The writer Ambrose Bierce once wrote:
Litigation: A machine which you go into as a pig and come out of as a sausage.
However, if a seller or a property professional has lied or failed to disclose something, suing them is a last – but essential – resort.
Read on to explore this in more depth.
Can you sue someone for selling you a bad house?
Yes. You can sue someone for selling you a bad house if it has been misrepresented.
‘Bad’ can mean several things, including a property:
And much more.
Of course, you’ll need to give evidence that this is the case.
While sellers can exaggerate or show a house in its best light, they can’t lie. Proof that they did is actionable.
How long after can I sue someone?
You can sue for up to 6 years after the sale.
Once you discover the issue, you have up to 3 years to take action.
Who to sue
It might not just be the seller you want to sue.
It could also be your surveyor who failed to find the defects during their survey. That’s why they have professional indemnity insurance.
Or you may sue an estate agent who lied about a property. But be aware: estate agents rely on tricks of the trade which don’t necessarily cross over into lying.
How to sue someone for selling you a bad house
You should first gather all the evidence and documentation needed.
It may also be the written survey form the surveyor you paid.
Then, get in touch with a solicitor. Explain the situation. They can guide you on whether you have a legitimate claim.
You’ll pay them to start proceedings and take the guilty parties to court.
Things about a house sale you can sue over
Lying
Firstly, you can sue about inaccurate or incomplete information.
In other words, when they knowingly lied to you.
This could be about many different issues. Two common examples are what the house was last sold for or whether planning permission was obtained for an extension.
Concealing information
You can also sue if they conceal a problem.
The problem in question could be a variety of things. What matters is that it decreases the property’s value (from what you paid for it), costs money to repair, or puts your health at risk.
So, for example, any of the following issues:
And more.
Alternatives to suing when you’re sold a bad house
You can pull out of a sale if it hasn’t completed yet.
Or you can negotiate with the other party to settle the costs privately.
You could bite the bullet and fix the problem yourself. This may be expensive, but it will likely be faster and require less effort.
If you want to sell urgently, a cash-buying company may buy it in terrible condition (if applicable). Make sure to explore all other options first.
It may be worth contacting the Citizens Advice Bureau. Or get in touch with a solicitor for their advice.
