Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to take my petty revenge?

28 replies

Littleloaf · 30/10/2018 15:30

Long story slightly shorter, buying a house off someone who bought it with the intention of moving to this city, but never found a job and so has now sold it to us.

There were thousands of pounds worth of repairs to be done, which they promised to do before the final signature, and the estate agent was happy with this when we signed the initial papers. However they've now reneged and won't even share the costs with us so we have to pay all of it to make the house habitable.

Now the wife has arranged the final signatures for a time she knew I'd be at work - I'm a primary school teacher so not allowed time off in term time, which she knew - and she doesn't work so is a lot more flexible. We've tried to change it but she's flat refused; it's then or never. So we've finally agreed and I don't get to sign the papers which I'm really disappointed about.

WIBU to ask you for ideas for non-illegal revenge? My husband says that living in their dream house is revenge enough but I'm not as high minded as that.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 30/10/2018 15:32

Couldn't you just have pulled out, find another house that won't cost thousands to repair?

Lifeisabeach09 · 30/10/2018 15:33

Can you pull out of buying this house?

Original poster
Littleloaf · 30/10/2018 15:33

Can't pull out as we'd lose the deposit. We may have the moral high ground here but they definitely have the legal one

OP posts:
Miscible · 30/10/2018 15:38

Why wasn't all this sorted out in the original contract?

Original poster
Littleloaf · 30/10/2018 15:39

Because we were too trusting. They said it would all be sorted and were just waiting on some documentation, and we took them at their word, as did our estate agent.

OP posts:
BlackrockMum · 30/10/2018 15:39

love this I'm all for the don't get mad get even school of thought-- cant really think of anything at moment , but maybe when all done sent her a thank you card/message saying how grateful and surprised to find they'd left it in house, and how generous of them to leave it and if it would have been you you'd have taken it , and leave her puzzling what you are going on about...or could you make an amazing find in the attic?

woollyheart · 30/10/2018 15:42

Didn't you use a solicitor?

I wouldn't expect the estate agent to worry too much about things like this. If there was work to be done, it would usually be specified in the contract.

GlasgowWorrier · 30/10/2018 15:42

Are you in the UK? The estate agent wouldn't have anything to do with the legal side of things - your solicitor should have advised you not to sign anything without the repairs being completed.

Hissy · 30/10/2018 15:43

But you sign contracts at your solicitor at your convenience, they other side does the same and then the solicitors exchange them - right?

or is this now completion? ARe you in the UK/England?

Original poster
Littleloaf · 30/10/2018 15:44

Thanks BlackRockmum, that's exactly the kind of thing I'm after Grin

We live abroad and can sign initial papers at the estate agents. Only final papers must be signed at the solicitors office

OP posts:
Original poster
Littleloaf · 30/10/2018 15:46

And must be signed with representatives of both parties in the room together. I appreciate people's advice but we've been through it with our solicitor and there's nothing to be done; we've been completely had.

OP posts:
FabulouslyGlamorousFerret · 30/10/2018 15:48

Yes!! Put a notice on the local Facebook selling pages of some rare artifact or piece of jewellery that you found when doing the repairs that they should have done ie: behind the boiler, then they can't claim they left it behind by mistake - go for gold!! , 'find' something worth 10s if thousands and ask innocently if anyone knows what it may be worth - cheeky sellers will be sick!!

Bombardier25966 · 30/10/2018 15:54

You were naive. That's no one's fault but your own.

It's a business transaction that you negotiated very poorly. Revenge just makes you look childish. Get on with your life and make sure you're better prepared next time you do something so important.

SputnikBear · 30/10/2018 15:59

Personally I’d find out where they live and key their car to cost them the money they ripped you off for.

Tistheseason17 · 30/10/2018 16:02

It is your fault, though, isn't it?

You should have written the improvements into the contract.
What was your solicitor doing? Having a snooze? It's the solicitor/agent you should be annoyed at.

SeigneurLapindeGrantham · 30/10/2018 16:03

SputnikBear you're joking I hope.

Reaa · 30/10/2018 16:05

FabulouslyGlamorousFerret

Yes!! Put a notice on the local Facebook selling pages of some rare artifact or piece of jewellery that you found when doing the repairs that they should have done ie: behind the boiler, then they can't claim they left it behind by mistake - go for gold!! , 'find' something worth 10s if thousands and ask innocently if anyone knows what it may be worth - cheeky sellers will be sick!!

Fantastic idea

Original poster
Littleloaf · 30/10/2018 16:07

Yes it is absolutely my fault. I just assumed that because it is a legal requirement to meet these particular specs that, as the current owners, they were legally responsible.

It's not often I buy a house but in case I ever do again I'll be very aware of this possible pitfall.

OP posts:
chitofftheshovel · 30/10/2018 16:07

Put it back on the market for double the price once the repairs have been done?

Original poster
Littleloaf · 30/10/2018 16:08

Ferret very good idea, am sorely tempted Grin

OP posts:
DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 30/10/2018 16:08

"The Estate Agent was very happy with this when we signed the papers." I think the estate agent has not been your friend here. They know enough about what can go wrong to advise people to get EVERYTHING of that nature agreed in writing ( even then it needs to be enforced and depends how hard you want to pursue it) . Our estate agent was like this. All he cared about was making sure the sale went through so he could get his commission. The only person who has an interest in giving you this advice is your soliciitor. Ask them if you have any comeback on this, small claims etc. As for her making it inconvenient for you to sign - that's something to put in the past. Don't let these horrible people spoil your time in your new home. Forget them.

Tistheseason17 · 30/10/2018 16:10

HI OP - even though it's your fault, I still think they did a shitty thing to you. It was poor form and not something I'd do. My word is my bond, as they say.

I would go with Ferret's idea. Make it really rare!

BrendasUmbrella · 30/10/2018 16:11

No, don't insinuate they may have left something of value, especially not in a letter. They might take it to a lawyer to demand their mystery property back.

I know it's boring, but the best thing to do is try and forget about them, and enjoy your new house. Use the excuse of repairs to get it exactly how you'd like.

StrongTea · 30/10/2018 16:28

Be very tempted to call their bluff and reduce the house price by the cost of outstanding repairs. At the very least I’d be on the phone to the solicitor telling him not asking to get this sorted out.

purpleworms · 30/10/2018 16:36

Post them a glitter bomb!!!!! They'll be hoovering cracks and crevices for weeks.

That'd do it for me

Swipe left for the next trending thread