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Original poster

The couple who bought our house are lying and asking for compensation?

200 replies

KitKat1985 · 30/04/2018 09:44

Hello.

Moved house a couple of weeks ago. Our buyers had been quite hard work all along (being very slow to do everything, holding the whole chain up, and just being a bit 'odd' generally), and we were pleased to have the whole thing over with. They were also quite 'odd' in the fact that they did an initial viewing with me back in August (agent not available) and were only in the house about 10 mins and had a quick look around only. I thought this was fairly standard for an initial viewing and assumed they would come back at some point to do a more detailed viewing when the agent was available, get a survey done etc. However they never in the entire conveyancing process (which was over 6 months) asked to come back for a second viewing or asked for a survey to be completed (bar their mortgage company which did a valuation survey, which came back with no issues). The property was priced to reflect the fact that some bits in the house needed replacing (a couple of tears in the lounge carpet, some cosmetic water damage to the shower, some paintwork a bit flaky etc, and the fitted oven was 10 years old and had seen better days, etc). We then got a letter through last week, forwarded on from their solicitor, to say the property was dirty when they moved in (it wasn't, and I have photos that prove it) and they want compensation for the fact that they've had to replace the oven and that the house needs some work doing to it. ALL the issues that they have mentioned were there when they viewed the house in August (although they looked around so briefly they probably didn't even notice) and was reflected in the asking price.

I've replied to my solicitor strongly disputing the fact that the house was left dirty (with photos I took of the vacated property), and explaining that all the work that needed doing to the house was there when they viewed the house, and was reflected in the asking price, and I'm therefore not prepared to offer any compensation.

They can't pursue this surely? Where do we stand on this?

OP posts:
FizzyGreenWater · 30/04/2018 10:18

In other words, really go to town - direct letter to their solicitor. You shouldn't hear from them again.

OrchidInTheSun · 30/04/2018 10:20

I can understand it's upsetting but I'm sure your solicitor isn't judging you at all.

I would tell them to ignore any further correspondence or you'll be paying fees forever

Original poster
KitKat1985 · 30/04/2018 10:21

Pics for Bettirdraper (I can only put on 3 at a time so bear with me as this may take a few posts).

OP posts:
Ginkypig · 30/04/2018 10:21

I think really you need to get your solicitors opinion on this, you might not need it now but if you get a response not dropping it.

Your solicitor will have legal lingo that she/he can use to hopefully shut it down quickly, rather than you both sending multiple letters arguing while all the solicitors do is stick it in an envelope and pass it on.

HariboIsMyCrack · 30/04/2018 10:22

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Notcontent · 30/04/2018 10:22

I think your buyers don’t understand the house buying process. They probably thought that even though the house is not a new built, they would nonetheless be moving into a perfect, as new house....

KitKat1985 · 30/04/2018 10:23

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KitKat1985 · 30/04/2018 10:24

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KitKat1985 · 30/04/2018 10:26

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zzzzz · 30/04/2018 10:26

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Original poster
KitKat1985 · 30/04/2018 10:27

Not sure why that last set on pics uploaded twice. I think you can see from the pics that the house was clean and to describe it as 'extremely dirty' throughout is a piss take.

OP posts:
Stephisaur · 30/04/2018 10:27

Can you come and clean my house? Yours looks spotless!

Perhaps send them a flyer for specsavers, as they clearly need their eyes seeing to!

Parker231 · 30/04/2018 10:28

A couple of years ago we sold one of our rentals. The buyers were a family who were planning on living there themselves rather than continuing it as a rental property.

The kitchen and area under the stairs had damp - quite bad in places. This was obvious when they did two visits to view. They did not have a survey. After completion they tried to claim compensation. I responded to the first of their solicitors letters and ignored the following three. I’ve not heard from them since.

LogOm · 30/04/2018 10:28

Tell them to piss off!
FWIW it’s very clean
You should have seen the property I bought, all the shit I refused to buy were dumped them destroyed and the place was so fucking filthy!
Don’t engage let them carry on

Aprilmightbemynewname · 30/04/2018 10:30

Have a Brew and Cake and then remove the matter from your thoughts.
They are loons.

Bettiedraper · 30/04/2018 10:30

Thanks for the pics. That is indeed a clean house!

Elendon · 30/04/2018 10:31

The house I moved into was empty but I still did cleaning and vacuuming. I would have still done it if I'd had assurance that it had been previously cleaned. Seriously, you have to start cleaning the house at some point.

I tried to make the house as clean as possible for the move in but this was not a requirement, apart from the total clearance of possessions, I complied with this, and I left the oven for them as a good will gesture on their request. I would assume that most people will clean surfaces when they move in and do extra vacuuming too. They were very thorough regarding certificates which I supplied, mainly regarding boiler maintenance. Understandable as you don't want the boiler to break down on top of all the stress of moving in.

Original poster
KitKat1985 · 30/04/2018 10:31

I'm glad you all agree. In the letter from their solicitor they said the house was so dirty they couldn't move into it. I hope you get now why I'm so angry at the blatant bollocks of that statement. Lying fuckers.

OP posts:
ThereAreTooMany · 30/04/2018 10:31

Well done on taking the photos! I bet you are glad you did now.

The buyers sounds a bit weird. Did you mention the photos to the Solicetor?

LogOm · 30/04/2018 10:33

I think they are mistaken
They must be referring to some other property they also bought and sent you this letter by mistake
There’s no way this letter is meant to be for you!!!

Elendon · 30/04/2018 10:33

Your house was left in an excellent condition OP. Good you have the evidence to back this up. I probably would still wipe though - just me.

I wipe surfaces when I go to stay in a holiday home. I know it's been cleaned but it's just me.

Original poster
KitKat1985 · 30/04/2018 10:33

Yes I sent the photos of the vacated house to my solicitor so he has those photos.

OP posts:
StaplesCorner · 30/04/2018 10:35

Blimey. That's cleaner than the house I am sitting in. I don't think I could EVER get my house that clean. We're you actually living in it OP?!

I have heard of this sort of thing before, we need someone in conveyancing to come on and tell us why this happens.

notapizzaeater · 30/04/2018 10:35

I've never thought of taking pictures once I'd cleaned before moving, I will in future. Just ignore them they are mad

I've moved into an absolute filthy house nothing I could do, just cracked on.

GladAllOver · 30/04/2018 10:36

I suggest you refer them to the reply given in the famous case of Arkell v. Pressdram.
Their solicitor will be familiar with it.