Hi guys, get a snack and a drink this is a long story
Backstory: first time buyer here
viewed my first ever house in July. Fell in love. Before I could put an offer in it was taken off the market under offer (I didn’t have a mortgage in principle so I wasn’t able to move quick enough) they let me view without MIP as I had large deposit (60%) fair enough. I carried on browsing for months online (I work abroad) viewed a few houses when i was in the U.K. here and there but didn’t find anything I loved.
Busy work period calmed down and I was scheduled to be back in U.K. for 6 weeks from Sept . ( i had planned to spend this time viewing and finding my first home)
Day 1 of me landing home I was called by EA and told (original) house sale fell through and back on market. I viewed again and put an offer in next day (mid September 2023)
during the conveyancing process vendors have been constantly rushing saying they are moving into a new empty house and they want the sale to go through quickly. As they have kids entered for a new school in new area. Unfortunately at the viewing I spotted cracks and video them at the time. So I needed these checked in an survey. Got a level 3 builders done. And there were no mention of the cracks on report. When I spoke to surveyor he was very apologetic and couldn’t believe he missed the cracks. I paid 650£ for this. Before survey I specifically told them to view the cracks as damage looked STRUCTUAL and it was missed. I want a refund.
On the phone he advised i get a second survey as when I showed him the pics I had he said it looked bad.
This time structual engineers report. Cost £2000 as it needed to be done quickly. Couple days turn around as vendors were rushing. At this time Vendors also magically found a structual engineers report they had done for said cracks 4 days before I was re contacted about the property. Suggesting I would not need my own report because they already done one and the cracks were nothing to worry about . I didn’t trust them and got my own as their report was very vague and seemed bias to them.
when engineer went to take a look he told me all cracks have attempted to be covered up by paints and filler. This would explain why first surveyor couldn’t see anything!!! When I questioned vendors they got very defensive stating they hadn’t done anything to mess with surveys. I drove there myself and could see from outside cracks had been covered.
this is disappointing as I wanted genuine feedback from reports and both were tampered with. Legally is there something I can do?
for the works and repairs I was quoted 7.5-15000£ for replacement lintels or helibars and re rendering. Of course the vendors did not care and did not budge when offered 10k less for the works. They stuck their ground. I really didn’t want to lose the house so I still went ahead.
FAST FOWARD TO TODAY
solicitors fees
mortgage fees
surveys
searches. I’ve probably spent 10k on this process …. And they have pulled out.
WEEK OF EXCHANGE. received a call from EA today saying they have had a problem with their mortgage and lender and they won’t be selling their house or buying a new one. I’m absolutely fuming.
they have rushed me from the start
they didn’t take into consideration any of the works that needed doing
they were dishonest and obstructed my surveys.
im just so upset honestly how could people be so cruel! Venting here coz I don’t know who else to talk to!
is there anything legal I can do about them obstructing my surveys ?
I find it weird that their previous sale fell through, they’ve been rushing and at the final hurdle apparently something is wrong with their mortgage. Surely that would be really if they were 95% of the way there before.
Originally the ea said the buyers pulled out and are looking in another are but I’m smelling something fishy.
waiting on my solicitor to get back to me. She’s asked their solicitor for an update and explanation