Selling a House. Pre-exchange Matters

MyxHob

I am selling a house that belonged to my late sister and brother in law. My late sister had bequeathed me her half share in the property twelve years ago. My brother in law had continued to live there until his death in 2022. I have a prospective buyer but we have not exchanged contracts. There are issues about which the buyer is arguing and it appears that she or her solicitor has found details about my late sister having bequeathed her half share in the property to me. The buyer said I am "...due to inherit a significant amount of money from the sale of the property...". I am very upset about this and feel that the buyer has been intruding into my personal affairs. I find it disrespectful and discourteous. Do I have any grounds for complaint?

GrumpyDil

Not really, the seller and their solicitor will do their checks to make sure you are legally entitled to sell the property, presumably have noticed you are not on the deeds and been told it is a probate sale.

I assume you are getting advice around any CGT issues, which will depend upon how your sister's half was left to you etc.

MyxHob

Not really, the seller and their solicitor will do their checks to make sure you are legally entitled to sell the property, presumably have noticed you are not on the deeds and been told it is a probate sale.

They were advised at a very early stage that it was an "Executor's Sale" and the matter was reiterated in the pre-contract enquiries. I understand what you are saying but why or how would the buyer know that it was a "significant amount".My late sister might only have owned £1000 worth of the property

GrumpyDil

If they decided to look in more detail wills are a matter of public record, that said actually getting a copy of the will would be odd but  a complaint isn't going to get you anywhere.

In my view, this is one of those things I would just ignore. You don't have to be friends with the purchaser and will likely never hear from them once the sale is completed.

If it does irritate you enough then pull out of the sale and remarket the house.

p00hsticks

MyxHob said:

Not really, the seller and their solicitor will do their checks to make sure you are legally entitled to sell the property, presumably have noticed you are not on the deeds and been told it is a probate sale.

They were advised at a very early stage that it was an "Executor's Sale" and the matter was reiterated in the pre-contract enquiries. I understand what you are saying but why or how would the buyer know that it was a "significant amount".My late sister might only have owned £1000 worth of the property

They will just be doing due diligence to confirm that you have the right to sell it - is the property still in the names of your late sister and brother in law ? If so they'd need to check how the property was owned, in what proportions and who your sister left her share to, as wel las confirming that you are executor for your late brother-in-law.. 

BikingBud

MyxHob said:

I am selling a house that belonged to my late sister and brother in law. My late sister had bequeathed me her half share in the property twelve years ago. My brother in law had continued to live there until his death in 2022. I have a prospective buyer but we have not exchanged contracts. There are issues about which the buyer is arguing and it appears that she or her solicitor has found details about my late sister having bequeathed her half share in the property to me. The buyer said I am "...due to inherit a significant amount of money from the sale of the property...". I am very upset about this and feel that the buyer has been intruding into my personal affairs. I find it disrespectful and discourteous. Do I have any grounds for complaint?

So what? The money the sale realises has to go somewhere. The money it realises is based upon the perceived value of the property not who will get the benefit of the sale.

Are they considering that the fact that some of the money is coming to you should allow some leeway in what they are offering or that you should be benevolent and give up some of your inheritance?

Would they pay without objection if it was going to the dogs' home?

Be firm, agreed price stands.

RAS

How exactly was your sister's half left to you? Absolutely or as remainderman, allowing BIL to live there until his death? You don't need to answer but it may affect whether you need probate for both sister and BIL. Have you taken advice?

It seems a very long gap between BIL dying and the house sale? 

By the way it is absolutely normal to sell property from the estate, if the buyer or EA say anything, just remind them.

sheramber

MyxHob said:

I am selling a house that belonged to my late sister and brother in law. My late sister had bequeathed me her half share in the property twelve years ago. My brother in law had continued to live there until his death in 2022. I have a prospective buyer but we have not exchanged contracts. There are issues about which the buyer is arguing and it appears that she or her solicitor has found details about my late sister having bequeathed her half share in the property to me. The buyer said I am "...due to inherit a significant amount of money from the sale of the property...". I am very upset about this and feel that the buyer has been intruding into my personal affairs. I find it disrespectful and discourteous. Do I have any grounds for complaint?

They may just be assuming you get half the sale price. 

user1977

MyxHob said:

I understand what you are saying but why or how would the buyer know that it was a "significant amount".

It's likely to just be a reasonable guess, rather than something they "know". I'm not sure who you're thinking of complaining about?

saajan_12

MyxHob said:

I am selling a house that belonged to my late sister and brother in law. My late sister had bequeathed me her half share in the property twelve years ago. My brother in law had continued to live there until his death in 2022. I have a prospective buyer but we have not exchanged contracts. There are issues about which the buyer is arguing and it appears that she or her solicitor has found details about my late sister having bequeathed her half share in the property to me. The buyer said I am "...due to inherit a significant amount of money from the sale of the property...". I am very upset about this and feel that the buyer has been intruding into my personal affairs. I find it disrespectful and discourteous. Do I have any grounds for complaint?

The buyers are people, people have opinions. It might be rude and presumptive if they want favourable treatment but they aren't exactly intruding or finding out anything they haven't been told officially. 

Complaint to who? We generally hold companies to a higher standard and there's somehow an expectation that companies will be 'nice' or pay out goodwill amounts if not. But filing a complaint against a randome joe on the street? No chance. 

MyxHob

I'll cease this thread as the matter is too complex and, with respect, it would not be possible to explain the context. As it happens matter have been overtaken by events. Thanks for comments anyway