To Be furious with my sister

[Justus77]

Bit of background, weve never really got on, have felt bullied by her my whole life. Have gone NC over last few years as dealing with her was too much for my mental health.

In 2002 we inherited my aunts house. It was mortgage free and was rented to a lovely family who have been there since then. My sister has now decided that she wants to take the cash. She has offered to sell me her half but as im currently waiting to move into a new build and all the costs associated with that I am not in a position to do this. That was the only contact we had and it was just 4 short emails.

She has then taken the matter to court and the courts have now ordered the property be sold which whilst upsetting given that I cant afford to buy her out is entirely her perogative.The order also states that we both must have conduct of the sale. My sister has appointed an estate agent and has signed off on the terms of the sale.

My question is AIBU to feel really annoyed that she has taken it upon herself to do this with no discussion. The family who live there hadnt yet been informed that we were selling the property and I have no more information?

You need really good legal advice.

OP - you really should have taken legal advice as soon as your sister went to court. Something is pushing her along and she is obviously enjoying having the upper hand. You will need more than a free half an hour to sort this out. Just because she wants her half in a hurry does not mean you have to lose so much of the value. Keep to the facts when you meet the solicitor and ask if the court put a "time limit" on the For Sale period. Who is the cash buyer who has suddenly appeared - is it someone sister knows? You might have to go back to court and ask for time to get an offer somewhere near the market value. This would give you time to get your mortgage organised. I would ask for 3 months. Your sister sounds "a piece of work" but you must have realised that when she went to court. Meanwhile I feel for the tenants - I hope you get your mortgage and that they will be able to remain in the house. How long did you actually know for sure that sister wanted/needed the money? Had you really no idea that she she would become so ruthless?

Fingers crossed for you 💐

If you find a ‘free half hour’ they won’t act for you within the free half hour, just get an appointment and pay.

Sorry I should have been clear, I need a solicitor to act for me regardless of the next steps. I have contacted a firm that’s been recommended and I am calling them today to arrange an appointment.

Just wanted to say good luck Op. Your sister sound like a real piece of work. I hope it all works out in your favour and you can be done with her once and for all.

Justus77 I hope you get great advice from your solicitor that puts a stop to your sister's gallop.
Best of luck.

I would tell the EA that he knows you both own the house and it is unreasonable for him to have assumed that just your sister could sign the agreement... put the wind up him!!!

I hope it goes well with the solicitor, I should imagine the court would give you x amount of weeks to buy the property and your DSIS will have wasted her money taking it to court as it won't be a quick process...

I think this is a difficult situation to decide who is in the wrong here. I think your sister should of called you to discuss the matter and you could of explained better your own reasons to as what you want as well.

In this current climate assuming she is ok job wise I wouldn’t be too keen to sell at the minute as it’s an extra income for you both

Well I’ve just met with a solicitor (she was good). She’s drafting a letter to both the EA and my sisters solicitor.

She’s taken copies of all email exchange between me and my sister, she agreed it was indeed bizarre how she has approached this all. She is going to put the following in the letter:

• my sister didn’t initially provide details of time scales by which she required money from a sale back in November and that the email was tentative not clear.
• she took the matter to court at which the apppication only refers to a specific agent being instructed which it was
• the court order is clear that we both have conduct of the sale
• the court order does not order an agreement of the sale price nor terms of sale to be agreed by just one party
• the valuations cited by the agent fall far below the average of the values provided by 5 local independent agents

Therefore I am not willing to settle on the sale as this is at a considerable loss to me, the option to buy her out remains on the table at xx amount until the end of June.

• the EA has been instructed that their contract is null and avoid and as such should now cease all viewings and instructions until this matter has been resolved in the court action threatened by her client.

So that’s the position

The EA is reminded that the court order he referred to when requesting my ID for sale is still valid and has not been varied. As such no contract exists. Advising that my sister has initiated court proceedings so at this time the property is under dispute therefore categorically not for sale until resolution of proceedings.

Sounds like a great solicitor OP! Hopefully she'll take your money and then you can be done with her.

I hope you can resolve it quickly and get the house.

For anyone interested about the tennats, poor chap was refused a mortgage. He can try again in 6 months time but needs to get some things into order. I can only provide a "i really dont know what is going to happen" response to tennats as I dont know anything more. Im trying hard but I cant guarantee that they would need to move.

Tell the tenants to sit tight, far harder to sell a property with sitting tenants which may be why the EA valued it so low? I would tell them you are going through the process to prevent sale so you can buy it and you will happily keep them as tenants.

That's good new op, hopefully it'll be resolved quickly now that you've got a handle on things

Shes obviously already read and disseminated the contents of the solicitors letter. Her husband has just had a "confrontation" with my DH. Im at work but will get details when i get home.

Why am i feeling violently sick and anxious?

From now onwards I'd direct any communication between you, your dh, your ds and bil via solicitors.

Find out what happened and then I'd send her an email via your solicitor saying that all communication is to go via the legal route.

Also remember, once this is over you'll never have to see or speak to her again. Don't let them bully you

So things aren't going your dsis's way.
Good

Sounds like she was taking the pee a bit, pushing you into doing things her way because she has a need for cash, and now she is furious that she can't have her own way.
Things should be done properly and that is what your solicitor will help to do.
She can't just bully you into doing what she wants.

Sounds like you are doing the right thing. I really think it should be straight forward for you to get a buy to let mortgage, a lot of them do not depend on your financial situation. They are dependant on the rental income and considering you have 50% equity its almost guaranteed. A mortgage broker could sort that out for you in days.

Keep going Justus77. She cannot bully you in this way. Be brave and fight back

I'm glad you have a good solicitor, hopefully she will stop you're bombastic sister in her bloody tracks!

I have changed my opinion on this thread. I thought you had been refusing to sell and blocking it whereas the timeline shown on this page was very different. I hope it gets sorted and you are able to buy her out.

@Justus77 And being a bit nosey, if you don't mind sharing, what did happen in the confrontation?

@Justus77 any updates?