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| Iphis_me |
on Wed 14 Apr 10, 3:35 PM to Iphis_me's blog.
It's one of the most frustrating experiences in the world!
Since I split up with my ex 2 1/2 years ago I've been living in a rented house, but I have decided that the time has come to take the plunge and buy. I've been house hunting for a couple of months, looking in a very limited area as I want to stay pretty much where I am now - my life works living here and sharing childcare with my ex, if I moved further away it would be far more complicated.
I offered on a place about 6 weeks ago but they accepted a higher offer. I offered on another house about 3 weeks ago but after a week or so messing me around they then accepted an offer from someone else (grr!). Yesterday I noticed online that the first house I offered on was back on the market, and at a lower asking price - called the agent and enquired as to why they hadn't thought to contact someone who had previously made an offer on the property (answer appears to be - estate agents are irritating morons).
I've now offered the current asking price, I know it's been on the market for about 5 months and they've reduced the asking price twice, but they're still faffing around!!! I have no chain so I can move quickly - and allegedly they want a quick sale. I've decided that I REALLY want this house and I just want them to make a bloody decision - it needs a lot of work doing on it (I took a builder to look at it with me so I know roughly how much that will cost, and that I can afford it) and I'd like to be able to move in by mid-September at the latest which is when my lease runs out (otherwise I'll probably have to take out another lease and I'll be tied into where I'm currently living for 6 months more), plus I may well be starting a part-time course in October so I'd like to have the house move done and dusted by then. To have time for the work to be done I need to get shifting. Make a bloody decision, please!!!
| 14 Apr 10, 3:54 PM El_Presidente UK(G), 4 yrs    |
Your tenancy should automatically turn into a rolling tenancy after the initial six months are up. If they ask you to sign another six-month contract, you're perfectly entitled to refuse. After that point, it is up to either you or the landlord to give a month's notice (at any point after 5 months), otherwise the tenancy continues. They would of course then have the option to serve your month's notice there and then, but unless they're feeling particularly spiteful, I can't see why they would. If I were you, I'd explain to them that you know your rights, and that if you're going to be forced into another 6 month tenancy, then it will be with a different landlord and letting agent, on principle. "Never do today what you can do tomorrow" | ||
| 14 Apr 10, 3:59 PM Iphis_me UK(E), 4 yrs |
I have got a 12 month tenancy which I can give notice for after 6 months. When the first year was up they renewed it with a new 12 month tenancy, same terms. Thanks for the pointers though, I'll look into it - the reality is that moving would be expensive and a hassle (I'm renting unfurnished so have a whole house full of furniture to shift) and don't want to have to move twice, so much as I'd like to stand on my rights, if I had to choose I'd probably bite the bullet and live with being tied in for 6 months. "The unexamined life is not worth living" - Socrates | ||
| 14 Apr 10, 4:19 PM Plein_Soleil UK(NP), 2 yrs |
Put a bomb under the Agent . Tell them you need a yes or no by close of play on Friday or it's off . " Yeah . Well I love my cigar but I take it out once in a while " Groucho Marx | ||
| 14 Apr 10, 4:21 PM Iphis_me UK(E), 4 yrs |
Apparently, because it's a repossession, they have to advertise the offer in the paper over the weekend and invite higher ones before they can accept it - or that's what the agent told me. They might be messing me around, of course. Still, I think given I'm offering the asking price and have no chain, they would bite my hand off!
"The unexamined life is not worth living" - Socrates | ||
| 14 Apr 10, 4:33 PM Plein_Soleil UK(NP), 2 yrs |
In that case don't show that you are too keen . Wait for them to come back to you . In the meantime keep your eyes out for something else . " Yeah . Well I love my cigar but I take it out once in a while " Groucho Marx | ||
| 14 Apr 10, 4:40 PM Iphis_me UK(E), 4 yrs |
I take your point but OTOH this is by far the best bet I've seen in the area where I am looking (if I can get it for the asking price then plus the cost of doing it up it's probably around £25k less than an equivalent house newly done up). I tried not being too keen before and they accepted an offer from someone else......I can't bank on the sale falling through a second time! Plus they seem to be pretty useless so unless I remind them I exist and am still interested they don't get in touch - if I was selling a house I surely wouldn't use that estate agent!
"The unexamined life is not worth living" - Socrates | ||
| 14 Apr 10, 4:59 PM Plein_Soleil UK(NP), 2 yrs |
I get the picture . If it's that good you can bet the Agent has his eye on it either for himself or a family member . It's not that they have forgotten you ! You may want to consider going over the head of the Agent and approaching the sellers . " Yeah . Well I love my cigar but I take it out once in a while " Groucho Marx | ||
| 14 Apr 10, 5:05 PM Iphis_me UK(E), 4 yrs |
It's not. Most people would walk in and walk out again because of the amount of work that needs doing, it's a serious full gut the place and start again job - rewiring, damp proofing, rot treating, plumbing, kitchen, bathroom, plastering, boiler, heating, the lot. The only people I'm likely to be competing against are people who buy houses to make money doing them up. The builder who I took with me to look at it (who is a very strong recommendation from a trusted friend) said it's unusual to find a woman who's willing to take on a place that needs that much work My other option, if I can get mortgage sorted to do it (and I'm not sure how I'd go about that) would be to look at buying somewhere at auction to do up. Most places in need of that much work seem likely to go for auction. "The unexamined life is not worth living" - Socrates | ||
| 14 Apr 10, 6:11 PM Whipkick UK(CB), 9 yrs |
I would go to the sellers direct and tell them you have made an offer.
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it." | ||
| 14 Apr 10, 6:29 PM FluffySub UK(NN), 6 yrs      |
The Agent is right, they have to accept the highest offer made. They will be obliged to get the most they can against the debt owed to the lender. Lots of good info online (eg: http://www.lovemoney.com/news/the-property-ladde... ). This is the salient bit:
Do your homework and be prepared to be disappointed. Sorry.
I'm a threadkiller, twisted threadkiller |
But it's got fab potential, the price is right, it appears to be structurally sound, and I can do it exactly how I want it.