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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should I tell someone?

50 replies

ForZingyHare · 17/03/2024 15:29

My friend found out last year the house she’d just bought had 2 serious structural issues and had quotes of over £80k to make safe. She had no work done and has just secured a cash sale with a vulnerable grieving woman trying to start a new life with money left to her, who isn’t having a survey.
My friend just leaves chaos behind her always but AIBU to consider telling the estate agent to warn their client about the problems, or should I just mind my own business?

OP posts:
Badgerandfox227 · 17/03/2024 15:30

I feel that would have to let them
know, discretely of course

Aquamarine1029 · 17/03/2024 15:31

I would tell them and then I stop being friends with this terrible woman.

Kelly51 · 17/03/2024 15:31

Your friend is dishonest but the buyer is foolish not to have a survey.

BreakfastAtMimis · 17/03/2024 15:32

Surely it's buyer beware? If the woman is not having a survey done, more fool her. None of your business.

Mumoftwo1312 · 17/03/2024 15:33

The buyer must have a survey.

The estate agent hasn't insisted the woman have a survey; they won't be telling her about the structural faults. They're dishonest as well and just want to make the sale

Ilikewinter · 17/03/2024 15:34

The estate agent is working for your friend, not the purchaser so I doubt they will pass on any concerns to her.

User11223344 · 17/03/2024 15:34

I would say something through a third party or anonymous tip off to stop the sale going through

SocksAndTheCity · 17/03/2024 15:35

She has no idea whether the 'vulnerable, grieving woman' is telling the truth either; I sold a flat cheaply to a cash buyer who gave me a very similar sob story only to see it tarted up a bit and back on the market some four months later at almost double the price.

I'd stay out of it either way, since it's nothing to do with me. If a buyer doesn't have a survey then they have nobody to blame but themselves.

opentoadvice88 · 17/03/2024 15:37

How do you have so many details about the new buyer?

RamblingAroundTheInternet · 17/03/2024 15:40

So your friend was in a similar position to her buyer. She bought a house with serious structural defects that weren’t declared and can’t afford to fix them. No wonder she wants to offload it. Assume she didn’t have a survey either?

Some friend you are! Surely you should be looking out for her over some random person you’ve never met?

Movinghouseatlast · 17/03/2024 15:41

Yes, I would tell. If she actually knows about these issues and it's in writing that is morally reprehensible. I have seen very recently people have their lives ruined because of something similar.

The estate agent has a duty to pass on any issues of they know about them.

There are lots of reasons people don't have surveys. I once didn't have a survey because the estate agent told me they had seen a recent survey on the house and it was clear. I was totally stupid but I believed him because the whole story was totally plausible.

Ilikewinter · 17/03/2024 16:13

The estate agent has a duty to pass on any issues of they know about them.

But the seller hasnt informed the estate agent of any structural issues, and if they received a phone call from some random unknown member of the public, I would assume the EAs arent going to take this information as gospel?

Original poster
ForZingyHare · 17/03/2024 17:15

opentoadvice88 · 17/03/2024 15:37

How do you have so many details about the new buyer?

She's taken great delight in telling me all the details, why she's a cash buyer etc

OP posts:
Gingernaut · 17/03/2024 17:17

opentoadvice88 · 17/03/2024 15:37

How do you have so many details about the new buyer?

This

Are you all known to each other?

Original poster
ForZingyHare · 17/03/2024 17:18

RamblingAroundTheInternet · 17/03/2024 15:40

So your friend was in a similar position to her buyer. She bought a house with serious structural defects that weren’t declared and can’t afford to fix them. No wonder she wants to offload it. Assume she didn’t have a survey either?

Some friend you are! Surely you should be looking out for her over some random person you’ve never met?

Not sure it's down to being a friend or not, my friend was advised there might be a problem but chose not to look into it till after the purchase, this buyer is trusting everything she's told. I just wonder whether that's an honest or moral way to do business.

OP posts:
Original poster
ForZingyHare · 17/03/2024 17:19

Movinghouseatlast · 17/03/2024 15:41

Yes, I would tell. If she actually knows about these issues and it's in writing that is morally reprehensible. I have seen very recently people have their lives ruined because of something similar.

The estate agent has a duty to pass on any issues of they know about them.

There are lots of reasons people don't have surveys. I once didn't have a survey because the estate agent told me they had seen a recent survey on the house and it was clear. I was totally stupid but I believed him because the whole story was totally plausible.

I totally agree but she's seems oblivious to the dishonesty and is happily making new plans, leaving all the disaster behind her.

OP posts:
benjoin · 17/03/2024 17:20

All buyers are made aware of their options re surveys. If this buyer chooses not to have one why are you assuming they haven't made an informed decision.

Original poster
ForZingyHare · 17/03/2024 17:21

benjoin · 17/03/2024 17:20

All buyers are made aware of their options re surveys. If this buyer chooses not to have one why are you assuming they haven't made an informed decision.

I don't assume, I just know the house has serious defects.

OP posts:
Original poster
ForZingyHare · 17/03/2024 17:23

Ilikewinter · 17/03/2024 16:13

The estate agent has a duty to pass on any issues of they know about them.

But the seller hasnt informed the estate agent of any structural issues, and if they received a phone call from some random unknown member of the public, I would assume the EAs arent going to take this information as gospel?

That's my thoughts too.

OP posts:
PansyOatZebra · 17/03/2024 19:38

Kelly51 · 17/03/2024 15:31

Your friend is dishonest but the buyer is foolish not to have a survey.

This.

justthecat · 17/03/2024 19:39

We knew of the cowboy builder who installed a stove in our house very badly , had done his own, when his house went up for sale we contacted estate agent and they didn't care.
Id report but I don't know who too

bows101 · 17/03/2024 20:23

Why on earth isn't she having a survey?

I'm not sure if it's a legal requirement to declare if she knows about the work; this could well come back to bite your friend later on if it's found out she did know about the issue.

Mnk711 · 17/03/2024 21:41

What would be better would be to find out who the buyers solicitors are and tell them.

SpringtimeBunny · 17/03/2024 23:45

BreakfastAtMimis · 17/03/2024 15:32

Surely it's buyer beware? If the woman is not having a survey done, more fool her. None of your business.

Don't be so heartless and frankly, cruel! Wow

SpringtimeBunny · 17/03/2024 23:49

@ForZingyHare OP, try to find out who the buyer's solicitors are or better yet, try and tactfully find out who the buyer is. "So what does she do for a living then, your buyer?" "Oh she runs that dog groomers on random street..." Bingo