My daughter is trying to move house, but she’s been gazumped twice – the last time was on the very week she was due to move in. The trouble is she had put some kitchen cupboards in the garage, with the owner’s permission, and now the new owner has put a padlock on the door to prevent her taking them away. Can he legally do this?
If the new owner won’t let your daughter have the cupboards back she may have to apply for a court order for their return; it’s very unwise to do anything to a property you’re buying until completion. “Gazumping” is not illegal, since in the case of buying and selling property no binding contract exists until it’s in writing.