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Original poster

Buyers asking for money post-completion

175 replies

Nenanena · 17/11/2023 10:14

I know this is unreasonable really but I am so outraged I just wondered if anyone else had experienced this? A few weeks after completion our buyers had an issue with the heating and have asked us to foot the bill (a few hundred quid) as apparently they were told that the issue would have occurred while we still lived there (but we hadn’t had the heating on as it was summer so didn’t realise). Our solicitor told us of course we didn’t have to pay and we’ve refused but I can’t believe the cheek
of it!! Where would it end otherwise?! And why on earth did their solicitor not tell them they were being ridiculous?

OP posts:
CatonmyKeyboard · 17/11/2023 11:09

JustEatTheOneInTheBallPit · 17/11/2023 10:52

I should add, I didn’t land in the dining room. Sort of hanging half-through it. Naked. Just for the visuals.

But on the plus side, you can dine out for life on the tale!

VickyEadieofThigh · 17/11/2023 11:10

JustEatTheOneInTheBallPit · 17/11/2023 10:51

I love @OldieButBaddie’s story!

To the OP, it’s sold-as-seen. My shower came through the dining room ceiling, with me in it… 5 days after completion. I broke my arm and it caused untold damage. Fortunately none of my children were sitting at the table at the time!

It was no longer the vendor’s problem… even though it was directly their fault!!

BUT, we did successfully receive some compensation from our survey company. We had paid for the most thorough survey and we had paid the extra 5% to “insure” certain aspects of it. (Not including electricity). They might have some luck there. Not your responsibility to tell them this though. Don’t even engage. They’re being unreasonable.

We paid for the big survey for current house and it came through with a range of "Ooh, that's a problem!" issues that our builder friend said were utter nonsense.

The survey did NOT pick up the real issues...

Elastica23 · 17/11/2023 11:20

Their house now, their problem.

Kayte198999 · 17/11/2023 11:22

Absolutely not your problem, everybody buys houses as seen and there is no way of proving how long the problem has been there. As a buyer you take the risk and have to plan that there were broken things you didn't notice. Not sure why their solicitor didn't tell them that it's not a new build and you are not providing a warranty.

MaggieFS · 17/11/2023 11:27

As long as you didn't lie on any paper work, then it's their problem.

But as is often said on mn, if you don't ask you don't get. They had nothing to lose by asking, so why not!

Illegallyblonder · 17/11/2023 11:27

Ignore them, you've completed, not your problem.

Changingplace · 17/11/2023 11:33

OldieButBaddie · 17/11/2023 10:43

We had this happen. We sold our house and at the last minute (the day before exchange) the purchasers insisted that the EA had said the white goods were included (which they hadn't and they weren't on the particulars). So it was give in or they would pull out so we gave in, 8k's worth of appliances ffs.

As a result we didn't remove our tumble dryer from the cupboard in the bathroom, had we done so we might have seen that the megaflow tank had corroded. About 2 months after they moved in it caved in and caused the ceiling to fall in in the kitchen and water damage. They called and insisted we pay to fix it... 8k. We said well we are terribly sorry for you, however we couldn't have known as we didn't pull the tumble dryer out as you insisted it was included

Karma 😁

Lol serves them bloody right! I agree, perfect karma :)

waterrat · 17/11/2023 11:34

Buyer beware - as they say. He had the lengthy buying process to assess condition - the house is now his and his only! Absolutely nothing to do with you anymore.

AgnesX · 17/11/2023 11:39

When we sold, nearly 20 years ago, a month's "warranty" was part of the deal. Fortunately nothing broke, then again it was only 3 years old. The warranty didn't cover the neighbours. 🥴

nanodyne · 17/11/2023 11:45

I don't think it's particularly cheeky to ask, you sold them a house with dodgy central heating and didn't disclose. You're not obliged to pay them anything, but I'd ask in the same situation to be honest. There should be much stricter regulations around disclosures and remedial action for property sales in England, it's a total wild west and getting a survey doesn't guarantee anything.

WickedSerious · 17/11/2023 11:47

VickyEadieofThigh · 17/11/2023 11:10

We paid for the big survey for current house and it came through with a range of "Ooh, that's a problem!" issues that our builder friend said were utter nonsense.

The survey did NOT pick up the real issues...

Show quote history

Our former next door neighbour paid for a survey that missed thirty five grand's worth of issues that the previous owners had gone to great lengths to disguise.

tenbob · 17/11/2023 11:47

Our next door neighbours managed to get loads off the asking price when they bought their house because of damp caused by a leaking drain in their front garden

A few weeks after moving in, they approached us and demanded several thousand from us for their damp work, with the logic that they are down hill from us so rain travels from our front garden onto their front garden and into the leaking drain, so we are partially responsible for the damp

If that wasn’t batshit enough, they couldn’t comprehend that the sizeable amount they got off the asking price had already ‘paid’ for this repair.

At least they didn’t go after the seller!

Densol57 · 17/11/2023 11:52

I bought one of my rentals. In the course of doing it up to let, the airing cupboard immersion heater overheated the water and burst the tank and I had all those repairs ( insurance ) plus replaced the boiler etc,
Never dreamed of moaning and claiming off the seller !

Sparehair · 17/11/2023 11:58

I always assume that everything is going to break or be borderline condemned when I buy a house, especially the boiler and the integrated appliances.

PirateQueeny · 17/11/2023 11:59

Just ignore. They bought the house as seen. When we bought our first house it needed a full rewire 2 weeks after moving in and that definitely was a problem when when the old owner lived there. It never even crossed my mind to send the old owner the £4k bill.

Stroopwaffels · 17/11/2023 12:00

I think that you should have ensured that the boiler/heating was working on the day of completion, @Nenanena. Even if it was the middle of summer, whack it on for 10 minutes to make sure it's all working. (Assuming not a combi boiler which gives you hot water year round even when the heating not on). That way you have proof that all was fine at the point of exchange.

From the buyers' point of view, they have no proof that the heating was working when they moved in. You could also argue they should have tested the heating as soon as they moved in to check it was working and raised it as a problem immediately.

Titusgroan · 17/11/2023 12:02

A property is bought sight as seen.
It is up to the buyers to be fully aware of the condition of the property.
They are very cheeky.
Just ignore them.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 17/11/2023 12:04

EA/Surveys always specify that services aren’t tested. You buy as seen

True - which is why many of us pay the professionals to check out the big expense items such as gas/plumbing, electrics, roof, etc.

IME there's little point in relying on surveyors since they don't test services anyway and employ too many get-outs, but if the buyers have neglected to do any of these then it's on them

TripleDaisySummer · 17/11/2023 12:14

We paid for the big survey for current house and it came through with a range of "Ooh, that's a problem!" issues that our builder friend said were utter nonsense.

The survey did NOT pick up the real issues...

We paid a lot of money for a survey with first house purchase and we had this - major problems missed but minor not real problems listed. And 6 more expensive specialist survey suggested in our survey all for small fortune.

We did basic mortgage one for here and haven't had any real issues at all.

ChocolateCinderToffee · 17/11/2023 12:17

Dead cheeky. My sellers must have known about the leached double glazing and the electrics that needed an overhaul but said nothing. I just paid to sort them.

HappyHamsters · 17/11/2023 12:17

Don't estate agents usually add the clause not tested in their particulars

FrenchandSaunders · 17/11/2023 12:18

Not your problem OP, CFs.

I sold a car a few years ago with a new MOT ..... received a text a year later from the buyer saying it had failed and accusing me of obtaining a dodgy MOT!

IslandsInTheSunshine · 17/11/2023 12:18

They should have asked you to show a service history for your boiler and CH.
If they didn't, or you don't have one, the onus is on them, as they took the risk.

Without knowing how old your house is, a vendor should be asking questions about the age of the boiler, radiators, and any repairs (or not) done.

YBH a few hundred pounds for repairs is nothing compared to the costs of buying a house. It can't be a massive issue as many plumbers charge close to £100 an hour.

IslandsInTheSunshine · 17/11/2023 12:19

HappyHamsters · 17/11/2023 12:17

Don't estate agents usually add the clause not tested in their particulars

Yes but that's not the point really.
Solicitors take over and handle the sales, not EAs.

Without checks, surveys (which may test the heating or not) and service history, the buyers are stuffed.

Dindundundundeeer · 17/11/2023 12:20

ShinyPebble32 · 17/11/2023 11:04

You wish you’d kept his family heirlooms as your own and you’re calling HIM a CF? 😬

Show quote history

Legally they belonged to her!