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Original poster

Misadvertisement of property

105 replies

WhispersAnonymous · 21/01/2021 12:24

Hi! I need some advice.

I am in the process of purchasing a property, the asking price was £300k they accepted my offer of £285k. The mortgage valuation came back as £285k. The property was sold as having a garage en bloc. But it has now turned out that the garage isn't owned and you have to rent it off the council and there is a waiting list. I want to reduce our offer as the seller was clearly trying to get away with us not finding out about the garage. How much do you think I should reduce? Without the garage there is not much parking and it is all on the road. Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
PegasusReturns · 21/01/2021 15:06

I’d reduce by what it would cost to either:

i) rent a garage over the length of your mortgage
ii) purchase a garage elsewhere
iii) put a drive way in

If they’re not willing to negotiate I think I’d pull out

sabrinathemiddleagewitch · 21/01/2021 15:10

@PegasusReturns

I’d reduce by what it would cost to either:

i) rent a garage over the length of your mortgage
ii) purchase a garage elsewhere
iii) put a drive way in

If they’re not willing to negotiate I think I’d pull out

Yip this ^

And explain to them why when you make the reduced offer

SlippersForFlippers · 21/01/2021 15:12

If you can live without a garage drop the price for cost of drive and possibly to go towards getting a garage built.

For us a garage was a deal breaker so I'd have pulled out.

WatchWatch · 21/01/2021 15:14

@WhispersAnonymous

It's a probate property so no chain fortunately but the estate agents refuse to pick the phone up to us as they know we will be dropping the offer. They keep fobbing us off saying they are waiting for the manager 🙄
If it is probate, then the person selling probably wasn't aware the garage was rented, if it has been for as long as the deceased lived there. It's pretty reasonable to think, Uncle Bob has a key for a garage, called it 'his garage', he keeps stuff in that garage, the garage is near his home, therefore it is his garage. That is why we have solicitors to look in to these things.

And no, it is neither the vendor or the estate agents job to check these things, if given in good faith.

Original poster
WhispersAnonymous · 21/01/2021 15:16

So I want to make it clear we enquired about the garage several times and was assured by all they had the paperwork. It has gotten to the enquiry stage and they included on the fixtures and fittings form that the garage was included. I wasn't happy with there being no paperwork, so my solicitor pushed and pushed until they eventually admitted that actually the garage isn't included and that they've known all along.

OP posts:
BentBastard · 21/01/2021 15:22

They sound slippery, I would pull out, but then no parking would be a deal breaker for me generally.

Cherryberrypies · 21/01/2021 15:23

To be honest you have to think what else have they lied about. Is it worth it to have issues down the line

treeeeemendous · 21/01/2021 15:23

Garages are worth an awful lot.

I'd see what your mortgage company say and find out some ideas of prices for a driveway. I think I would only go ahead if I could reduce them down enough to cover the cost of a driveway

LizB62A · 21/01/2021 15:28

Did you get a detailed survey done?
(in case they're hiding any other bad news....)

SavoyCabbage · 21/01/2021 15:31

Having somewhere to park your car is such an important thing I think. Parking causes such issues. I wouldn't want the worry of having to rent a garage long term. What if the garage owners sell it?

LivingMyBestLife2020 · 21/01/2021 15:33

Personally I’d be pulling out if they didn’t accept a £20k price reduction.

Very unsavoury behaviour

WatchWatch · 21/01/2021 15:38

@WhispersAnonymous

So I want to make it clear we enquired about the garage several times and was assured by all they had the paperwork. It has gotten to the enquiry stage and they included on the fixtures and fittings form that the garage was included. I wasn't happy with there being no paperwork, so my solicitor pushed and pushed until they eventually admitted that actually the garage isn't included and that they've known all along.
Well that does make a difference then.

A lot depends on where you are as to the worth, in certain areas a garage will be worth loads, less so in less populated areas. Also if it isn't on the property grounds, how useful is the parking space it provides? How far away is it? That will partly determine its value.

Original poster
WhispersAnonymous · 21/01/2021 15:40

No survey, we took a builder with us as we plan to renovate the property nothing extreme though, new kitchen, bathroom. The house also has solar panels which apparently all worked but now half of them don't?!

OP posts:
LIZS · 21/01/2021 15:41

There must be a survey for the mortgage company?

Original poster
WhispersAnonymous · 21/01/2021 15:43

No the mortgage company just do a valuation

OP posts:
AveEldon · 21/01/2021 15:44

Are you sure you will get permission for a dropped kerb and a driveway?

WatchWatch · 21/01/2021 15:44

@WhispersAnonymous

No survey, we took a builder with us as we plan to renovate the property nothing extreme though, new kitchen, bathroom. The house also has solar panels which apparently all worked but now half of them don't?!
Do they have the paperwork for the solar panels?

Most of them are leased or on some sort of scheme.

The more you say about this, the more dodgy it seems!

BentBastard · 21/01/2021 15:45

The latest update makes it sound worse. I would def pull out. There will be more shit uncovered, I am sure.

Original poster
WhispersAnonymous · 21/01/2021 15:45

Nope no guarantee we will get approved, next door have done it but that isn't any kind of guarantee

OP posts:
Original poster
WhispersAnonymous · 21/01/2021 15:47

Solar panels are owned outright apparently although haven't seen proof of that actually so feel I should chase that up.

OP posts:
SlopesOff · 21/01/2021 15:47

Are you not wondering what else they have lied about?

I would tell them what to do with it as you don't want to deal with liars.

Changeismyname · 21/01/2021 15:49

@lastqueenofscotland

The mortgage company should be able to do a revised desktop valuation, so I’d see what they say
This. Your conveyancer/solicitor will have to report this to your mortgage lender who will ask the valued to re value on the correct basis. Wait for the revised valuation to come back.
eurochick · 21/01/2021 15:51

Solar panels can be a minefield. You need the paperwork on that too.

HellonHeels · 21/01/2021 15:53

You need to follow up on the solar panels - often they're not owned by the house owner, but rather are in some kind of lease arrangement. Can be v dodgy so do check details especially as these vendors seem a bit relaxed with the truth.

caringcarer · 21/01/2021 15:58

I'd walk away as dishonest vendor.