days. 

https://www.gov.uk/request-flooding-history

Note: I'm not saying that the OP needs to prove that there has been no flooding before. As filling in the TA6 to the best of their knowledge should be sufficient. I believe; I'm not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. But, if the flood history comes back blank, then this may help provide an answer to the harrassing buyers. 

user1977

I wouldn't even bother engaging solicitors unless a court action is actually started (or she wants to take steps to stop the harassment). 

sheramber

When an area of open ground surrounding our housing estate  was landscaped  some house had water running through their  back  gardens and down the front drive. 

The landscaping work had blocked the  old  underground springs and drains. 

New drains had to be laid. 

SootySweep1

Hi
What does the buyer actually want your MiL to do ?

At certain times of the year in some areas alot of people have flooded / waterlogged gardens but that's not the same as a flooded house.

youth_leader

Very sorry for your MIL.  I agree a Ring doorbell that records would be good.  People like the harasser sometimes have a false sense of entitlement.  

NameUnavailable

Ignore. The neighbour needs to be told to stop bothering your MIL and she should not answer the door or engage in any further conversation. Police can be called if they don't stop.

ChirpyChicken

I would send a formal letter telling them to cease and desist In her name.