Legal Advice on Real Estate Questions | Legal Advice Centre

Questioner

Ir/Madam, In response to our request for available building plots, the municipality sent us information about a number of plots for sale, including VON price. With the explicit mention by the responsible contacting municipal official that 2 plots had been sold, but the further information was up to date. However, when we discussed this with the municipality about 2 weeks later, we were told that an additional soil survey had to be carried out and that the plots would be reappraised. In the period that followed, we had regular contact with the municipality about the status of this. Ultimately, the municipality informed us 4 months later that the additional soil investigation had not revealed anything and that the final price would be known approximately 1 to 2 months later. Now the price is known and the municipality has informed us that it will be increased by more than 25%! The new valuation report is given as the only argument for this. The municipality ignores the fact that we have been in talks for some time about buying one of the plots, where initially a current substantially lower price was given. Then suddenly in 5 months time, there is an exorbitant price increase, which is further based on nothing. In addition, the municipality does not adhere to its own land price memorandum, which refers to a comparative method for determining prices. Can this all just happen? Are there any steps we can take? I look forward to hearing from you Kind regards.

Lawyer

It is difficult to give you a comprehensive answer based on the information provided. For this, it is important to know, among other things, what exactly was the scope of the previous information provided by the municipality. Was that information provided an offer, whereby an agreement could be reached by accepting that offer, or was it non-binding and indicative information on the basis of which no agreement could yet be reached. If you wish, I would be happy to look at the facts and documents in this case with you. I am a lawyer specialized in real estate law and I use a free introductory meeting to explore the possibilities. If you want, you can contact me for that.