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Original poster

Buyers have made PP a condition

326 replies

bellepup29 · 29/04/2019 18:05

We are selling our house to a couple who want to extend, and they have made the granting of planning permission a condition of the sale. So we are not just subject to contract & survey, but also to their getting PP.
It's very unlikely that there would be any problem with getting it, but the issue is that it can take up to 6 months in our area!
Has anyone else had experience with this notion of PP before contracts? I never realized that PP could be applied for by anyone except the owner!

OP posts:
WorkingItOutAsIGo · 29/04/2019 18:07

Walk away. They can not impose it as a condition on you, it’s something they want for themselves. It could really extend your sale - why on earth would you do that if you had other options?

Shylo · 29/04/2019 18:08

I agree, walk away .... I wouldn’t accept this as a condition of the sale, it’ll drag it out for far too long

HillRunner · 29/04/2019 18:08

Let them do their application, but don't take your house off the market in the meantime. They can't expect you to do so when they haven't made a firm commitment.

Alsohuman · 29/04/2019 18:09

Find another buyer.

Merryoldgoat · 29/04/2019 18:10

Let them do their application, but don't take your house off the market in the meantime. They can't expect you to do so when they haven't made a firm commitment.

This.

Cutesbabasmummy · 29/04/2019 18:10

They can put in the planning application and in the meantime you can look for another buyer. Then if it all goes belly up they've wasted their money and not yours.

InspectorClouseauMNdivision · 29/04/2019 18:10

That's really cheeky! It would save them good few grand. Architect, plannng etc. And the headache.
I would walk away.

chocomug · 29/04/2019 18:11

You'll find another buyer.

GreenTulips · 29/04/2019 18:11

Anyone can apply

Keep your house on the market

ThorosOfMyr · 29/04/2019 18:12

Personally I would tell them to jog on. You could accept I suppose and keep your house on the market making it clear them that you may accept another offer and they would lose out.

squee123 · 29/04/2019 18:12

tell them they can apply if they want, but you're keeping it on the market in the meantime, and if someone makes the same or higher offer in before they are ready to commit then you will take it. Unless you think you'll struggle to find anothr buyer I wouldn't entertain their nonsense

MitziK · 29/04/2019 18:12

Or put in for PP yourself and use it as a means to possibly get a higher price for other less CFs?

Pipandmum · 29/04/2019 18:15

Keep it on the market. It’s a ridiculous condition - even if they got planning there’s no guarantee that they will buy it. They are probably still looking.
However if they do get planning and then walk away the plans are public so anyone else can see the possibilities and know that planning is in place!

MoveOnTheCards · 29/04/2019 18:20

Are they having a laugh? It will cost you time and money (you’ll be footing the bill for architects/plans as well as the application I presume?) and I bet they wouldn’t be up for paying a premium on the asking price for a place with pp all sorted!

Original poster
bellepup29 · 29/04/2019 18:24

Gosh. Pretty unanimous, there. Unfortunately the house was taken off the market the day after the offer was agreed - but we did not know about this condition until some time afterwards! It feels as if all the advantages are on their side - they are already getting the house for much lower than it's worth (that's not my emotional owner view, but based on local comparisons of sold prices). They are also having a survey, but have delayed this until we have completed some needed works & they have seen that report. Our EA seems to think all this is ok. We accepted their offer because we are buying a house with no chain, and we will be cash buyers. In our view they are bloody lucky!

OP posts:
HillRunner · 29/04/2019 18:27

So put the house back on the market. It's your call, not theirs or the EAs.

SweetestSugar · 29/04/2019 18:27

Pop it back on the market tomorrow!

cochineal7 · 29/04/2019 18:28

The house can be put back on the market surely?

HillRunner · 29/04/2019 18:28

The EA works for you, not the buyer. If they misrepresented the offer to you (not informing you of conditions) you have every right to pull them up on it.

MoveOnTheCards · 29/04/2019 18:28

Why can’t you just tell them their pp requirement is OTT and either they move forward or it goes back on the market? If you've not exchanged that shouldn’t be an issue as they’re the ones who have apparently moved the goalposts.

64632K · 29/04/2019 18:29

As long as the exchange hasn't happened, you can pull out and put your house back in the market. With PP your house will probably be worth more anyway.

MoveOnTheCards · 29/04/2019 18:31

Is this the first time you’ve sold a property OP? Manor your agent work for you!

Mitzimaybe · 29/04/2019 18:31

Well a house with planning permission will be worth more than a house without planning permission. So I would tell them if they want to buy a house with planning permission it will cost them £20k more (or whatever amount you think is appropriate.) If they have put this condition on it AFTER you took it off the market then you are not obliged to be bound by it.

Get the house back on the market! Good time of year for it.

MoveOnTheCards · 29/04/2019 18:31

*make! No idea where manor came from!

Penners99 · 29/04/2019 18:32

Tell them to sod off!

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