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ftb gleeson homes

redstar75
redstar75 Posts: 4 Newbie
in House buying, renting & selling
Hi there. I am a first time buyer and was due to exchange contracts with gleeson homes in the next few days. However, Gleesons decided to cancel my reservation on a plot and refund me the deposit. (yet to be received) They have now put the property back on the market for four thousand pounds more than what was agreed with me. I am left with a big solicitors bill and no new home. I want to contact the board of directors but it seems impossible to find any contact details. All i get is the enquiries email address and my complaint doesnt then get dealt with properly.
This has been an awful first experience of buying a house and wonder if there is any advice from you all.
Many thanks

Comments

  • kingstreet
    kingstreet Posts: 38,750 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic First Post
    A developer cannot cancel a reservation without cause.

    http://www.consumercode.co.uk/

    You've paid a reservation fee, not a deposit. Have you failed to exchange contracts within the period specified on the reservation?
    I am a mortgage broker. You should note that this site doesn't check my status as a Mortgage Adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice. Please do not send PMs asking for one-to-one-advice, or representation.
  • eddddy
    eddddy Posts: 16,406 Forumite
    First Anniversary First Post Name Dropper
    Are you describing the full situation?

    What reason did they give for cancelling your reservation?
  • redstar75
    redstar75 Posts: 4 Newbie
    they said they could not meet my expectations. This is regarding a dangerous tree in the garden that had roots exposed on top of rock. I requested that they should remove the tree and therefore remove the danger.
  • redstar75
    redstar75 Posts: 4 Newbie
    the deadline for exchanging contracts has not yet passed (end of this month)
  • mije1983
    mije1983 Posts: 3,665 Forumite
    First Post Combo Breaker Name Dropper First Anniversary
    redstar75 wrote: »
    they said they could not meet my expectations. This is regarding a dangerous tree in the garden that had roots exposed on top of rock. I requested that they should remove the tree and therefore remove the danger.

    Did they agree it was dangerous, or is that just your opinion?

    Maybe it has a TPO on it, and if they and/or the council don't consider it dangerous, then it can't be removed. In those circumstances, then they are correct that they cannot meet your expectations.

    When you requested the tree to be removed, what did you say would be the outcome if they didn't? Did you just say, 'can you remove the tree please'? Or was it more, 'if you don't remove the tree I won't be buying'?
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary Photogenic First Post
    redstar75 wrote: »
    they said they could not meet my expectations. This is regarding a dangerous tree in the garden that had roots exposed on top of rock. I requested that they should remove the tree and therefore remove the danger.
    Are you an arborist with enough knowledge to know that the tree is dangerous, or have you acted on the report of someone who is?
  • eddddy
    eddddy Posts: 16,406 Forumite
    First Anniversary First Post Name Dropper
    redstar75 wrote: »
    they said they could not meet my expectations. This is regarding a dangerous tree in the garden that had roots exposed on top of rock. I requested that they should remove the tree and therefore remove the danger.


    redstar - I really can't understand your thought process.

    So you clearly know the exact reason that they cancelled your reservation - but for some weird reason you don't say so in your first post.

    How does that help you to get helpful advice?


    FWIW, when somebody applies for planning consent, they have to state which trees will be retained and which will be removed.

    If the developer stated that tree would be retained in their original application, in order to remove the tree, the developer would now have to make a new application to have the planning consent varied.

    But whilst the developer can't remove the tree, if the tree doesn't actually have a TPO (Tree Preservation Order), and there are no relevant planning conditions, you might be able to buy the house and cut down the tree yourself later.
  • redstar75
    redstar75 Posts: 4 Newbie
    I requested that they contact the local council and HSE to determine if the tree is safe or not and to be present when they attend. I am no expert on trees at all but when the majority of roots are showing on top of rock i feel it is an unnecessary risk.
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