Sibling buying out inherited property

Mepop · 2025-04-07T21:19:45+00:00

My last living parent died 18 months ago leaving everything jointly to myself and my sibling. It took a year for probate to be granted. Most of the inheritance is the house. My sibling has been considering buying my half of the house and finally offered a price a few weeks ago. The price is a lot lower than the price quoted by the estate agents but if we could get it done quickly I would accept and told them this. However my sibling doesn’t have money to buy me out. My sibling spent weeks considering getting a loan before saying it is too expensive and that they need to sell their house first. Their house is currently not in a saleable condition. They are very unreliable and slow about everything. An extremely small decoration project on their house is still underway and was started 4 months ago. It is the kind of thing most people do in a few days. And I am extremely frustrated. We both have mortgages we could pay off with the money. And bills are mounting up. My sibling does not care and points out that if our parent was still alive we would not have the money so they do not care. What can I do? Do I have to just be patient?

Outofthepan · 07/04/2025 22:21

You just need to say no, and that you need to put it on the market

Fluffyholeysocks · 07/04/2025 22:26

Yep, house goes on the market. Sibling is dithering, instruct an estate agent to come and take pictures this week. Otherwise you'll end up in a complicated situation of sibling wanting to move into your parents house while they put their house on the market to give you your share or some other nonsense.

Original poster

Mepop · 07/04/2025 23:15

Fluffyholeysocks · 07/04/2025 22:26

Yep, house goes on the market. Sibling is dithering, instruct an estate agent to come and take pictures this week. Otherwise you'll end up in a complicated situation of sibling wanting to move into your parents house while they put their house on the market to give you your share or some other nonsense.

This has already been suggested by sibling. I said no. But I cannot sell without their consent as it is jointly left to us both.

OP posts:

Fluffyholeysocks · 08/04/2025 08:22

I suspect your sibling is trying to grind you down with his refusal to sell. If he keeps saying no, you will eventually agree to his plans. I'd plough ahead getting an estate agent round. Then present him with the figures. Start clearing the house ready for sale, enquire about putting the house up for auction for a quick sale. Just don't allow him to kick every suggestion into the long grass. He's playing a long game to grind you into submission.

Blackbookofsmiles1 · 08/04/2025 08:25

I would say the price is the price now and as it’s going to take so long will need to be reevaluated every 6 months/annually to allow for house prices growing, as they are still going up in this part of the country. See if that makes them move quicker as they may be thinking the longer they can drag it out the cheaper it will become.

Blackbookofsmiles1 · 08/04/2025 08:27

And you can sell regardless, you will need to go down the avenue of a forced sale via the law, where they have no choice but to sell or pay up. I would start that process now as it does take a while.

stilldazed · 08/04/2025 08:33

Be very very careful here and think of the future. I have the experience of a sibling buying the family home at a discount, which I was not that happy about at the time, but like you, went along with it and thought it would be nice to keep the house in the family. Only for the sibling to resell the property on the open market 2 years later for a massive profit. (like 300k more).

It had a terrible affect on the family, some siblings still aren't speaking...

Outofthepan · 08/04/2025 12:14

Who are the executors? You need legal advice about this

Original poster

Mepop · 14/04/2025 23:49

Outofthepan · 08/04/2025 12:14

Who are the executors? You need legal advice about this

We are the executors. That is part of the issue I wish it was someone independent.

OP posts:

Original poster

Mepop · 14/04/2025 23:49

Blackbookofsmiles1 · 08/04/2025 08:25

I would say the price is the price now and as it’s going to take so long will need to be reevaluated every 6 months/annually to allow for house prices growing, as they are still going up in this part of the country. See if that makes them move quicker as they may be thinking the longer they can drag it out the cheaper it will become.

I was thinking if this. Makes sense to increase price based on the housing index

OP posts:

Original poster

Mepop · 14/04/2025 23:52

Blackbookofsmiles1 · 08/04/2025 08:27

And you can sell regardless, you will need to go down the avenue of a forced sale via the law, where they have no choice but to sell or pay up. I would start that process now as it does take a while.

Yes I think this may be my only option eventually. But I understand it takes a very long time and is super expensive so trying to avoid it if possible. My sibling has made it clear that if it goes on the market they have to agree a sale price (which is true) and that they will not agree to any.

OP posts:

S0j0urn4r · 15/04/2025 00:16

Would it be worth renting it out for now?

Blackcountrychik83 · 15/04/2025 00:23

Sibling is trying to keep kicking the can down the road to grind you down so eventually you will be so desperate to sell youl agree to any offer . Keep pushing back . He can’t buy it any more than you can’t sell it .Stand tough.

MrsPeterHarris · 15/04/2025 00:30

Blackcountrychik83 · 15/04/2025 00:23

Sibling is trying to keep kicking the can down the road to grind you down so eventually you will be so desperate to sell youl agree to any offer . Keep pushing back . He can’t buy it any more than you can’t sell it .Stand tough.

Agree with this & definitely don’t let him move in without buying it first!

As expensive as a forced sale might be, I’d start the process now as you’ll likely need to do it eventually & you’ll be much further down the road, so might as well start now.

BruFord · 15/04/2025 03:57

stilldazed · 08/04/2025 08:33

Be very very careful here and think of the future. I have the experience of a sibling buying the family home at a discount, which I was not that happy about at the time, but like you, went along with it and thought it would be nice to keep the house in the family. Only for the sibling to resell the property on the open market 2 years later for a massive profit. (like 300k more).

It had a terrible affect on the family, some siblings still aren't speaking...

Listen to @stilldazed’s warning, @Mepop, there’s a real possibility that you’ll be well and truly ripped off.

Your parents wanted you both to benefit from the house 50/50, that’s why they left it that way, They didn’t want you to sell your share to your sibling at a discount, they wanted you each to have 50% of its value.

Tell your sibling that’s what’s going to happen, no discounts or messing around, Presumably you’ve had at least three valuations-they either buy you out for 50% of the value or it goes on the market soon. Tell them they if you have to take steps to force a sale, you will.

femfemlicious · 15/04/2025 04:27

Mepop · 14/04/2025 23:52

Yes I think this may be my only option eventually. But I understand it takes a very long time and is super expensive so trying to avoid it if possible. My sibling has made it clear that if it goes on the market they have to agree a sale price (which is true) and that they will not agree to any.

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Your sibling is playing hardball with you so it's time to play hardball back. Get in 3 estate agents to value it and set the price at the average. Ask for 20k less that the price to be "reasonable ". Its time to start putting everything in writing let them know if they don't agree, you will be going to court and they will have to pay costs if they lose which they most likely will because they are being unreasonable. He is banking on the fact that you won't want to go to court. Show them you are ready to go to court!

Outofthepan · 15/04/2025 07:42

Mepop · 14/04/2025 23:49

We are the executors. That is part of the issue I wish it was someone independent.

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I think you need legal advice as a matter of urgency

PermanentTemporary · 15/04/2025 07:45

Agree re legal advice. I would now just say no to anything except sale on the open market.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 15/04/2025 08:30

Agree to put the house on the market but keep it available for sibling to buy in case they get their act together

MissHollysDolly · 15/04/2025 08:41

Similar situation happened here. You need a rics certified valuation and the house should be sold at that price - it’ll be valued at that for iht anyway. But honestly, this all sounds like a massive faff. House should go on the market while your sibling gets their stuff in order.

Sunwarddangledhardens · 15/04/2025 08:42

Depending on your relationship, and how much you want to preserve it, could you suggest that you get a handyman/builder in to sort out your sibling’s house ready for sale? You could offer to cover some of the cost as a means to an end (getting things moving). It might work out cheaper in the long run than your continued mortgage costs etc.

BruFord · 15/04/2025 16:39

@Sunwarddangledhardens The OP doesn’t really need to do anything to preserve the relationship though, does she? The sibling is the one making demands of her. He needs to consider whether his actions are damaging their relationship tbh.

Sunwarddangledhardens · 15/04/2025 17:25

BruFord · 15/04/2025 16:39

@Sunwarddangledhardens The OP doesn’t really need to do anything to preserve the relationship though, does she? The sibling is the one making demands of her. He needs to consider whether his actions are damaging their relationship tbh.

Well obviously. But in these situations sometimes expediency trumps the rights and wrongs. The question is whether the OP wants to expend energy and time waiting for the sibling to see the error of their ways (good luck), or whether she wants to get as quickly as possible to her desired outcome. Before she goes nuclear and does something likely to make them less co-operative, there might be a way to move forward at less cost. She can hold him to account for his behaviour when she’s mortgage free.

MikeRafone · 16/04/2025 07:44

you have two choices

rent the property out - work will no doubt be needed to make rental safe

or sell

the former with a wishy washy sibling seems a no go

so there does need to be a time frame on the second home - as you'll start incurring council tax on an empty property and that is often double the tax on an occupied property.

Does your sibling realise the expense of running this second home?

MikeRafone · 16/04/2025 07:46

BruFord · 15/04/2025 03:57

Listen to @stilldazed’s warning, @Mepop, there’s a real possibility that you’ll be well and truly ripped off.

Your parents wanted you both to benefit from the house 50/50, that’s why they left it that way, They didn’t want you to sell your share to your sibling at a discount, they wanted you each to have 50% of its value.

Tell your sibling that’s what’s going to happen, no discounts or messing around, Presumably you’ve had at least three valuations-they either buy you out for 50% of the value or it goes on the market soon. Tell them they if you have to take steps to force a sale, you will.

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you can put a clause in - with the help of a solicitor to prevent this happening. If the house is then sold at a future profit within 5 years, the other sibling gets a percentage - say 40%