CFN SpanGran has landed thread #8

[WhatIsThisWatt]

Hi guys! Wow I've just had a chance to come back on and noticed the last thread is full already?!

There also seems to be loads of people saying they're over it and don't believe me. That's fine, I'm not going to get into an argument with anyone. I had no idea that I would get so many responses when I initially asked for advice on this situation, however, they have really cheered me up through what has been a really crappy few days at points. Thanks all.

Sorry if ive pissed people off.

Anyway my Grandma has landed at the airport and should be with me in a couple of hours. It's not even that far away (she likes to take her time)

Oh blimey, looks like CFN/CFB is hoping to flip it fast and leave behind the illegal mess they've made.

I'd ask your solicitor if you can cable tie the doors and tape a copy of their letter to the outside. Is your solicitor able to get word to all conveyancing solicitors in the area?
I think Vango is right about mortgage approval. Though to cover all bases there needs to be something else, it's unusual but there are people out there in a position to buy without a mortgage.

For just now nothing - if the couple tried to buy it is not going to happen. If they rent and move in, then they may not be happy about the fact that they don't have the use of a garden they thought they did but at least you will have actual neighbours to talk to about it and you will easily be able to prevent them accessing the garden. It will be horrible for them caught up in the loss of garden/building nightmare of putting the house back together they way it should be but that is not your fault or problem. At least they sound like they will be more reasonable. Far better than trying to deal with CFBs.

I suggest an evening of drinking Sangria with SpanGran and enjoying her company. Don't borrow trouble from tomorrow.

p.s. I love the idea of her chasing the postman down the street. My in-laws are Italians and I could see them doing it too.

And the plot thickens. Dodgy builders are probably the owners hoping to make a quick buck.

Definitely sounds like dodgy developers then!

It's a good job you weren't away on holiday for a fortnight or something, God knows what you would've come back to.

Blatantly marking place, and wanting more of the Russian neighbours from Schaden

I hope these threads have stopped you from feeling too much angst, What - the sense of invasion and utter impotent rage about what you came home to in your very first post must have been horrid.

So songs and recipes are all good. To keep your optimism & faith in people up!

The owners of the flat might have asked the estate agent they bought from (or even another estate agent) whether they had anyone on their books looking for a flat, rather than advertising it publicly. Especially if it's not finished yet.

@Brenna24 what a brilliant phrase..."don't borrow trouble from tomorrow". I second what all the other lovely mumsnetters here have said. Enjoy your evening with SpanGran and her paella and sangria. Straight on to solicitors and planners in the morning and take it from there. DON'T PANIC WATTYYYY!!!

Ohai @gingergenius that flag matches mine (East and West have the same flag) :D

Op. I would definitely get into the land registry now. See what it says. It's quite cheap and worth it. Did you know the previous owner - would you recognise if it still said their name?

Also speak to your solicitor and let planning know. It might all be nothing. But best be forewarned. And if planning are warning maybe they can put red flags all over that flat to stop it being sold.

If you need a hand with searching please feel free to drop me a pm. I've had to hunt out a previous neighbour's landlord. It got quite involved.

Take care

I'd put a sign in your garden saying "This garden is property of X flat"
I'd send message to planning permission and solicitor, saying you have suspicions that flat is being up for sale with door and internal changes, which means that CFN is trying to quickly pass the problem to someone else!

I'd check Zoopla, I think there's some link you can click when the property you look for is currently for sale. Check Rightmove and make a search notification email with your postcode and the minimum ratio, or do it from laptop and draw a search area including your building only. Set the notification to "immediately" instead of weekly. Do a Google search with CFNs address in quotations marks: "X street" and postcode, see if anything comes up. Check estate agents websites, maybe do a search first for estate agents in your postcode, then search their websites. And do the registry thing that a PP mentioned, it's quite cheap and will give you the name of the owner.

Even if someone buys without a mortgage they're still taking a massive risk and a solicitor would usually still be involved. Id be amazed if anyone took on the flat with potential fines/massive restoration costs looming.

Watt could it be that the young couple viewed it when it was up for sale the last time? It was then sold to CFN and YC have come back to the area to see if anything else is available?

I'm sorry that this has taken a more stressful turn for you

Let your solicitor and the planners know about this happening first thing tomorrow.

Why don't you.... Just put up a note saying the garden doors are illegal (or proper word) on the fugly gardendoors themselves - with the text faces inward so people viewing the place know about it.
It comes across as investors trying to make a quick buck selling the house off hand with a garden, the investors will then piss off to pisstown and the new buyers will be screwed.

I know that if you own a property you can get a tag put on it by the land registry and if anyone tries to sell it you're notified.

I wonder if the planners can do similar? Land reg bring a gov dept.

It certainly looks like they are trying to flip and run. You need proper legal advice here. Call the planning people first thing. Then I'd call your house insurance and see if includes legal cover.
Who owns the freehold of the building? Worth talking to them too.

There's nothing more you can do tonight. Relax tonight, enjoy gran and action stations tomorrow

In honour of spangran we have had a paella party!

Hola spangran! Paella party in your honour!

Sellers will be required to disclose issues with neighbours to the prospective buyers won't they? I'd be tempted to phone the non emergency police line and report trespass.

And I would very much like the sangria recipe when you get a minute

engol I don't get why anyone would be offended by this thread. They can just not read it. You can also customise it to highlight OP's posts and set the thread to show all posts in one page. All it takes is scrolling down and read the OP's entries only. I'm grateful for all the random posts in between, though, that's how I found out about this highlighting posts thing! And many of the poems and songs have been funny or very talented.

Another blatant placemark.

I think you can write and get a note added to the Land Registry file? Or is that only if you have a charge on the property? That's wroth following up. You don't want inaccurate deeds lodged there. Mention to you solicitor. Apologies if I am talking crap.

Could a mutual friend pretend to be interested in the flat? Pop a note through their door etc.

God what are they like 😡 I'm fuming for you. I don't think it would do you any harm to have a chat with the police. If there is nothing they can do, then so be it but you would never know. There could catch them committing fraud or something equivalent to that. It's a hard one call 😕

Spookle brilliant. Well done. I haven't read a lot cos just skimming but yours stands out.

Watty sorry you are you going through what may be a prolonged period but you will prevail.
As for some of the naysayers, don't read it, if your so bothered. It's a fabulous thread and there is the Trello board if you require Just an update. the Trello is a thing of beauty (I am in awe)

Hello watty
I have been following you from the beginning and have been updating my dh who was pretending not to be interested because we are supposed to be on a romantic break you know.... 😉 but there is only so much romance an old married couple can take. Anyway, He is a policeman and he asked me to tell you that you have done everything right so far and the only thing to do about this latest development is to sit tight and speak with your solicitor first thing tomorrow morning. You are doing brilliantly and your grace and humour are seeing you through this awful situation. I am also very proud of mn for the support given to a woman in need. Good luck and for you and spangran tonight

When my friend put her house on the market it took about a week for it to appear online but she had viewing before then (I may have been a nosy bitch on Rightmove to see what she was asking for it ). Perhaps they have listed it with an agent and they have let folks already on their books now but haven't got the online listing ready?