Flat buyer persistently messaging post completion

[Angelwithhalo]

I sold my flat in February and during the conveyancing exchanged numbers with the buyer at their request to directly negotiate a price reduction for works. On completion I left a folder with detailed instructions of how to use all the integrated appliances, utility meter locations, boiler manual and service history, bin days etc in the kitchen along with a new home card and thought that would be the end of contact between us.

However I have been having a steady stream of texts and queries from the buyer. Some of it is simple things like clarification on how to work the boiler, which water meter belongs to the flat. Others just seems like them complaining but posed as a question for example:
The internet connection doesn’t reach the main bedroom, how did we deal with that inconvenience?
What did we do about windows feel draughty and letting on street noise (windows are original wooden sash and on a busy main road which was apparent before buying)
The lounge smells strongly of damp, did you notice this? (I gave them 5k off agreed price after they had a damp survey)
Complaints about hearing the owner of the flat above moving around (Again it’s a converted period property so I could hear them but just a single adult so occasional footsteps and washing machine, no parties or late nights/early mornings)

There have been lots of other questions and at first I was responsive as I felt bad that the buyer seemed unhappy with the flat and sympathetic to them as a first time buyer but it feels a bit relentless and I’m not sure what the motive is behind messaging me.

Has anyone else experienced this/is this common?
Any advice for dealing with this, I would be tempted to ignore but we are still in the same town so dont want the awkwardness of bumping into them.

The Internet provider would sort that, it only needs an extender. It's nothing to do with the vendor.

It seems like a lot of people do it. I have a property abroad which I'm planning to sell shortly. My holiday lets manager always acts surprised that I didn't call him with any issues while I was staying (in my own flat!). In 12 years, I called him twice asking to arrange plumber and electrician. I'm guessing other flat owners call him all the time.

Why are people suggesting such wishy-washy responses to what is really inappropriate behaviour?! Anyone with half a braincell knows that once you've purchased a house that is that. You shouldn't need to involve yourself at all from that point on.

I didn't contact our sellers once. We never even exchanged numbers. We didn't get a manual either.

Just tell the CF 'I've helped you as much as I can. I have my own life to worry about . You will need to figure out any future problems for yourself or get professional help' then stop replying. There's no need to 'phase out' or anything like that. That's just prolonging the agony. Just grow a back bone and tell them to go away.

Ignore or block and if you do ever bump into them just say hello and rush off. If they ever ask why you il haven’t replied tell them you got a new phone! It’s not your problem after sale. X

Ignore and block. They bought it sold as seen and you even gave them a reduction. It’s no longer your problem.

Just block them. If you see them out and about, smile and wave then continue on your day.

People do take the piss! How about a polite "I'm afraid I no longer own the flat so can't be much help. I suggest you contact the new owners who are now responsible for it"

No this is not normal, all contact should be between you two should be via solicitors or estate agents and the negotiated price should have been via them too not direct. Then once completed contact is over.

If you can't think of a way to put it nicely in a message to leave you alone then just block them, the chances of you running into each other are probably remote and that's if you even recognise each other.

How are these people with seemingly no common sense or ability to think for themselves, functioning in the world. Presumably they have decent enough jobs to be able to afford to buy a house in the first place. I now know not to give out my contact details when I sell my house, I'm not sure I would have been as patient as OP!

This is making me nervous as we are going to sell a property that is next door to ours (and it’s a fixer upper!).

Absolutely spot on. That’s what the EA and conveyancing solicitor is paid to do. We earned ourselves a stern lecture from our EA to that effect the first time we sold a property, after we innocently gave our phone number to our buyer who proceeded to call regularly asking about the progression of the sale. They got more and more persistent, trying to hurry us up, and at one point asking if we would move out and rent to hasten the sale. There were also requests for more viewings with different family members, and visits to take various measurements.

Our own seller hit a snag at one point and there was a short delay. We were bombarded with anxious calls from our buyer and in the end we contacted our EA who in turn advised them to stop calling us directly and to direct their queries either through their solicitor or their EA. It still didn’t stop them and in the end the only thing that worked was getting the EA tell them that we were threatening to pull out and take the house off the market if it didn’t stop.

Thankfully we’d given them our landline number, which changed when we moved and we definitely didn’t leave a forwarding address in the welcome folder !!

I had this - first time buyer and I think she was confusing me with a landlord.

I replied something along the lines of ‘I no longer have any responsibility for the house - these are all your issues to resolve.’ Then I blocked her.

Just remember that you’re paying the EA and solicitor to do the leg work and keep all parties informed. Don’t give any contact details directly to the buyer and make it clear that all business is to be conducted via legals and EA . If you live next door to the property you’re selling it’s going to be difficult if the buyers know you’re there - l can imagine lots of knocks on the door asking to be let in for measurements etc, and ongoing queries after they move in. Not sure of the legalities and l’m sure someone will be along to advise, but if you own the property next door could you not register it as your address for the purposes of the sale and get the EA to conduct the viewings. That way, your identity as the seller is protected and you won’t be pestered after they move in.

I think there’s a cautionary tale here. If the buyer discovers something wrong that wasn’t mentioned during the sale, or something that’s been misrepresented - even if unintentionally - they can potentially sue the vendor. I would be wary of answering any more of their queries and l’d block them from now on. This is why you don’t give your personal details to your buyer - the EA and solicitor are being paid to handle these things during the sale proceedings. Giving personal contact details or entering into any kind of personal negotiations during the sale can come back to bite you. Best left to the professionals.

We had the same when we sold our first flat. Just stop replying and they'll get the message.

No, the house is theirs and it is no longer the sellers responsibility if something's wrong after completion. Caveat emptor

My flat had immersion heater and night storage heaters. I sold it to a buy to let investor, who was a well known local person due to an important job. She owned numerous buy to let flats. Within a week she'd moved 3 students into the flat.

The first phone call I got was "why don't the radiators give heat in the evenings?" I explained they weren't radiators and explained what night storage heaters are. And I asked how she got my number which she didn't explain.

The next week she rang asking "the first 2 students get hot water for their morning showers. But the 3rd student gets cold water. What's wrong with the boiler?" So I explained that it wasn't a boiler it was an immersion heater. I did point out that the sales particulars and the sellers questionnaire contained this information and I suggested she ought to have read them before buying the flat. After which she stopped contacting me.

I felt sorry for the students.

Why? They can work out where their route reaches everywhere or install a mesh system or boosters! She's not their broadband provider!

I like pink delights message. Send a message to say that you've answered all their questions up till now, but enough is enough.

I wouldn't just fade them out or block with no explanation. I'd just say something like "I left you a detailed information pack and you also had a survey of the property - you own the home now and these issues are your responsibility; I have answered your questions where possible, but as it is now (however many months since you moved in) I can't help you any further" and leave it at that.

yeah, I had a buyer send me a photo of the gas and electric bill as if she was hoping I'd pay it. I said just contact them and send them meter readings, then blocked and deleted the number.

oh please do this OP

You have no obligation to do anything after you give them the keys. Most never talk to the new owner ever in the process. They seem to be confusing you for the landlord. One of the reasons renting costs a premium over the cost of a mortgage is that someone else has responsibility for a lot of this stuff.

Exactly this! How is OP meant to fix the fact that their router is a bit shit? Is she meant to come over to their flat and help them upgrade the firmware in their router? Phone up and cancel the contract with their internet provider and sign them up with another one? Buy them another router to replace the one they got from Sky? None of this is her issue.

They’ve organised and paid for their own internet, if it isn’t working they need to sort it out for themselves. This is like them complaining to her that the new sofa they bought isn’t very comfy.

The buyers are surely going to notice that they bought a house from Mrs Jean Smith, and their new next door neighbour is also called Jean Smith

I agree I wouldn’t draw attention to that fact, but unless it is a buy to let with a non-resident owner, they are going to twig eventually.

edit: quoted wrong post and can’t remove it, that was a reply to @Rosscameasdoody