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AIBU?

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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:
Blossomtoes · 01/09/2022 18:36

They can’t have a mortgage without a survey??

They can. Lenders just want to know the house exists and they do a desktop search on comparable recently sold properties for value.

Felixfriend · 01/09/2022 18:37

How did today go @AppleWin ? Hope you exchanged x

BaggaChip · 01/09/2022 18:37

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Go on then, why didn’t you book a survey and how is that the estate agents fault?

Albanyriver · 01/09/2022 18:39

Check for a “willing ready and able buyer” clause. They’ve found you one of those….could mean you have to pay the EA fees

fussyhousewife · 01/09/2022 18:48

Before you tell your buyer to do one - if he/she is purchasing with a mortgage then it is unlikely the Mortgage Company will allow completion without a survey. If buyer is using cash and no mortgage then that is a different story. Two properties near me got to exchange of contracts and it was then it was discovered by the Mortgage Companies Solicitors that there was no survey. You need to appreciate Mortgage is a loan on the property so unfortunately you will have to either allow the survey or put property back on the market. Both properties near me did eventually go to completion but there was a 4-6 week delay.

Midpmcoffee · 01/09/2022 18:51

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Adult -up

and take this off a chat forum and either pm or engage via your solicitor

Housebuyer22 · 01/09/2022 18:51

Our mortgage provider (big high street) didn’t need a survey (we did) - they did a basic house valuation and we do not need to have life insurance (even though we do) for the property we are currently buying, because of our large deposit and our salaries.

Isahlo · 01/09/2022 18:52

Whammyyammy · 31/08/2022 09:52

Give them two choices;

  1. Exchange and complete without survey
  2. You'll relist property

If they're this bad already i imagine they're the type to reduce offer before exchange anyway

This!

SavBbunny · 01/09/2022 18:54

@OddElly
Not you I think. Bedfordshire.

IreneGoodnight · 01/09/2022 19:01

And that's your reward for doing the decent thing!

CaptainMum · 01/09/2022 19:01

I hope the new agent has taken beautiful pictures and it's going back on the market. What time wasters and chancers. A buy to let mortgage could serve you well financially too though, as an accidental landlord.

OddElly · 01/09/2022 19:03

Ah, good. Thanks for spotting.

Yogalola · 01/09/2022 19:04

I’ve had buyers like that in the past , and it was always a money issue. One house mortgage lenders turned them down and then had to find another lender which they did eventually. So delays added to the stress, especially as they were the ones wanting a quick exchange and completion. Some change their minds and go for a last minute survey then pull out. Be very wary, get your Estate agent to sort out what’s going on as they will be wanting commission so make agents work for their money. Good luck 🤞

GingerAlison · 01/09/2022 19:05

Excellent call

HintofVintagePink · 01/09/2022 19:10

PremiumPiglet · 01/09/2022 11:20

You do to a certain extent
Stamp Duty has to be paid within 30 days of completion, not on the actual day.

Show quote history

Wrong.

It’s 14 days and the SDLT you owe is calculated on the position you were in on the day you purchased the second home. It isn’t a 14 day grace period to sell the first home.

You have to pay the extra SDLT and then have 3 years to sell the first home and reclaim the surcharge.

OddElly · 01/09/2022 19:12

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This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Mammyofonlyone · 01/09/2022 19:13

Sorry I've just seen you are in Beds.

teagirl27 · 01/09/2022 19:22

I haven't RTFT but could you show them your survey? They couldn't rely on it (ie sue the surveyor if wrong) but it would give them peace of mind that at the time you bought it, it was a sound property. I suppose it depends on how long ago you bought it, but if you decided you did want to see it through for the sake of the arrangements you've already put in place, it's an option.

Sarahlou2022 · 01/09/2022 19:28

Not unreasonable at all! I would also be tempted to list with another agent as your agents pushed you to that buyer who have then been a nightmare!! Good luck 😬

BooneyBeautiful · 01/09/2022 19:28

ScotsWhaHae77 · 31/08/2022 10:51

How did they get the mortgage without the survey?

I think many lenders now just do online surveys. That's what happened when my dd bought her house just after the first lockdown.

CactusBlossom · 01/09/2022 19:35

I'd say relist. They are mucking around. It's certainly not worth delaying for a homebuyer survey (the property has the right number of walls and a roof: sorted).

"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."

Well they weren't proceedable, were they? I'd be very tempted to tell the EA to eff off too... unless there is anyone else from the initial viewings who might still be interested? As it has been so long since it was initially listed, you could certainly instruct the EA to list as "unexpectedly back on the market".

Rosscameasdoody · 01/09/2022 19:42

Albanyriver · 01/09/2022 18:39

Check for a “willing ready and able buyer” clause. They’ve found you one of those….could mean you have to pay the EA fees

Nope - not unless they’ve paid the asking price.

Rosscameasdoody · 01/09/2022 19:47

fussyhousewife · 01/09/2022 18:48

Before you tell your buyer to do one - if he/she is purchasing with a mortgage then it is unlikely the Mortgage Company will allow completion without a survey. If buyer is using cash and no mortgage then that is a different story. Two properties near me got to exchange of contracts and it was then it was discovered by the Mortgage Companies Solicitors that there was no survey. You need to appreciate Mortgage is a loan on the property so unfortunately you will have to either allow the survey or put property back on the market. Both properties near me did eventually go to completion but there was a 4-6 week delay.

RTFT. The mortgage company did a desktop survey and approved the mortgage based on that. So the OP doesn’t have to allow anything. The buyer wants their own survey even though the mortgage has already been approved on the basis of the online survey. The only reason for this is that they’re hoping to be able to negotiate a reduction based on the results.

JimTheShit · 01/09/2022 20:01

If your house has increased since March, I'd relist with a different agent.
It would be a different story if it had decreased or if they were paying over the odds anyway. These buyers sound painful and given they've thought nothing of messing you around, I wouldn't feel any concern about doing the same to them. You're not a charity either.

Maryminx · 01/09/2022 20:47

Do not proceed with this couple!

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