Mis-representation after house purchase - anyone ever had any luck?

saajan_12

bertiebb_2 said:

- New Boiler £3000. We knew the boiler was old but not pretty much knackered. Showers didn't work properly. They promised it had been serviced (and it hadn't) and it was condemned when the engineer saw it.

- Gas fire. Not working. Disconnected.

- Leak in bathroom. Not a small one. Literally flooding the place. £200.

..
I know from the TA6/10 the seller has ticked "heating in good working condition" - no chance.

These are really up to you to check.
- Boiler could have been working when they filled in the form and broke by the time you got in. Old boilers can do that and you'll find it hard to prove otherwise. 
- Gas fire - was this explicitly mentioned in the forms (not just as part of 'heating')? 
- Leak could have been covered by a structural survey

What I'd do - yes turn on the heating, hob and taps on the final viewing ahead of exchange. I woudn't necessarily get a boiler survey, but then I'd know I'm taking that risk with no come back. 

bertiebb_2 said:

- Junk thrown behind garage. :Lots - probably going to cost few £ to remove.

- Lights. Removed leaving bare wires.... A few £100 here.

...
And I also see they're not allowed to leave bare wires.

You're right on these, they shouldn't leave items they haven't said they would in the F&F form and the lights should have been replaced with at least simple bare bulbs instead of bare wires. 

Techncially you'll have a claim for these, just depends if its worth the filing fees and effort to find them. Going through solicitors to say the completion wasn't quite met will be more expensive in legal costs. If you just file a money claim online then I don't think their solicitor is obligated to provide their new address. 

TheJP

Unfortunately this does happen, everyone has a different standard in how they leave a property/expect to receive a property.

The majority of the points you raise will be hard for you to claim compensation from the sellers due to the lack of proof that they were aware of the issues.

The not leaving light fittings was poor and something that should have had a fitting left in place. The cost of the fittings would cost at best £30 as they only need to be standard ceiling rose fitting. Unless the sellers stated in the TA10 form that the specific fittings were staying.

bertiebb_2

Tiglet2 said:

bertiebb_2 said:

Tabieth said:

Did you get a full structural survey? If so, did it pick up these issues? 

I did yes- no problem structurally but it does not cover things like heating systems etc.

Well, surveyors are not electrical nor heating experts so the survey would advise you get them looked at and reported on by someone who is qualified to do so.  Sounds like you didn't do that.

nope was not advised

PRDMKT

bertiebb_2 said:

Yes I know to a certain extent its a case of Caveat Emptor and you are relying a LOT on the seller actually being a decent human being........

The house we sold I fixed all little things and cleaned the house from top to bottom. The one we moved into looked like pigs had been living there.

But thats by the by. The issues we've had have cost us money.

- New Boiler £3000. We knew the boiler was old but not pretty much knackered. Showers didn't work properly. They promised it had been serviced (and it hadn't) and it was condemned when the engineer saw it.

- Gas fire. Not working. Disconnected.

- Leak in bathroom. Not a small one. Literally flooding the place. £200.

- Junk thrown behind garage. :Lots - probably going to cost few £ to remove.

- Lights. Removed leaving bare wires.... A few £100 here.

I know from the TA6/10 the seller has ticked "heating in good working condition" - no chance.
And I also see they're not allowed to leave bare wires.

Lesson learned - never trust anyone to actually act like a decent person.

My conveyancer has been useless. Any suggestions? Anyone ever got anywhere with this?

I'd stick them with a small claim but, of course, I don't know where they moved to?

Sorry to poke holes, but why did you not request a copy of the boiler service report? If they were claiming to have had it serviced, they would have had paperwork. If you accepted they had it done without the paperwork I am afraid the onus is on you.

Larac

PRDMKT said:

bertiebb_2 said:

Yes I know to a certain extent its a case of Caveat Emptor and you are relying a LOT on the seller actually being a decent human being........

The house we sold I fixed all little things and cleaned the house from top to bottom. The one we moved into looked like pigs had been living there.

But thats by the by. The issues we've had have cost us money.

- New Boiler £3000. We knew the boiler was old but not pretty much knackered. Showers didn't work properly. They promised it had been serviced (and it hadn't) and it was condemned when the engineer saw it.

- Gas fire. Not working. Disconnected.

- Leak in bathroom. Not a small one. Literally flooding the place. £200.

- Junk thrown behind garage. :Lots - probably going to cost few £ to remove.

- Lights. Removed leaving bare wires.... A few £100 here.

I know from the TA6/10 the seller has ticked "heating in good working condition" - no chance.
And I also see they're not allowed to leave bare wires.

Lesson learned - never trust anyone to actually act like a decent person.

My conveyancer has been useless. Any suggestions? Anyone ever got anywhere with this?

I'd stick them with a small claim but, of course, I don't know where they moved to?

Sorry to poke holes, but why did you not request a copy of the boiler service report? If they were claiming to have had it serviced, they would have had paperwork. If you accepted they had it done without the paperwork I am afraid the onus is on you.

I am buying/selling and I sent through my boiler service cover which was done July 24 - buyers  insisted on the boiler being serviced prior to exchange - which I have done recently Apr 25 - however there is no guarantee the boiler won't break down in the future.

PRDMKT

Larac said:

PRDMKT said:

bertiebb_2 said:

Yes I know to a certain extent its a case of Caveat Emptor and you are relying a LOT on the seller actually being a decent human being........

The house we sold I fixed all little things and cleaned the house from top to bottom. The one we moved into looked like pigs had been living there.

But thats by the by. The issues we've had have cost us money.

- New Boiler £3000. We knew the boiler was old but not pretty much knackered. Showers didn't work properly. They promised it had been serviced (and it hadn't) and it was condemned when the engineer saw it.

- Gas fire. Not working. Disconnected.

- Leak in bathroom. Not a small one. Literally flooding the place. £200.

- Junk thrown behind garage. :Lots - probably going to cost few £ to remove.

- Lights. Removed leaving bare wires.... A few £100 here.

I know from the TA6/10 the seller has ticked "heating in good working condition" - no chance.
And I also see they're not allowed to leave bare wires.

Lesson learned - never trust anyone to actually act like a decent person.

My conveyancer has been useless. Any suggestions? Anyone ever got anywhere with this?

I'd stick them with a small claim but, of course, I don't know where they moved to?

Sorry to poke holes, but why did you not request a copy of the boiler service report? If they were claiming to have had it serviced, they would have had paperwork. If you accepted they had it done without the paperwork I am afraid the onus is on you.

I am buying/selling and I sent through my boiler service cover which was done July 24 - buyers  insisted on the boiler being serviced prior to exchange - which I have done recently Apr 25 - however there is no guarantee the boiler won't break down in the future.

No, of course not, what you are suggesting is fine- but as above OP is suggesting that the boiler was never serviced despite the previous owners claiming to have had this carried out. 

ShinyStarlight1

bertiebb_2 said:

Yes I know to a certain extent its a case of Caveat Emptor and you are relying a LOT on the seller actually being a decent human being........

The house we sold I fixed all little things and cleaned the house from top to bottom. The one we moved into looked like pigs had been living there.

But thats by the by. The issues we've had have cost us money.

- New Boiler £3000. We knew the boiler was old but not pretty much knackered. Showers didn't work properly. They promised it had been serviced (and it hadn't) and it was condemned when the engineer saw it.

- Gas fire. Not working. Disconnected.

- Leak in bathroom. Not a small one. Literally flooding the place. £200.

- Junk thrown behind garage. :Lots - probably going to cost few £ to remove.

- Lights. Removed leaving bare wires.... A few £100 here.

I know from the TA6/10 the seller has ticked "heating in good working condition" - no chance.
And I also see they're not allowed to leave bare wires.

Lesson learned - never trust anyone to actually act like a decent person.

My conveyancer has been useless. Any suggestions? Anyone ever got anywhere with this?

I'd stick them with a small claim but, of course, I don't know where they moved to?

I’m sorry you’ve been so badly treated by the previous owner. Like you, I would treat others as I’d want to be treated but a few people aren’t decent. I’m sure more helpful replies will be posted soon but I just wanted to respond to the despair in your message.

bertiebb_2

PRDMKT said:

bertiebb_2 said:

Yes I know to a certain extent its a case of Caveat Emptor and you are relying a LOT on the seller actually being a decent human being........

The house we sold I fixed all little things and cleaned the house from top to bottom. The one we moved into looked like pigs had been living there.

But thats by the by. The issues we've had have cost us money.

- New Boiler £3000. We knew the boiler was old but not pretty much knackered. Showers didn't work properly. They promised it had been serviced (and it hadn't) and it was condemned when the engineer saw it.

- Gas fire. Not working. Disconnected.

- Leak in bathroom. Not a small one. Literally flooding the place. £200.

- Junk thrown behind garage. :Lots - probably going to cost few £ to remove.

- Lights. Removed leaving bare wires.... A few £100 here.

I know from the TA6/10 the seller has ticked "heating in good working condition" - no chance.
And I also see they're not allowed to leave bare wires.

Lesson learned - never trust anyone to actually act like a decent person.

My conveyancer has been useless. Any suggestions? Anyone ever got anywhere with this?

I'd stick them with a small claim but, of course, I don't know where they moved to?

Sorry to poke holes, but why did you not request a copy of the boiler service report? If they were claiming to have had it serviced, they would have had paperwork. If you accepted they had it done without the paperwork I am afraid the onus is on you.

Chased my solicitor about 5 times but it never appeared. Yes my fault.

Schwarzwald

So besides the boiler which costs £3,000 to replace anew and you should have checked, the total costs are … how much …. £500?

how much was the property?
what is the £500 as % of property value?

IMO these are super small issues and if you are serious that you want to go after the vendor for repairs totaling some hundred £s when buying a non-new property, this sounds very naive and out of touch.

Sapindus

Write to them at your address and see if the letter turns up or is being forwarded.