Our flat today

[ciphergoth]

Today was supposed to be the day we completed purchase of our flat. As I put the bins out I noticed all was not as it supposed to be. About an hour ago myself and Jess went into the flat (the doors are all open) and took this picture:

We've told the solicitor to hold the money.

Urge to kill rising.

Update to explain what's actually going on: we're buying from a company called London Homebuyers who buy, refurbish and resell property. The windows that were there before were brand new, but it turns out that they didn't bother to comply with planning permission, so the council have made them rip them out and fit sash-style windows that fit better with the neighbourhood. We've been left totally out of the loop on all this; we wouldn't know about it at all if we weren't fortunate enough to live across the road.

We turn out to be extremely fortunate that a screwup by our mortgage company has delayed completion thus far!

Comments

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

Argh!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_nicolai_/]

Oh dear, we are definitely getting to the stage of them failing to fulfil the contract they signed, aren't we?

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

We're having some interesting conversations with our solicitor.

[gingiber.livejournal.com]

Meep. Any idea what on earth is going on? How awful for you.

[hieroglyphe.livejournal.com]

Fuckity fuck.

[purplerabbits.livejournal.com]

Fuckers! Poke them with sticks!

[syllopsium.livejournal.com]

*boggle*

They *took the window with them?*

Should I even ask about the light fittings?

[aegidian]

They took the double-glazing with them?!

[lucybond.livejournal.com]

Woah. I'd also check the bathroom...

[selectnone.livejournal.com]

Is it a new-build that hasn't been finished, or did they make off with the window?
Blimey.

Might they have any wriggle-room in the contract for that?
I wouldn't even think to check to see if they've included windows as part of the inventory, you'd really take it as given that they're part of the house!

[ladycat.livejournal.com]

Oh god, oh dear, oh eek. What's happened?!

[countess-sophia.livejournal.com]

I've heard of people taking internal doors and fittings but pinching the windows? Outrageous. It was lucky you live so close or they might have got away with this.

Soph x

[sleepycinderell.livejournal.com]

Aw, that is so crap.

[hughe.livejournal.com]

i'm wondering what it looks like from the outside... did they paint windows on the wood?

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

http://pics.livejournal.com/spikeylady/pic/001ywegz/g1

[webcowgirl.livejournal.com]

Um. Boy does this seem like crap!

[ishkhara.livejournal.com]

Oh for goodness' sake! :(

[friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com]

This is shit, but the good news us that you might be able to get compensated for it (hey, you know this, you do know lawyers!).

Firstly there is probably a late completion penalty clause in your contract. Secondly, you might have a claim against your solicitor (that's why they have indemnity insurance) - if any formal notice was issed by the council, and I'd hazard a guess that there was, they should have informed you prior to exchange. You're quite lucky you found out before completion!

Strange coincidence, I've had to advise 3 different people about the implication of property sales with outstanding planning enforcement investigations today - that hardly ever happens!

Hope all gets sorted soon.

Hugs, obv.

[strangerover.livejournal.com]

The down side of the 'survey' for house purchases is that it is in most instances for protection of the mortgage provider.
However, if it had new windows recently installed - then the surveyor wshould have checked that they complied with recent legislation (last couple of years, can't remember the act) regarding thermal values and ventilation and maybe if they had to comply with any features in a conservation area. Not sure how demanding or stringent specific local authorities are regarding the style of windows and comliance if there is no specific architectural reason or statement for a particular road / area...
Anyway, both the vendor and the surveyor who acted on your (mortgage provider) behalf wants addressing with the blunt end of a rag mans trumpet...

[wyte-phantom.livejournal.com]

B*stards the lot of them.

[hairyears.livejournal.com]

Yes, friend_of_tofu has noted that your solicitors will be very helpful indeed on this one. 'Sue them and pay us lots', oh yes indeed, and we'll all overlook any fuckwittery close to home.

But the best outcome is a settlement that involves compensation - possibly in the form of a price reduction - and a full survey, so you know what else is screwed. The worst outcome is that London Homebuyers just f*** off, secure in the knowledge that some other mug will buy the place when thet've got it sorted, and that you have very few options that offer a cost-effective recourse.

[cybermuppet.livejournal.com]

On the positive side, you're likely to get windows that match the period of your property and will make it more valuable. The vendor is going to pay through the nose for them too - we're talking about £1-2k per window for replacement wooden sashes!

[meta.ath0.com (from livejournal.com)]

Ah, I see they've fitted the latest in eco-friendly wooden windows. Much safer than glass.

[lolliepopp.livejournal.com]

three words..
sue
sue
sue some more, y'know, if you want.

Good luck, shall bring back nice things from ooop norf this weekend and deliver them to you on Tuesday next week.

Happy Bifday btw!
L
x

[trentsbytch.livejournal.com]

oh good fucking god!!!!! how much more pissing about are you going to have to go through?? and how rude and thoughtless of people not to let you know your windows would be vanishing!!!! GGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRR