Abysmal Off Plan Buying Experience

I entered into a contract to buy off plan through Lynn estates and my experience of purchasing my first home has been horrific.

I signed the purchase agreement on 2 December 2014, before this time, the agent had assured me that building would commence shortly thereafter in March 2015 which was later changed to June 2015 then September 2015. The actual building started on 15 May 2016, a full 14 months after the agent said it would.

I exchanged many emails with the agent about including a pool and despite receiving provisional plans for one and giving the go ahead to the agent, it was left off the plans. I only realised this recently and I had to resubmit plans at my own expense.

The agent told me that Pipilo (the building company) had a good reputation and that the construction would take between 6 and 8 months to complete and that I’d be celebrating my next birthday in my new home. That birthday and the subsequent birthday have passed and the house is still not complete. The agent said that the building agreement contained an occupational rent clause in the event that there was a delay however 3 months after the occupation date (26 May 2017) and no money has been paid. The builder has since informed me that he will not be paying any money.

The agent bragged about the finishes in the showroom which did look amazing, but when the time came to choose the finishes I was told that I can’t get those because those are now more expensive than allowed for in the PC allowance due to the delay. Their marketing material creates false expectations which are not fulfilled.

I feel like the agent told me everything I wanted to hear in order to get me to buy the property of which very little has been true. It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and I feel cheated. Perhaps if I was the only owner in the complex who felt this way then I’d believe any “unreasonableness” claims that they may have, however this is not the case as many owners feel the same way as I do.

I no longer trust any of Lynn Estates’ agents and I no longer trust Lynn Estates itself and whether buying or selling in the future, I will not use Lynn Estates to facilitate this transaction.

I have since contacted Lynn Estates with the problems listed above on the 28th of July 2017 in the naïve assumption that this could be handled internally. This was forwarded on to management including Lynne Petzer requesting comment and at this date (2017-09-14) I have still not received any reply. I merely expected some remorse from them but they could not have cared less and have not bothered to get back to me.

To any one reading this, I strongly advice against using Lynn Estates in the hope that I can spare you the experience I have been through.