Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

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 tell our buyer to fuck off?

297 replies

AppleWin · 31/08/2022 09:41

We put our house on the market in March. On the first day of viewings we had multiple offers. We went with a particular couple (even though their offer wasn’t the highest) because the agent stressed that they were very proceedable and had a high deposit so wouldn’t have any hiccoughs with their mortgage - and also because they weren’t a landlord.

In July, they still hadn’t booked their survey or had their mortgage approved. It’s a character property and you’d be bloody stupid not to have a survey (even though we know the property is fine). This was very concerning because, when we had the survey on the house we’re buying, there was a six week lead time. After a few weeks of the agent chasing them and them dicking about, they said that they didn’t want a survey and their mortgage was approved. We thought they were stupid as hell not to have a survey but it’s their choice.

They’ve been pushing for a very quick move and this has mostly been held up by searches and the solicitors. We were due to exchange tomorrow and complete on Friday. As such, we spent the bank holiday moving all our possessions into a storage unit (we have a toddler and a newborn and are now living off a few items we can fit into just our car). We’ve got DS booked into a new nursery from Monday and DH has a new job near the new house (this is two hours from our current house). Obviously our risk but it’s not physically possible for us to have moved out on time with a short turnaround between exchange and completion - especially with DH and I both working full time.

Our agent phoned this morning to say that they’ve changed their mind and want a survey. We’ve told the agent that they had their chance and there’s no way. Even if it’s quicker to let them have their survey than find a new buyer, I no longer trust them not to fuck us around at every stage. We’re not reducing the price so the survey won’t help them anyway.

AIBU to say no to the survey (and curse them to hell for good measure)?

OP posts:
Grrrrdarling · 02/09/2022 10:41

AppleWin · 31/08/2022 09:41

We put our house on the market in March. On the first day of viewings we had multiple offers. We went with a particular couple (even though their offer wasn’t the highest) because the agent stressed that they were very proceedable and had a high deposit so wouldn’t have any hiccoughs with their mortgage - and also because they weren’t a landlord.

In July, they still hadn’t booked their survey or had their mortgage approved. It’s a character property and you’d be bloody stupid not to have a survey (even though we know the property is fine). This was very concerning because, when we had the survey on the house we’re buying, there was a six week lead time. After a few weeks of the agent chasing them and them dicking about, they said that they didn’t want a survey and their mortgage was approved. We thought they were stupid as hell not to have a survey but it’s their choice.

They’ve been pushing for a very quick move and this has mostly been held up by searches and the solicitors. We were due to exchange tomorrow and complete on Friday. As such, we spent the bank holiday moving all our possessions into a storage unit (we have a toddler and a newborn and are now living off a few items we can fit into just our car). We’ve got DS booked into a new nursery from Monday and DH has a new job near the new house (this is two hours from our current house). Obviously our risk but it’s not physically possible for us to have moved out on time with a short turnaround between exchange and completion - especially with DH and I both working full time.

Our agent phoned this morning to say that they’ve changed their mind and want a survey. We’ve told the agent that they had their chance and there’s no way. Even if it’s quicker to let them have their survey than find a new buyer, I no longer trust them not to fuck us around at every stage. We’re not reducing the price so the survey won’t help them anyway.

AIBU to say no to the survey (and curse them to hell for good measure)?

  1. Agree to the survey but add that as the value of your property has increased while they have been dicking around you will be upping your asking price, if you can do that.

  2. Just say no & put property back on market at the increased value.

LMCOA · 02/09/2022 10:41

I'm interested to know how this pans out.

MMM68 · 02/09/2022 11:59

Buying and selling is horrendous. I agree give them the 2 options. Just found out after 20weeks the property I am buying has Cladding issues have spent too much to pull out.

whynotwhatknot · 02/09/2022 12:59

the law needs t changein england its ridiculous that people can change their minds waste peoples money and time and adjust the price- we need to be like scotland

WickedStepmomNOT · 02/09/2022 13:44

MMM68 · 02/09/2022 11:59

Buying and selling is horrendous. I agree give them the 2 options. Just found out after 20weeks the property I am buying has Cladding issues have spent too much to pull out.

Cladding issues before you buy are such a red flag, it will only get worse, my recommendation is to forget what you've already spent and pull out now.

I'd also be talking to EA about why this wasn't flagged before you started the buying process.

WickedStepmomNOT · 02/09/2022 13:59

whynotwhatknot · 02/09/2022 12:59

the law needs t changein england its ridiculous that people can change their minds waste peoples money and time and adjust the price- we need to be like scotland

Absolutely agree with this! When an offer's made and accepted, that should be it. I'm selling a small property I inherited at auction: took forever to get rid of problem tenant - didn't pay for almost a year, trashed the place, had to go the full court - bailiff - eviction route - so I'm going the auction route. When the hammer goes down, that's it. They have to put down 10% immediately and if for some reason can't pay after 28days, I get the 10% less auction costs, and back it goes up again.

No way am I renting it out. The eviction of the deadbeat tenant cost thousands, reckon it contributed to my auntie's death, all the worry and stress. That was her pension, she wasn't a rich evil landlord, she downsized selling the family home when my great uncle died, and was persuaded by her solicitor to buy a small sheltered housing unit to live in, and a small flat to rent out for her monthly income. What a mistake! Had no children, only two of us great nephew and niece so he got the S/H unit and I got the flat. What a palaver - the lettings agents were useless, obviously didn't check tenant history properly, I feel sure she's done this before as she knew her rights and spun things out, missed court appearances, weeks to reset etc - at the end of all this eviction procedure thousands and thousands will have been swallowed up by solicitors and court costs so no way am I going to deal with problem buyers too.

Poor dear Auntie Maude didn't deserve all that worry in her final months. Auction it is - why doesn't England follow Scottish law? Save all these horrible time-wasters.

Midpmcoffee · 02/09/2022 15:05

WickedStepmomNOT · 02/09/2022 13:59

Absolutely agree with this! When an offer's made and accepted, that should be it. I'm selling a small property I inherited at auction: took forever to get rid of problem tenant - didn't pay for almost a year, trashed the place, had to go the full court - bailiff - eviction route - so I'm going the auction route. When the hammer goes down, that's it. They have to put down 10% immediately and if for some reason can't pay after 28days, I get the 10% less auction costs, and back it goes up again.

No way am I renting it out. The eviction of the deadbeat tenant cost thousands, reckon it contributed to my auntie's death, all the worry and stress. That was her pension, she wasn't a rich evil landlord, she downsized selling the family home when my great uncle died, and was persuaded by her solicitor to buy a small sheltered housing unit to live in, and a small flat to rent out for her monthly income. What a mistake! Had no children, only two of us great nephew and niece so he got the S/H unit and I got the flat. What a palaver - the lettings agents were useless, obviously didn't check tenant history properly, I feel sure she's done this before as she knew her rights and spun things out, missed court appearances, weeks to reset etc - at the end of all this eviction procedure thousands and thousands will have been swallowed up by solicitors and court costs so no way am I going to deal with problem buyers too.

Poor dear Auntie Maude didn't deserve all that worry in her final months. Auction it is - why doesn't England follow Scottish law? Save all these horrible time-wasters.

Show quote history

Probably me

But I am very confused by this post!

SavBbunny · 02/09/2022 16:01

@AppleWin I thought you might enjoy this op. Not only was I asked for the additional aforementioned £50k today but another £25k on top of that. I am fuming. Apparently new interest.
Lying, thieving wozerks.
How's your deal going?

Emotionalsupportviper · 02/09/2022 16:16

Rosscameasdoody · 02/09/2022 08:52

A lot of people saying the market is slowing. I guess it depends on where you live. We’re in the north west and locally nothing is staying up for sale more than a couple of weeks before being snapped up. My SIL passed away a couple of months ago and probate ended at the beginning of last week so the EA put up the sale board. We had three offers by the end of the week and the sale is now proceeding.

Show quote history

Same here in the NE. many properties don't even make it to the estate agents ads - word of mouth gets round and buyers are banging on doors.

KilledByWitches · 02/09/2022 17:12

SavBbunny · 02/09/2022 16:01

@AppleWin I thought you might enjoy this op. Not only was I asked for the additional aforementioned £50k today but another £25k on top of that. I am fuming. Apparently new interest.
Lying, thieving wozerks.
How's your deal going?

I think I’d agree, string them along until the day of exchange and then tell them where to stick it.

sue20 · 04/09/2022 02:20

AppleWin · 31/08/2022 10:32

Haha, they could try but our house value has increased since March.

Show quote history

Well seize your chance to re advertise at higher price.

sue20 · 04/09/2022 02:46

Midpmcoffee · 02/09/2022 09:35

The thing is - we all know that before contracts can be exchanged, you (and your solicitor) need to be sure that you are happy to buy the property at the price that has been agreed. This means it cannot happen until the necessary searches and surveys have taken place and any questions or queries that may have arisen as a result have been resolved.

So whilst they have left it late to ask for a survey, it is totally their prerogative and right to do this. And so seems very very risky to have thrown yourself in to new nursery and a new job two hours away before exchange. Not just risky. Utterly baffling actually.

Yes I would have thought you do all this after exchange

SavBbunny · 04/09/2022 08:54

@KilledByWitches I told them to stick it yesterday.
I am looking at something 4 miles further out in our old village and has everything I need. Luckily I don't need schools anymore but it has good catchment if we sell. I feel marvellous for saying 'enough'. Sometimes you know you are being shafted.

LowDownn · 04/09/2022 13:23

sue20 · 04/09/2022 02:46

Yes I would have thought you do all this after exchange

Show quote history

In the one day before exchange and completion?

whynotwhatknot · 04/09/2022 18:48

WickedStepmomNOT · 02/09/2022 13:59

Absolutely agree with this! When an offer's made and accepted, that should be it. I'm selling a small property I inherited at auction: took forever to get rid of problem tenant - didn't pay for almost a year, trashed the place, had to go the full court - bailiff - eviction route - so I'm going the auction route. When the hammer goes down, that's it. They have to put down 10% immediately and if for some reason can't pay after 28days, I get the 10% less auction costs, and back it goes up again.

No way am I renting it out. The eviction of the deadbeat tenant cost thousands, reckon it contributed to my auntie's death, all the worry and stress. That was her pension, she wasn't a rich evil landlord, she downsized selling the family home when my great uncle died, and was persuaded by her solicitor to buy a small sheltered housing unit to live in, and a small flat to rent out for her monthly income. What a mistake! Had no children, only two of us great nephew and niece so he got the S/H unit and I got the flat. What a palaver - the lettings agents were useless, obviously didn't check tenant history properly, I feel sure she's done this before as she knew her rights and spun things out, missed court appearances, weeks to reset etc - at the end of all this eviction procedure thousands and thousands will have been swallowed up by solicitors and court costs so no way am I going to deal with problem buyers too.

Poor dear Auntie Maude didn't deserve all that worry in her final months. Auction it is - why doesn't England follow Scottish law? Save all these horrible time-wasters.

Show quote history

i dont blame you i'll prob end up doing this one day less hassle

Ginganinjanoodle · 06/09/2022 10:27

So….. what happened?? Did they complete? xx

Star81 · 06/09/2022 11:36

A few of you saying you wish it was more like the Scottish system which I get but house sales can still collapse here !

Once an offer is accepted that is not definite deal done as you then have to ‘conclude missives’ before the deal is pretty much watertight. If anyone pulls out after this is done then they are legal / monetary complications.

Missives used to be concluded very quickly up here after offer was submitted but this is not so much the case anymore. and this is where the problem lies.

We had very interested buyers, sent parents over to see house, emails re furniture sizes, window locks to get insurance etc. told missives would he concluded on the Monday and instead they pulled out leaving us with a nearly £2000 legal bill for the house sale and the purchase of our new one 4 weeks before moving.

I think our system is better in some ways but not as amazing as some seem to think .

Lb482 · 06/09/2022 11:47

@AppleWin if I were you I would do the BTL. Property is a better investment than stock market or cash right now and will probably ride out this economic situation better. If you’ve done the property up there should be little to manage in terms of issues and you should find good tenants. You can fix a mortgage for say 2 years and then decide to sell then if need be and you will still get a refund then on your second home stamp duty.

Being a landlord you should not see as an issue. Due to tax changes there are less rented properties about now and many people want or need to rent. I have friends who desperately need to find new rented property and there isn’t the availability so you are actually doing a good thing if you did. It’s the landlords who turn family homes into student property that are the biggest issue IMHO…

and then you can move quickly and stick two fingers up at these time wasters 😂

gatehouseoffleet · 06/09/2022 12:33

LowDownn · 04/09/2022 13:23

In the one day before exchange and completion?

Show quote history

There used to be a sensible amount of time between exchange and completion. Kirstie Allsopp was tweeting about it yesterday/today! Two weeks is a sensible amount of time so you can arrange removers etc. But there seems to be a push to doing the two at the same time, which creates even more stress!

Blossomtoes · 06/09/2022 12:56

I exchanged and completed on the same day in 1991. It’s always been a thing.

Mildura · 06/09/2022 13:15

Blossomtoes · 06/09/2022 12:56

I exchanged and completed on the same day in 1991. It’s always been a thing.

It only really works if the buyer has no related sale and the property being purchased is vacant.

Otherwise it remains rather rare.

ThisIsAddiction · 06/09/2022 13:37

Mildura · 06/09/2022 13:15

It only really works if the buyer has no related sale and the property being purchased is vacant.

Otherwise it remains rather rare.

Show quote history

Indeed.
We were in exactly that situation and both us and the seller had pushed for same day exchange completion, but even then it wasn't possible due to something or other and took about a week.

dreamingofsun · 06/09/2022 13:56

letting properties is not for the faint hearted, despite what people say on this thread. We have had 2 bad tenants, despite good references. One just didnt want to pay any rent, and the other trashed the place and didnt pay rent. Managed to do an attachment order to the first (wow there was a long list of creditors on the list for her) and with the other it would have been cheaper and a lot less hassle to leave the place empty for 18 months. Make sure you investigate the tax implications and there are more and more regulations every year that you have to jump through.

Swimbler · 06/09/2022 14:00

Any update OP?

Titsflyingsouth · 06/09/2022 14:07

They sound horrendous, OP. Not sure if they are disorganised and scatty or trying to play you. Either way, if you are in a position where you can walk away, it might well be easier. I can easily see a scenario where the survey starts a whole new conversation about trying to haggle down the price. And they've had months to get their act together.