Post Sale Issues - any thoughts?

[MargoLivebetter]

Recently moved. My buyers have put together a list of things that they think need fixing and want me to contribute to them. They got their solicitor to send it to mine. They didn't have a survey done, other than for valuation purposes, and only came to see the property once. They asked no questions about the state of anything, even though I offered to answer any questions they might have.

The property was in really lovely condition IMO obviously. I left it spotlessly clean and there wasn't a scrap of anything that shouldn't have been there left. There's no damp or anything concerning and all the appliances work properly. I also left all the instruction manuals, guarantees and useful information.

Their list has things like replacing a chipped cupboard door, replacing a misted double glazed window, replacing fridge and freezer drawers because the plastic has cracked in some places, replacing cracked tiles on the bathroom floor, replacing some of the paving stones that have become discoloured outside etc. None of these things were hidden or concealed when they viewed my place.

I've moved quite a few times now and I've never had this before. Is this normal nowadays? Do I just politely decline to contribute or is this a thing now?

All this is cosmetic and reasonable ware and tear. Absolutely not!

This is stuff a survey wouldn't even cover even if they did one as it's not structural, mould, electrical, fabric of the building etc.

What you've said your solicitor said when you bought yours should be your response, including an emphatic no and ask your solicitor to be clear with there's and you'll not expect any further correspondence about this matter.

Were they first time buyers? Definitely sounds like they think it works the same way as renting! I'd say to your solicitor that you will not be formally responding as the period for negotiations has long gone, unless the solicitor has any guidance on this.

I recall that my husband's ex had similar. Months after she'd sold the former family home, the buyers wanted her to reimburse them for the fact that the husband had had apparently had to replace some flooring in a shower room.

They actually turned up on her doorstep.

Reply:

Dear Buyers,

Hahahahaha. Hahahaha. Ha.

Regards
OP.

Are they originally from UK? Maybe they have zero clue about these kind of things here.

No legal advice as such, more sympathy for you. I'm having to get divorced (his infidelity) so it will be the first time I have to buy a house on my own and this fills me with dread. Good luck. 😡

Our sellers left two lofts and three derelict sheds full of rubbish - plus a load buried in various places around the house and garden (took seven skips plus a lot of burning for the wood)

They also left a non-working fridge-freezer and range cooker and a log burner which got condemned as dangerous when we got it tested (and which they had tried to charge us £1000 for on the fixtures and fittings - luckily we refused).

Our solicitor said we could try to recoup the money and compensation but it could end up being a long drawn out affair with no guarantee we would get anything back!

I think you can safely ignore these people, as said it sounds as if they feel you should behave as a landlord would ie correcting ongoing issues with the property.
This may be part of the reason they didn't make any effort when it came to satisfying themselves that there were no issues with the property, they felt as if it would still be your responsibility because they felt as if you were a kind of landlord.

Frame the letter and hang it in the loo.

Not sure why their solicitor didn't tell them that they are being ridiculous. Ignore them.

@Boromirsgreyhound , the solicitor probably charged them for the letter.

As a solicitor, I have occasionally told my clients they are being ridiculous, but if they instruct me to send a foolish letter, I am obliged to do so.

I had a buyer do this. Told them to do one. Interesting that they didn't complain about the furniture, kitchen appliences and beautiful rugs we left at their request.

That's what I mean! The solicitor should not even be passing on these messages - they should be saying caveat emptor and not even entertaining them!

What an absolute pisstake. Id have laughed till my head rolled off 😂

Snagging lists are what you do on new builds not 20 year old properties. They are being ridiculous and their solicitor should have told them that - although no doubt thought it was easy money just banging out a letter on clients instructions!

The solicitor is legally obliged to pass on any communication from another solicitor. A solicitor who didn't, even in a ridiculous situation such as this, would be in breach of practice. OP needs to avoid a situation in which a back-and-forth correspondence ends up costing her hundreds.

Happened to me after we moved too. Not a chance! Caveat emptor and all that.

I’m surprised your solicitor didn’t bat it straight back. Just tell your solicitor it’s not something you are responsible for, and that (in the nicest way) they aren’t instructed on the issue so you anticipate no fees for their dealing with it. I don’t think you even need to respond to the buyers tbh. I had this when I sold a house with log burning stove. Buyer said the seal had fallen off and could I fix it? I just wrote back “No I can’t, it’s your stove now”

They are having a laugh. Is this the first property they’ve bought? This sounds a bit more like the sort of thing you’d ask of your landlord.

It’s not a new build. All sounds like normal wear and tear from a lived in house. It’s on them to make these small improvements to increase the value of the home they now own.

They always could have requested a viewing ahead of exchange to make sure the condition of the property was up to their standards before signing and exchanging. It’s on them that they didn’t.

OP, they are complete chancers and CFs. Just drop their communication in the bin where it belongs.

Block and ignore. The price they offered should have built all of that in e.g the last house we built needs a new kitchen and has lots of blown window panels so we offered below. Are they very naive about the world, stupid, tight with money and / or mental?

Totally this

Just ignore the cheek of some people

I'd reply giving them a list of issues with your current house and asking when they intend to fix them, because they have as much responsibility for that as you do for this nonsnese.