Estate Agent Tales

Now that we’ve had chance to talk to our solicitor and look again at all the details we were given before the sale we've been less than impressed by the estate agents. So much of what we were told before the sale, and since, has turned out to be wrong - either accidentally or deliberately.

It started with the sales brochure:

It said the cottage has a lovely thatch roof protected beneath corrugated sheets and tarpaulin. We already knew this was a complete fairytale! The roof is collapsed into a heap of straw inside the house at one end and in a very poor state at the other end. Even the structural beams have come down at one end because the gable end holding it up has also collapsed.

The site was sold as two and a half acres but we are not convinced it’s that much. It may be more like one and a half. Still, it’s a a good size and it’ll provide what we want - enough space for a house, shed, allotment, poly tunnel, orchard and some chickens - a small holding.

Then it was the answers to the questions I emailed to the agents.

First question - access to the property via the lane which wasn’t included in the sale and whether we have official rights. We were assured the cottage benefitted from shared access written into the deeds. Of course, it turns out not to be the case. We are arguing this through our solicitor.

We were told we would be given the details of the lane’s owner in due course because we want to have a good relationship with them from the start. Well, the lane is unregistered so the agent never knew who owns it - even our solicitor can’t find out. When I sent a follow up email to request proof of ownership for the lane they just never replied. Even the sellers solicitor could not answer our queries on that one.

Finally - the planning permission.

Planning has been granted for renovation and extension but it turns out the planning department didn't properly check the suitability of the sewage treatment plant. We think it is too close to the stream. And there is parking designed for in the lane which we do not own. I wonder what would happen if we just went ahead with the plans…

Anyway, nothing like a few challenges thrown in for good measure. It’ll all be fine - hopefully!