Help needed on vendor's breach of contract

[smarmyarmy]

Hope any of you can help. We bought a house last month from an old couple. The man was quite a nasty, spiteful type of person, but we weren't really that bothered, as long as we got the house.

Anyway, in his contents list he said he would leave wall lights and toilet roll holders and a few other bits and pieces. However when we moved in, he had ripped quite a lot of stuff out of the walls and left numerous holes. He had removed all the toilet holders (I know it seems a bit trivial!), every single hook in the house, yanked lights out so wires were hanging out of the ceilings (our bedroom light didn't even work when we moved in) and also wall lights. In addition, he'd removed outside wall lights with live wires hanging out (which is pretty dangerous!).

What should we do? Is it worth pursuing? It has caused us a lot of inconvenience as we've had to get electricians out and also fill up all the holes.

He is in breach of contract right?

Any advice appreciated!

[Mumsnut]

You bet you should pursue it! I'm pretty sure that the rule is, if a light fixture is removed, another should be put up to replace it by the vendor.

I don't know how you should pursue it though - have you talked to the agents?

[smarmyarmy]

That's what I thought! When we sold our house, we filled up every single hole in the wall. He was a horrid little man, so I would like to see him pay for it!

[Fiddledee]

I would have taken photographs of each piece of damage, got the cost of the electricians and then probably pursue him through the small claims court.

[lalalonglegs]

Take photos and send them to your solicitor to send to the solicitor that he used for the conveyancing and ask for a response within 7 days.

How long ago did you move in? If it was more than a few days, I think your case may be a bit weakened by not taking action sooner. Have you tried to write to or phone the vendors before now?

[smarmyarmy]

We have taken phones and our solicitors are now writing to the vendor's solicitors. It has only been three weeks, so I'm going to see what happens.

[smarmyarmy]

sorry photos!!! (not phones)