Urgent help/advice needed re house purchase.

[OsbegaEthelwulf]

WE have bought our next house; vendor had to do certain building works to make them legal and his ex wife was supposed to share costs. He carried out the works (can't say more than that) and we have signed contracts. Ex wife now says she won't give her share of the works to ex husband and in a fit of pique he says he is going to remove the item as he can resell it. He doesn't get any money from sale of house as house is her divorce settlement but agreed to carry out the works in order to remove last link to her as long as she paid half of it. Doesn't seem to care either way now

I am in a panic; we were supposed to complete Monday and now he is saying it can't proceed until his ex wife coughs up. We have shelled out so much money for solicitors, searches on our house, auction fees to sell our house, fees to arrange mortage etc and I feel like screaming. DH is stressed to death and we are shouting at each other and our poor children.

What on earth can we do? I'm shaking and crying and feel on the edge of utter panic

You should talk to your solicitor. You have signed a contract and as the seller has now refused to do the work as agreed you should claim your costs if he pulls out of completing on the contract.

These costs may include things like renting a house to live in while the work is carried out.

How much money are you talking about? Can you absorb any of it? Can the estate agent drop his fees? Can the vendor absorb any? What if you reduced the purchase price by the amount needed?

However, if you have already exchanged, things are, in theory, more clear cut. If vendor is no longer in a position to sell after exchange, I believe he could be liable for at least some of your expenses. You need to talk to your solicitor and work out what your options are.

Could you pay her half? Galling to say the least, but at least would mean all the other mean you have spent doesn't go to waste.

Oh and if your solicitr can talk to his solictor and encourage the vendor to see sense it would help. The vendor has a claim against his wife - not you.

Oh blimey - as others have said, have you merely signed contracts or have contracts been exchanged. If it's any comfort, I suspect this is all a big tantrum and one of them will come to their senses over the weekend when they realise what is at stake. Stay strong .

If you have exchanged contracts, how can he refuse to sell? It will cost him dear every day he delays, as I assume you have a penalty rate of interest in the contract?

I recommend your solicitor shouts a lot at his solicitor first thing Monday. It is in his client's interests to complete and not be a complete wanker observe his legal obligations.

If contracts are signed but not exchanged, then it is a mess - how much money is at stake here?

I agree with lalalonglegs though - sounds like the last gasp of a bitter divorce. ex wife should realise she's better off that he sells than not...

bit of an update. Estate agent and their solicitors have all spoken to them ...lots of heated exchanges etc... and the wife has now instructed her solicitor to pay the ex husband of of sale proceedings. EA said he wanted to bang their heads together- didn't dare tell him what me and dh wanted to do to them (dh says "shoot them with shit from a big, shiney shit shooter")

Have now calmed down somewhat- spent most of the weekend on the lav and when I wasn't on the lav I was drinking strong liquor

Thanks all for advice