LDN Properties can offer you a fast sale
Regardless of condition or location we buy any residential property, having been established since 2003. We’ve provided some illustrations of the type of property purchase we are able to facilitate.
Ex-local authority – Approximately 1.5 million homes have been sold under the right-to-buy and right-to-acquire scheme in the UK (as of 2015). There are extremely varied opinions on the scheme which have seen many private individuals realise massive profits from their discounted property investments. There are some property investors who do not purchase ex council houses and flats because they view re-sale as being difficult, however in London this is generally not the case, in fact some areas of predominantly ExLA housing has become very fashionable. There are some high-rise properties that are not suitable for mortgage and the values reflect this, such properties however can make extremely good buy-to-let investments. If you are considering selling your ex-local authority property we are usually able to provide an initial offer on the same day as your enquiry. We buy any ex-local authority property in London, regardless of tenants, condition or type of construction.
Neighbour disputes – It’s not very often we come across a dispute between neighbours, thankfully! But when there are disagreements and both neighbours cannot resolve the problem between themselves the 2 most common options are to instruct solicitors or to sell! We have come across situations where homeowners have become tired of the dispute, having spent more than they would have liked on legal fees, the only option is to sell. In one extreme case of a neighbour dispute that got out of hand the neighbour disrupted any attempt by the seller to market the property with an estate agent and would even disrupt viewings. It is important to let us know of any dispute that exists, but even so, we buy any disputed property in London! For details of our commitment to London property sellers please read our buying code or call us to discuss your requirements.
We buy any house fast in the UK
Since we buy all kinds of property throughout the UK, we are happy to consider buying you house no matter what the condition – dilapidated, damp problems and subsidence are not a problem for us.
The end of we buy any house scams
As a reputable home buyer since 2003, we aim to provide our customers with a trustworthy and reliable quick house sale no matter what the situation. Having seen other companies making the “We Buy Any House” promise it can be hard to decide which fast home buyer to choose. Please remember we are proud members of The Property Ombudsman and oblige by their rules and regulations. We would encourage you to call us and discuss how we can buy your house.
How to avoid “we buy any house” scams
Although many property buyers are well-respected and legitimate, there are unfortunately some bad actors who will use attractive “we buy any house” offers as elaborate scams.
They can be convincing, because they know how to get the attention of sellers no matter their situation or the size or condition of house or flat that the homeowner is trying to sell. Do you have a house that’s in disrepair? They will offer to buy it no questions asked. Do you need to sell in a hurry and can’t wait the many months an estate agent sale might take? A scam company will tell you they can buy at whatever timeline you want, even if it seems impossible.
Genuine property buying companies will be upfront and honest with you about potential limitations with your home and your selling situation, whereas scam companies will offer more than they can actually deliver on. Thankfully, there are a few simple steps you can take to help you determine a company’s legitimacy before you sell to them.
Research property buying companies
Sometimes detecting a scam company is as simple as entering their name in an internet search. If the company is problematic then there should be reviews available online describing this, or in some instances you might even find news articles about sellers’ bad experiences with scam companies – so in just a few minutes you could determine a company’s validity.
Be wary of “lock out” contracts
An early red flag when talking to a property buying company is if they express an interest in quickly buying your home but ask you to sign a “lock out” contract. This is a binding agreement that would mean the company has sole rights for buying or marketing your house for sale, and if you break the contract you could be forced to pay very expensive fees.
The reason why a lock out contract is suspicious with companies offering to make a quick purchase of your house or flat is that it’s at odds with their promise to secure you a fast sale. There’s no reason why the company should need a legally binding and lengthy pact given them exclusivity over the sale if they’re telling you they can buy it within a few days.
Check with property selling associations
Another way to see whether property buying companies are above-board is to check with professional property selling associations, such as the National Association of Property Buyers. They will have records of their members, and most companies that are official members of these organisations follow industry guidelines for making genuine offers to buy.
You can also check with The Property Ombudsman (TPO), which is an independent entity that aims to resolve disputes between buyers and sellers. The TPO has issued a host of official standards for property buying companies. If the buyer that you are talking to is a member of the TPO then you can be assured they are following the correct standards for home purchases.
Avoid companies offering “sale and rent back” deals
Scam companies know how to appeal to a homeowner’s most pressing needs, so that’s why they’ll promise a quick sale to those who are desperate to sell in a hurry. And they also act in unscrupulous ways for people who are at risk of having their homes repossessed and whose primary concern is financial. For these homeowners, scam companies may offer a “sale and rent back” deal that is a prominent sign of a buyer you shouldn’t trust.
Sale and rent back agreements sound simple, because the property buying company will offer to buy your house or flat and then let you stay in it and pay them rent. That can be a tempting deal to accept if you have fallen behind in paying your mortgage and might lose your home, because it solves the urgent financial need while also allowing you to stay in your property.
But the problem with these agreements is that it means you’ve lost your homeowner rights over the house or flat, and your ability to stay there depends entirely on the buying company and your agreement with them. They’ll now be your landlord and by law could try to get you to move out soon after.
Not all sale and rent back offers are scams, and there are some reputable companies that offer these agreements on terms that are fair to the homeowner. Check with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulatory body and whether the buying company is registered with them. If so, the sale and rent back offer will follow regulatory standards and can be trusted. If the company is not registered with the FCA, be extremely cautious about selling to them.
Be alert for “down valuations”
One of the biggest risks of selling to a scam company is that you might be promised what seems like a great price for your house or flat, only to have your offer price reduced close to exchange of contracts. This is known as a “down valuation” and occurs because the company is trying to lure you into selling to them by promising a price that might be more than you were expecting, then reducing the offer at a later stage.
It can be very tempting as a homeowner to accept the first generous offer for selling your home from one of these companies rather than researching further, or even pursuing an alternative route for selling such as through an estate agent. But be patient and wary, and be sure to ask the company many questions to help determine their authenticity.
If you ask a simple question such as “Will the final sale price be less than what you’re offering?” and you get an indirect and unclear answer, this is a warning sign.
Companies that use down valuations may also charge sellers administrative fees and other costs, so when you’re talking with them about a potential sale you should ask straightforward queries such as “Will you charge me any fees for buying my home?” Once again, if they don’t answer directly or fully, you should not sell to them.
Buying your home – Answering your questions
Making sure our customers have answers to all of their questions before deciding the best way to sell their property is paramount.
LDN Properties – We Buy Any House
Having provided our home buying service since 2003 both throughout London and across the country, we have been asked many questions – how do you buy my home fast? Can I sell my property with structural problems? Answers to such questions are essential to help you decide on your next step and to provide satisfaction that you are dealing with a reputable firm. Please take a read through our Knowledge Base for further details and answers to questions you may have.