Six ideas to consider before you buy your dream seaside property

THE Consumer Crew are here to solve your problems.

Mel Hunter will take on readers’ consumer issues, Jane Hamilton will give you the best advice for buying your dream home, and Judge Rinder will tackle your legal woes.

Jane Hamilton, property expert

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Cool ideas to beat the heat

WE really do love to be beside the seaside. New research from Rightmove revealed a wave of buyers moving to coastal towns.

Properties by the sea are selling 20 days quicker than in 2019, dropping from an average of 71 to 51 days.

So if you plan to ditch the town for the beach, here’s what to consider first.

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1) Can you still commute to your job or work remotely? Can you line up new employment? Many seaside roles are seasonal so work out how to keep money coming in all year round.

2) Properties in the most sought-after seaside towns can cost more than in major UK cities. A sea view comes at a hefty premium.

3) Will you need parking? Few older homes in coastal areas have driveways so you’ll be competing against tourists for on-road parking, which can be hard to find in popular places. Buying a parking spot can cost £40,000 in top resorts.

4) What amenities do you need? Big coastal towns are well served but smaller villages may not have as many shops or transport links.

5) Consider property maintenance. Owning a seaside home brings extra challenges. Sun and water damage, rust and mildew are more prevalent, so assess your costs.

6) Try before you buy. Rents drop over winter so try the town for six months in a quiet season. If you still love it, make your move.

 Buy of the week

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THE Isle of Wight is the UK’s best-value location for sunseekers.

It soaks up an average of 164 hours of sunshine each month and the average house price is just £225,000.

Snap up this two-bed bungalow with sundeck, in the village of Wroxall in Ventnor, for £214,500. See zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/58919231.

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Deal of the week

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GO DOTTY for this monochrome spot rug from George at Asda. Prices range from £18 to £25 depending on size.

SAVE: £25 on similar elsewhere

Judge Rinder, legal expert

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‘‘The £25,000 motorhome we bought second hand leaks. I’ve learned it was a write-off, but the seller is ignoring me’’

Q) OUR weeks ago I bought a motor home privately for £25,000. When we used it a week later, it leaked. I messaged the seller but he did not reply.

Three weeks later we decided to sell it as we did not enjoy camping. I had a buyer ­prepared to pay £25,000 but when he inspected it, he went on the roof and found extensive damage.

I took it to a garage, who advised it could cost thousands to repair and we should return it as unfit for purpose.

We got an HPI vehicle status check, as advised by the garage, and discovered it has been a Category-N write-off. The seller failed to declare this. He has ignored two hand-delivered letters and blocked me on ­messenger.

I have the advert and copied the letters and texts. Can I claim my cash back from this fraudulent seller?

Sue, Devon

A) In many cases this situation would be a total disaster. When buying vehicles from private sellers, the law of “buyer beware” may still apply, which is why it is always wise to buy from a commercial dealer.

However, in this case there appears to be no doubt that the seller of the ­motorhome not only knew it was defective but – worse still – misrepresented to you that it was in a sellable condition when it had been written off.

It seems to me that you have a cast-iron legal case for a full refund.

As the seller has ignored you, you need to up the ante and send a letter (by recorded delivery) saying you will return the vehicle and expect a refund within 14 days or you will be taking the matter to court.

I would suggest getting some legal assistance in this case as the value of the claim is more than the limit for the small claims court. Be tough.

Q) I RETURNED home on a flight on July 13 but did not remove the dust cover from my case as it only had shoes and coats in so I didn’t need to empty it straight away.

When I did take off the cover, I realised the case had been smashed.

I reported the damage to the airline but it said I was too late as I should have done so within seven days. I believe I should be ­entitled to compensation and the airline is using this as an excuse. Is there anything I can do?

Elaine, London

A) Many airlines have a seven-day cut-off for when passengers are entitled to a claim for damaged luggage.

They usually set this out in their terms and conditions in very small print (which you should check).

In this case, the airline is not trying to fob you off. It is arguing (which it is perfectly ­entitled to) that it was up to you to check your luggage within a week of getting home.

You will have an uphill struggle in this case, but you should write to the head of customer services, nevertheless.

Explain that you did not become aware of the damage because of the dust cover so the seven-day limitation should only run from when you realised what had happened.

I would then make clear how disappointed you are and that you would rather not take this matter to court but are prepared to.

With a strongly enough worded letter, the airline may apply discretion in this case and compensate you regardless of their rules, though I strongly doubt it.

Mel Hunter, reader’s champion

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Flights refund is grounded

Q) LAST year we booked a holiday for our family of ten to Florida with American Airlines to travel in April 2021. Due to government guidelines we were not able to travel, but have been refused a refund and told we must use the ­vouchers by the end of 2021.

We are unable to do this as my granddaughter, Evie, one of the passengers, has been diagnosed with cancer at the age of 21 months. I have made the airline aware of the circumstances and have sent proof of her illness in the hope it extends this to June 2022, but it still refuses a refund.

I have spoken to ATOL, our insurance company and also Barclaycard and have been told by them all that as the flight was operating they are unable to help us.

The cost of the flights was £6,600 and we really are not able to afford to lose this money.

Tina, West Sussex

A) I asked American Airlines for a little flexibility in what were exceptional circumstances, explaining that a refund would really help relieve this additional stress, or that even just shifting the voucher expiry date would be an appreciated alternative.

The airline had offered to refund Evie’s flight costs, but clearly that was no help as she couldn’t be left at home alone, plus you all want to be able to travel together when you can. She is battling through neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer that affects around 100 young kids in the UK each year.

American Airlines came good. Once we had re-sent it a letter from the specialists treating Evie, it refunded all your flight costs, giving your family a ­little positive news in such a difficult year.

An American Airlines spokesperson told me: “On behalf of all at American, we wish Evie a full recovery, and the very best for the future.”

All of us at The Sun wish her the same

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A) DUE to Covid rules, I couldn’t travel by train from Havant to Newcastle last Christmas.

I emailed Trainline, which I’d booked with, for advice and it told me to book a new journey when allowed, and to forward the transaction number to it for a refund.

I did this and returned the tickets. I phoned it at the end of April and was told to expect the refund in up to ten days.

Further emails followed and I was told at the start of June it would be refunded within five days, but I still received nothing.

I have only followed what its emails told me to do. I am still £137.50 out of pocket.

Barbara, Hants

A) There is a bit of a complicated system of refunds depending where passengers live and where and when they were due to travel.

But you had clearly been told to send your tickets back for the refund you were owed. You followed the instructions to the letter and still your refund had been derailed.

I got in touch with Trainline and got things back on track, and you got your money quickly refunded.

Trainline told me the delay was due to a miscommunication which it is reviewing to ensure it doesn’t affect other customers in the future.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk