Need to vent - four (FOUR!) attempted flat purchases fallen through

[TedMullins]

If anyone has any helpful advice that would be welcome but mainly I’m just venting and wondering if anyone else had such problems and it turned out OK?

I’ve been trying to buy a flat since October 2019. First one needed a least extension (I’d been told it had been extended when viewing, turned out it hadn’t). The freeholder was a dick so it went to a tribunal and I had to wait for the result to see if the lease could be extended. Months of waiting - then lockdown hit. I had to extend my tenancy or I’d have had nowhere to live as the flat wasn’t ready. Vendor wouldn’t wait for me so I walked away as I didn’t want to (and couldn’t afford to) pay rent and mortgage.

Second flat, I have a dog, asked about the pet clause. Share of freehold. It said no nuisance animals. I wrote a letter to the freeholders offering them to meet the dog to put their minds at ease, it’s not a nuisance. They refused, one of them threatened to sue me for breach of lease if I moved in.

Third flat - surveyor valued at £0 because of a tree. Paid almost £1k for a specialist report on the tree, mortgage accepted, then declined because they found Japanese knotweed. A grand in the bin.

Fourth flat -pets allowed, garden, long lease, no visible knotweed. Survey came back today saying there is knotweed! I know for a fact someone else bought a flat in the block last year and knotweed was never mentioned, and a previous buyer for the one I wanted had a mortgage signed off and ready to go but pulled out because they lost their job.

Seriously, wtf?! It honestly feels like a conspiracy against me. Am I just destined never to have a place of my own?

No. The right one is about to come up. Stay optimistic.

Jeez op, I’m sorry, that sounds like a horrid run of bad luck. As the PP said though, the right one will come up and your luck is due to change. 🤞🏻🤞🏻
Are you still looking?

Still looking but there isn’t anything suitable on the market at the moment - I even looked into moving to a town where I could get more house for my money and commuting when we go back to the office but the commuting costs were too much, it’s cheaper to get a flat and stay in the city. I’m staying with my parents at the moment as my tenancy ended, I just want my life and own space back!

Ah it's rubbish but your are not alone
I follow a lot of house accounts on insta and have seen many people who have lost out on 2,3 or 4 houses
You will get there eventually

You had a lucky escape from Japanese knotweed.
You wouldn't have wabted to live somewhere that your dog is unwelcome.
Lease extension can be a pain.

Think of it like dating. Some people find the perfect one straight away. Others make huge compromises immediately. You'll find one that's right for you.

That sounds really disappointing but at least you haven't bought a flat and then found a major issue. That would mean significantly more money down the drain.

@Palavah

You had a lucky escape from Japanese knotweed. You wouldn't have wabted to live somewhere that your dog is unwelcome. Lease extension can be a pain.

Think of it like dating. Some people find the perfect one straight away. Others make huge compromises immediately. You'll find one that's right for you.

This is a really good point! It is like dating. You’re right, I don’t want the headache of knotweed in the garden or dog hating neighbours

I agree with @Palavah Obviously it is so rubbish for you to go through such hassles but I would try to think of it as a lucky escape! The right place will come along.

That's so frustrating op. We had 3 house purchases fall through before we bought our current house. Twice we were dumped by the vendor for cash buyers. Third time the vendor was beyond unreasonable and refused to accept the serious problems from the survey.

We now live in house number 4. Worth the wait.

Good luck.