Lying Estate Agents

[dshl]

Before even making an offer on a maisonette in a block, I made damn sure that pets were allowed. I told the agent my daughter had a cat and we need to know.

They said they would find out, then in an email they said yes they were allowed.

We bid and we won.

Now months on and all balls in, independent surveyor paid and initial fees paid to solicitors, the solicitors tell me it says no pets allowed on the lease.

I'm so enraged! Can I sue the estate agent for lost funds and time?

 

[dshl]

Anyone familiar with the law on this?

 

[Griff]

I wouldn't worry too much about it to be honest, I'm sure the lease on my flat mentioned no pets (from memory from around 1995). Think it's just there to safe-guard them against noisy or dangerous dogs.

Unless your daughter's feline is a lion, I wouldn't be too concerned by this.

 

[dshl]

I wouldn't worry too much about it to be honest, I'm sure the lease on my flat mentioned no pets (from memory from around 1995). Think it's just there to safe-guard them against noisy or dangerous dogs.

Unless your daughter's feline is a lion, I wouldn't be too concerned by this.

Okay, thanks, but what if a neighbour complains to the landlord of the block?

 

[Griff]

I guess that's the risk you have to take. A minimal risk I'd say.

 

[Aladdin]

I agree with Griff.

 

[Leafster]

I think when I lived in a flat, the wording of the lease was something like 'no pets which would cause a nuisance' rather than 'no pets'. I'd double-check with the solicitors concerning the exact wording of the lease.

There were plenty of people with cats and dogs living there so no-one ever thought they'd caused a nuisance. Is there any chance that you could see if anyone else has pets there already? If they do, the chances are, everyone's happy to ignore the wording of the leases.

Never, EVER, trust a thing an Estate Agent tells you.

 

[dshl]

I think when I lived in a flat, the wording of the lease was something like 'no pets which would cause a nuisance' rather than 'no pets'. I'd double-check with the solicitors concerning the exact wording of the lease.

There were plenty of people with cats and dogs living there so no-one ever thought they'd caused a nuisance. Is there any chance that you could see if anyone else has pets there already? If they do, the chances are, everyone's happy to ignore the wording of the leases.

Never, EVER, trust a thing an Estate Agent tells you.

Thanks, I have learnt now never to trust anything an estate agent says. Unfortunately, though, practically speaking, you can have no other source of info.

 

[dshl]

For people's general information, I sent my solicitor the email where the agent claims pets are allowed and her reply was: nothing the estate agencies say is legally binding.

Personally I don't know something has to be legally binding in terms of liability. I studied law for a short time many years ago and I remember that if someone's misdeeds result in a monitory loss for you then there's a claim.

Yep I know that's extremely rudimentary but maybe someone who understands law better than me might have a comment.