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In December 2015 a couple viewed our property and, after a second viewing, made an offer that was accepted. It was the Christmas holidays - our estate agent was in Canada and we were in the north of England - where we both had telephone calls to be re-assured that the property would be theirs. We said we were happy to keep the property for them (which we did do for nearly 4 months). Our prospective purchasers were selling their property to a 11K applicant.
Early in January our prospective purchasers had appointments with surveyor, architect, kitchen people and built-in bedroom furniture people, etc. So, much coming and going.
In February we were advised that the 11K applicant had been given permission to come to the island and the purchase of the other property was going ahead.
We were going on holiday in March (a special for my 70th birthday), and we were told that we would be going to court 2/3 weeks after our return. So a hive of activity in our house - we sold furniture, we gave many items to Hospice as there was no sale for them. We reduced our cupboards as we would not need much of the equipment we had in our new home. My husband completely emptied our garage into a friends empty garage. We put many items into storage: photographs and clothes that were not in use.
Four days into our holiday we were told that the sale of the other property had fallen through and therefore our property could not be purchased at this time. We were devastated. It completely spoiled our holiday.
The only good thing was that the folk coming here wanted our lounge and dining room furniture and they were going to keep the young couple in our let unit for a year or so. Otherwise we would have returned to an empty house and let unit.
Our solicitors felt very sorry for us and delayed sending their bill for a year but, of course, that has now had to be settled - £2,160. and nothing to show for it. Much of the furniture and items we got rid of we like in this house - our Japanese vases, our copper and brass bucket, kettles and plaques (they would not have fitted into our new home) but were very nice here. We are probably at a loss of circa £4,000.
I understand you (or Richard Renouf ) are gathering information which, eventually, could lead to legislation which would enable some sort of financial compensation for the aggrieved party.
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