Scale Model Shop

**Guest** · 02 March 2013, 17:09

We look for a house for over a year and decide not to put ours on the market until we find somewhere becasue finding something as specific as we want is going to take a lot of doing. Eventualy find somewhere, perfect spot so agree to buy. The house was built four years ago from the old brick of a farm building and the plot was extended by buying an additional lump of the next door field then sticking a garage on it next to the original barn. When we recieved the details it was obvious that the plot on the land deeds was not the same shape as the plot on the contract so the investigations started.

Turns out the contract was wrong and had to be rewritten to include the second piece of land. Then we discover the second piece of land has a covenant attached to it which states that we cannot build anything on it without the owners permission, we cannot use the land for a business and it cannot be used to build dwellings. The garage actually has planning permission to turn it into a holiday let without the landowners permission. After some time it eventually comes to light that the garage has not been originally built with the land owner's permission either. As we wanted to remove the old barn and put a new building there we would have to seek the permission of the landowner however to protect themselves the owners put an indemnity insurance policy in place such that if the landowner found out the garage had been built without his permission the costs of any procedings would be covered. The trouble is the insurance would be invalid if anyone ever contacted him. So we backed out, thought about it and decided that, as it was so good we would take the risk and deal with the consequences.

Meanwhile our old place has had an offer so the agent took it off the market. I told him to put it back on as the offer was not supported by any supporting financial proof of eligibility. After a long time and only a single offer I am convinced that the agent has pushed the price down for the purposes of the buyer and is then no longer actively promoting it on the market. I threaten legal action. The agreed sale drags on with excuse after excuse until I am convinced that the buyer does not have the available funds. A date is finally agreed in the new year.

I work away from home for 12 weeks at a time and am usually home for eight. For a number of reasons I end up doing 14 weeks and am only home for three. We decide the only way we can make it work is to take out an additional mortgage to allow us to buy the second place while the old house is still in the process of selling. So in the three weeks I pack up the contents of a house and move it two hours away with the assistance of two large removal vans on the day. I hire a transit for a week and have to extend it by four days. I put over two hundred pounds into the tank of the transit as we moved the delicate stuff ourselves. At the end of the three weeks the boxes are all in the right house but we have to leave curtains and automatic lights on as we still own the old place. My wife returns to work with me for Christmas during which a tree next to the old house blows down and we have to arrange for it to be cut up and removed.

When my wife gets back home eventually the sale of the old place goes through so she has to go back and remove the curtains and light fittings and hand over the keys on the appointed day.

When I finally get home next week I can start the process of planning permission for removing the barn and building a new garage, when that is done then I can start unpacking all my workshop stuff and finally get back to modelling in around a couple of years time.

One day we will laugh about this!!

**rickoshea52** · 03 March 2013, 04:15

We put our house on the market on a Friday at a fixed price and an offer was made on the Monday. Easy peasy when your sitting tenant buys it. We still had to pay the estate agents fees though.

**Guest** · 03 March 2013, 08:30

You may be interested in the procedure in Jersey for property buying.

All is done verbally in the Royal Court here. There are no deeds as such as in England. Although an account is kept in the Royal Court describing the boundaries.

You attend the Royal Court on a Friday at 2:30 when all transactions take place. When your property to buy or sell arrives on the agenda you stand & raise your arm (forgotten which one probably the left as the right is the sword arm form history). All of this is conducted in Jersey French which is older than the present French Language. So you cannot be sure if your are selling your own house or buying a new wife.

Keys for the properties are then handed over in court. You are expected to wear a tie & jacket. Woe betide if you do not look reasonable as the your purchase will be side lined.

You can of course give Power of Attorney but I think this is cheating. The bustle in the court is quite something. Money does not change hands until after the deal is done in Court.

Be interested to hear if Scotland is anything like this. Scottish Law is based on Normandy Law. William the Conqueror sent two of his men two of his men one form Dole the other Dinan to Scotland & that is how the basis Scotish Law came about & the similarity of Jersey Law to Scottish law came about. They were called High Stewards & how eventually Stewart became a surname which is also mine.

In attempt to bore the reader. Mary Queen of Scots was educated on France when England & Scotland were not friends but the latter was with France. She came back with Stuart not Stewart as the French know about U but not about a double U ie W. So Royalists in Edinburgh followed suit hence Stewart & Stuart.

Laurie

**Guest** · 12 March 2013, 04:39

And there is more.

Built a partition in the garage to separate Work area from laundry stuff. Surveyor has this had Planning Permission ? No. O dear. Purchasers Lawyers say but OK it has been there for 12 years. 48 hours stress.

Yesterday. Flat (now called apartments) got a call immigration want letters from neighbours to say we have lived here at least 10 years. Arrived in 1962 in Jersey !!!!! All these have proof of it. Social Security Income Tax Housing Authorities Elec Co. Water Company Tele coms Parish rates Public Library Harbour Office even Uncle Tom Cobbly why do they not ring & use two of these. Then I realised public employee preserving job. 2 hours of panic.

Above brought to light that the Estate Agent has forgotten to make a Housing Committee application. Cannot believe it.

Then at this late stage on the sale of the house (goes to the Royal Court Friday). 25 point list. Has furniture been paid for, are there any lease deals, are you up to date with common areas maintenance payments. Any disputes with neighbours. No to all. But did a Hume forgot to tell them we probably have about 50 home grown toads roaming the property & surrounding areas. Plus in our small pond the male is waiting for the appearance of the female for appropriation instruction. 60 mins of fuming.

Also late yesterday. Purchasers Lawyer we have found Midland Bank had a title due to loan from the developer when the house was first sold. This was 25 years ago. The note on the Title of the property has not been purged. Shattered.

Worse I have demolished & packed (apart from the rest of the house) all my model making gear. Sad

Have decided that in a few years time it will be impossible to sell a property. This is unfortunate for lawyers who created the problem as they will disappear up their own //££"")& & good luck when they get there. Good news.

Laurie

**Guest** · 12 March 2013, 09:13

This is brutal Laurie, what a load of red-tape there is to keep so many people in jobs.

I read these posts out to Elaine, and we both agreed it's a shame we can't just take a trip and help out somehow ... i'm sure other members on here think the same !!

Don't take this the wrong way but at your age you don't need/shouldn't have this kind of hassle, you've done your bit for society and you should be having a nice stress free life.

We really do hope all gets sorted and falls into shape for you as soon as possible.

Best wishes and good luck

**spanner570** · 12 March 2013, 09:41

Laurie, I saddened to read this latest episode on what should have been a relatively easy transaction......It seems to me most has been caused by unbelievable incompetence and red tape...Do these people still have a job, too right they will. Hiding behind their desks. Whilst you have to suffer for it.

As Colin writes, I too wish there was something I could do, but all I can offer is my sincere wishes that all this bull s+++ and red tape is quickly put behind you and you can get back to some sense of normality in double quick time.

Take care and best wishes,

Ron

**Guest** · 12 March 2013, 11:52

Thanks Colin in Ron for your moral support.

You are right Colin as you get older the spirit that counters stress is diminished.

Ron yes red tape & incompetence.

But we are supported by all 4 of our kids & their families. Eldest son rang yesterday mentioned we were short of Bread & Milk. He drove in this morning on his 4 wheel drive truck through snow drifts & driving snow to deliver them. That is nice. Daughters also rang to see if we are OK. So good news.

Snow 18" thick on the conservatory. Son siad drifting on the roads is 4feet high. Madman drove thro. it.

Laurie

**spanner570** · 12 March 2013, 12:30

When you have a strong family, you can take strength from that and see this through. I'm sure it'll work out fine, but it's all so unfair, long winded and unneccessary.

Best wishes,

Ron

Scale Model Shop

Buying properties the nightmare

Buying properties the nightmare

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment