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Original poster

Bought a small holding the owners are chopping down the trees.

191 replies

justasking111 · 24/10/2025 14:18

Not exchanged yet but the owners offspring are now chopping down the trees presumably for firewood to sell. Do friends have any rights before exchange or could all the trees be gone before they buy it?

Are they being unreasonable to be upset or is it fair practice before exchange?

OP posts:
Blinkyblinky14 · 24/10/2025 14:47

WiddlinDiddlin · 24/10/2025 14:46

The property was valued with mature trees as part of the sale - if there are no longer mature trees then thats a different proposition, reduce the offer/rescind the offer accordingly.

And the seller will walk
They’ve been told to stop
they haven’t
so now buyer can suck it up or withdraw

It is really that simple

WiddlinDiddlin · 24/10/2025 14:46

The property was valued with mature trees as part of the sale - if there are no longer mature trees then thats a different proposition, reduce the offer/rescind the offer accordingly.

Blinkyblinky14 · 24/10/2025 14:45

justasking111 · 24/10/2025 14:44

Dang. I think you're probably right. Despite all the agents blurb and photos of the woodland and orchards.

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They’re going to have to get replanting!

They’re not cutting down the orchard too are they? That seems odd

Original poster
justasking111 · 24/10/2025 14:44

Blinkyblinky14 · 24/10/2025 14:42

Cutting down trees on your property that aren’t protected for firewood is not vandalism.

The buyer has said “oi stop”

the seller has basically said “go jump”

so…. The ball is now in your friend’s court.

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Dang. I think you're probably right. Despite all the agents blurb and photos of the woodland and orchards.

OP posts:
verycloakanddaggers · 24/10/2025 14:43

justasking111 · 24/10/2025 14:32

They weren't bluffing. Just requested they cease.

The property has been on the market for a few years. It's a huge job to renovate. So been little interest I suspect. It's been reduced a few times over the years.

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Potentially these people are difficult with all potential buyers.

Your friends should walk away.

Blinkyblinky14 · 24/10/2025 14:42

justasking111 · 24/10/2025 14:41

They're not the seller but offspring of the seller. There's three offspring one local who's organised the felling. The owner is still alive but very elderly.

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I reckon they’ll have POA

Blinkyblinky14 · 24/10/2025 14:42

justasking111 · 24/10/2025 14:38

I'm not the friend. Just shocked at the vandalism.

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Cutting down trees on your property that aren’t protected for firewood is not vandalism.

The buyer has said “oi stop”

the seller has basically said “go jump”

so…. The ball is now in your friend’s court.

verycloakanddaggers · 24/10/2025 14:41

justasking111 · 24/10/2025 14:22

But they really want it. The trees are mature and give shade and privacy. There's woodland and an orchard.

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Then get in touch and explain you won't purchase without the trees.

Original poster
justasking111 · 24/10/2025 14:41

BruFord · 24/10/2025 14:36

It’s awful, the seller is basically ruining the property for cash. Depending on the tree species and quality, some timber sells for a high price (such as oak or walnut that can be used for furniture).
.

Honestly, I’d pull out now. The sellers can’t be trusted.

They're not the seller but offspring of the seller. There's three offspring one local who's organised the felling. The owner is still alive but very elderly.

OP posts:
Blinkyblinky14 · 24/10/2025 14:41

So your friends said cease

and did they respond? Or did they just carry on?

has their solicitor given any further advice?

diddl · 24/10/2025 14:40

Surely they pull out now then if the land is no longer as they want it?

Original poster
justasking111 · 24/10/2025 14:38

Blinkyblinky14 · 24/10/2025 14:35

Are you the “friend”?

yes, right to be worried

They clearly aren’t bothered about selling anyway

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I'm not the friend. Just shocked at the vandalism.

OP posts:
BruFord · 24/10/2025 14:36

It’s awful, the seller is basically ruining the property for cash. Depending on the tree species and quality, some timber sells for a high price (such as oak or walnut that can be used for furniture).
.

Honestly, I’d pull out now. The sellers can’t be trusted.

Blinkyblinky14 · 24/10/2025 14:35

justasking111 · 24/10/2025 14:34

I was worried they'd start pulling out other stuff and flogging it on marketplace. They're a very strange family who believe it's worth more I suspect.

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Are you the “friend”?

yes, right to be worried

They clearly aren’t bothered about selling anyway

bluebunnyrabbit · 24/10/2025 14:35

I would threaten to back out and follow through if they've already felled the trees. They are seriously devaluing the property after agreeing a price. Greedy bastards. I wouldn't give a shit if they were legally allowed to do it or not. They are acting in bad faith. They're literally deforesting the place. You going to letthem take the floorboards up as well and still pay the agreed price. Sod that.

Original poster
justasking111 · 24/10/2025 14:34

BruFord · 24/10/2025 14:29

If they’ve been ignored, probably best to pull out of the sale then as who knows what else the sellers might do before exchanging, What a shame.

I was worried they'd start pulling out other stuff and flogging it on marketplace. They're a very strange family who believe it's worth more I suspect.

OP posts:
Blinkyblinky14 · 24/10/2025 14:34

They requested they cease
the sellers responded with…. Tumbleweed or a flat “no!”

Blinkyblinky14 · 24/10/2025 14:34

justasking111 · 24/10/2025 14:32

They weren't bluffing. Just requested they cease.

The property has been on the market for a few years. It's a huge job to renovate. So been little interest I suspect. It's been reduced a few times over the years.

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You said that they’d said they threatened to pull out unless the stopped cutting down?

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 24/10/2025 14:33

They need to pull out. I couldn't live there after that, it would rankle every day.

Original poster
justasking111 · 24/10/2025 14:32

Blinkyblinky14 · 24/10/2025 14:27

The seller has been told the consequences
They carried on anyway, which is their right given no exchange
and your friends right to now withdraw

but given they haven’t withdrawn, it would appear they were bluffing

They weren't bluffing. Just requested they cease.

The property has been on the market for a few years. It's a huge job to renovate. So been little interest I suspect. It's been reduced a few times over the years.

OP posts:
Dacatspjs · 24/10/2025 14:31

justasking111 · 24/10/2025 14:25

They've done that it's been ignored.

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I would have said they need to speak to the agent and either threaten to drop the price or pull out if they carry on. But they have made their threat and not followed through on it, so have lost bargaining power. The most they can do now is say they want to drop the price of this continues- but I wouldn't take them seriously.

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 24/10/2025 14:30

They are cutting down dozens of mature trees for firewood? They are fucking vandals. I'm not sure I'd want them to have a penny of my money and if I did go ahead and buy I think I'd forever mourn the loss of the trees, so I think they really should pull out. That's appalling. Bastards.

minipie · 24/10/2025 14:30

Time for friends to pull out and start looking at other properties in that case. Sorry

Blinkyblinky14 · 24/10/2025 14:29

Inertia · 24/10/2025 14:28

I’d be dropping the offer price, as the property has changed significantly since it was advertised.

What does the contract say?

Won’t work

The sellers aren’t bothered even if they walk

so not going to be held over a barrel with an offer reduction

BruFord · 24/10/2025 14:29

If they’ve been ignored, probably best to pull out of the sale then as who knows what else the sellers might do before exchanging, What a shame.