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B****y ransom strip..Again!

(32 Posts)
Shinamae Mon 22-Feb-21 10:43:15

I did start a thread on this sometime ago but can’t find it basically,my son is in the process of buying a 1930s bungalow and we were told that the ransom strip attached to it would not be a problem however it is turning out to be a major problem! Initially the woman selling it said it would be a 2 foot ransom strip but when he got the plan it was just over a metre, as my son wants to build a double garage on the property this would be too much so we have asked for it to be put back to the 2 foot we were promised originally but we are now told there are four executors involved and they all have to be consulted. My son has got a survey booked for the 26th of February we have given the surveyor the heads up that we might not be going through with it and I have let our solicitor know that we need an answer by today whether they will reduce the ransom strip. I actually think it’s a terribly greedy thing to do and so does my solicitor but just have to wait and see, need to know by the end of business today or unfortunately my son is going to have to pullout which is a shame because he really loves the property...?

Shinamae Tue 23-Feb-21 11:52:37

I must say we have an excellent solicitor this is the second house that has fallen through but she is not charging us anything as long as we use her again when we do purchase a property.... can’t say fairer than that

watermeadow Tue 23-Feb-21 19:24:12

I sold my garden for a building plot and found, when it was too late to back out, that a housing association held a restrictive covenant on it. My old cottage had once been owned by the council and the HA has these covenants on all their ex properties.
The HA charged me one third of the expected value of the plot, referred to as a ransom charge. I had to pay £30,000 for their half a day’s work. It’s blackmail.

Blossoming Tue 23-Feb-21 19:36:06

I’m glad your son is out of it, sounds like the seller thinks they’re being clever, but it’s backfired.

Katie59 Tue 23-Feb-21 20:47:41

I’m wondering how many of the thousands of ex council properties that were sold cheap on the right to buy scheme, have a restrictive covenant in the small print.

Shinamae Tue 23-Feb-21 20:53:33

My friend very recently sold her ex council house and did not have to pay the council a penny. ....... might be that different areas have different rules,I am in North Devon

Shinamae Tue 23-Feb-21 21:28:24

Found this..