Housebuilder sues buyers who allegedly failed to complete on £450k property

Berkeley Homes is suing a couple who, according to a High Court writ, agreed to buy a flat in Portsmouth for £450,000, but failed to complete the deal, despite paying £21,500 and exchanging contracts.

Allegedly, completion should have taken place on 30 May this year, but when this failed to happen, Berkeley served the couple with a special notice requiring them to complete the transaction by 16 June.

The writ says the couple told the company on 23 June that they still wanted to buy the property but had to sell an existing flat first. Later, it is claimed, the couple sent emails asking for their deposit back.