Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask seller to cover stamp duty?

49 replies

GeordieMamma · 10/07/2021 19:06

I’m debating whether this is unreasonable or not, all opinions welcomed as I’m really not experienced in house buying and selling.

So. Our property is STC and we accepted this offer in February. We then found a property we really love (ideal location, in budget, great garden, good nursery and schools in walking distance). It really couldn’t be better for us.
Seller took a week to accept our asking price offer as she “wanted to be sure she found a property she liked”. She found one and had her offer accepted a week later and subsequently accepted our offer against everyone else’s offers as we were “in the best position” as we had sold. Others were waiting to sell or in longer chains. This was early March.
All has been fine, slow, but no issues. Solicitor informed me they were pushing for completion dates 2 weeks ago.
Then just over a week ago I had a call from our estate agent to tell me our seller has backed out of the sale as their homebuyers report (which she ordered very late in the day), has come back and the property requires work she isn’t willing to do. New roof I believe.
Fine. You can’t buy a property you don’t want. I asked estate agent if they could ask if they’d be willing to rent as to not hold up the sale. Seller says no and they’ve asked us to wait until she finds another property.
From what I’ve gathered the seller is only interested in properties on a handful of streets in a very sought after area. We could certainly be waiting a long time.
We’ve decided to go ahead with our sale and arrange to stay with family as to not lose our buyers.
We’re now going to miss the stamp duty deadline.
A few family members have advised me to request the seller knocks this amount off the sale price.
So, AIBU to request the seller foots the bill for stamp duty?
I should add we have been very speedy with everything, our survey and searches were completed weeks ago. We really haven’t put a foot wrong.

OP posts:
234Pepperplant · 10/07/2021 19:12

You can ask. She’ll probably say no, especially if she had multiple other offers. Comes down to how much you want this specific house.

I’d start looking at other property myself. You could be waiting a very long time.

edwinbear · 10/07/2021 19:13

I can fully appreciate how frustrating this is for you, but if you really want to buy her house, you’ll have to wait for her to find something else and go at her pace. FWIW she sounds like a nightmare seller and I’ve been known to pull out of a purchase because the seller was difficult. But if you’re set on this specific house, you haven’t got a lot of choice - especially not if other people were interested and might step in if you try and negotiate a reduction.

Viviennemary · 10/07/2021 19:16

She is being quite difficult I'd say. Ask her but she'll probably say no. I agree with looking round for other properties.

Romanoff · 10/07/2021 19:18

Yanbu to ask.

But I think yabu to continue with the sale unless you don't mind staying with family for what could be a very longtime.

If this person only wants a small number of houses on sought after streets, she is very likely to not get one quickly.

MouldyPotato · 10/07/2021 19:19

You can ask. They'll probably say no as they don't sound in a hurry to move.

UrAWizHarry · 10/07/2021 19:22

You can ask, but they will say no. They will have missed the stamp duty holiday as well when they buy so will effectively take a double hit if they reduce.

Some people are just not in a hurry to move, if that doesn't suit you then maybe you need to find somewhere else.

FunMcCool · 10/07/2021 19:22

You can ask. Up to her though.

Aprilx · 10/07/2021 19:23

I think YANBU to ask, but I think she will say no. I think you need to look for another property to buy.

Original poster
GeordieMamma · 10/07/2021 19:46

She’s had the property up for sale twice before. I think she’ll continue to be difficult even if she finds something quickly.
Thank you for all your responses!

OP posts:
readytosell · 10/07/2021 20:01

Agree with above. You can ask. She can say no. You can decide whether to continue or not.

It's all about weighing up the good and the bad.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 10/07/2021 20:05

I would just start looking for another house.
We had someone like that last time we moved. Luckily we spotted it quickly and just found another place to buy.
She is not committed to moving.

Dishwashersaurous · 10/07/2021 20:06

I think that it is highly highly unlikely that you are actually going to be able to buy this house.

Start looking for somewhere else now

Romanoff · 10/07/2021 20:07

Twice before?

Look for something else. I very much doubt this person has any motivation or intention to actually find somewhere and will probably still be there in 5 years.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 10/07/2021 20:12

Definitely walk away. She won't actually move.

LawnFever · 10/07/2021 20:13

You can ask, if I was her I’d say no without hesitation and would think you were pretty cheeky and even if I did find another property quickly might change my mind about selling to you.

Buying houses is an annoying process, all kinds of things like this can happen, none of what has happened is massively out of the ordinary, she’s perfectly within her rights to have changed her mind after getting that survey back.

Original poster
GeordieMamma · 10/07/2021 20:16

Oh I feel sad because you’re all confirming what I’ve been stopping myself from thinking. She isn’t going to move.
I have registered interest with all the local estate agents and have created a Rightmove email alert for any new houses. Hopefully we’ll find something else soon. It’s bloody gutting though!

OP posts:
TheGallopingGourmet · 10/07/2021 20:27

Tread with care. I wouldn't bother asking. Your seller is flaky and if you do buy from her guard your loins, it will be a rocky ride.
Been there, done that.
I would be looking at other properties ASAP.
Good Luck

Newkitchen123 · 10/07/2021 20:33

Get out now and find another house

Finzi · 10/07/2021 20:35

I agree with everyone else - start looking again. We had similar happen to us, 22 years ago. Offered on a place, but the process dragged on for months while the sellers messed us around, even asking for more money months into the process. Eventually they took the property off the market and we found another house we liked, on the same road. The sellers who messed us about have never moved yet - they obviously didn’t really intend to 😡

m00rfarm · 10/07/2021 20:37

If she isn’t happy paying for a new roof then she sure as hell won’t want to pay your stamp duty!!!

BoxHedge · 10/07/2021 20:50

She’s not even actually a ‘seller’ now though, so it would be unproductive to ask her anything.

bananamonkey · 10/07/2021 20:58

Sounds like she won’t actually sell. I offered on a house once and the guy refused to commit to anything for weeks and weeks (not even a no response, I’d accepted on mine so was keen to move quickly!) as he was still looking round, eventually he decided not to move but luckily I’d already found something else by then. I noticed it come on the market several times in the following couple of years…

Ohhyeahright · 10/07/2021 21:19

Defo start looking for something else, sorry op!

mrsbyers · 10/07/2021 22:03

Just mentioning the stamp duty after June 30th is still reduced and anything under 250k free from duty , you only pay the duty on the cost over the 250k too not the whole amount

LawnFever · 10/07/2021 22:53

@m00rfarm

If she isn’t happy paying for a new roof then she sure as hell won’t want to pay your stamp duty!!!
Such a good point!! Grin
Swipe left for the next trending thread