Thanks for reading!

We were from the Charleroi region and left everything behind to buy a house on 29 September 2023 on rue du Romarin in Ploegsteert, in the Comines area, and at the same time move closer to our family. This little farmhouse had caught our eye, and we immediately pictured ourselves in this large garden perfect for housing our animals, but were soon disillusioned.

<< We visited this single-storey house and everything seemed fine, at least on the surface >>.

The only thing we didn't like was the fact that there was a trap door to the attic, but no ladder to climb up to it. Apparently, the agency had never had access.

My partner had an accident and injured his leg, and I also have a disability in my arm, so we didn't know how to check. All I could do was stick my head in and the roof structure seemed to be in good condition. As the property was being sold through an agency, we trusted them.

We thought that if the agency had done its job properly, it must have checked everything and made any overjections. Especially as in the advert it was just noted that the veranda needed renovating, but there was no mention of any other problems.

But since we moved in last October, we've had one disappointment after another. In October, my nephew went up into the attic to put rodent poison in and said << Uncle, it's raining in the house >>. I managed to pull myself up as best I could and the water was pouring down into the attic. I cried my eyes out! You could see daylight between the framework and the concrete belt. In fact, at the bottom of the attic, it looks like the framework is barely holding. There are even reinforcing bars, but the former owner still says he didn't know about it. If I'd seen that before, I'd never have bought the house at that price!

We've tried to contact the agency and the former owner, but they won't listen. << According to them, it's nobody's fault >>.

"We hired a bailiff and an expert in real estate architecture, they both came to see the condition of the house on site and they made a report that clearly says there are hidden defects. There is 70% humidity in the house, but it's all hidden. After seeing all these defects, the expert estimated the house at €110,000, whereas we paid €178,000 for it. We've hired a specialist lawyer and the case is now before the courts.

Despite everything, we love this house and its garden. We'd like the house to be revalued at its fair value and for us to be able to recover the difference so that we can carry out the work.

Since then, we've been in legal proceedings for a year! We can't do anything for the time being because we don't have the money. Lack of manpower, etc. The only thing is that we've been able to clear the land and develop it, and there was a lot of dirt on it!

We thought the worst, abandonment in every sense of the word!

We suffer injustice, theft, insecurity and guilt!

So we did! I said to myself, why not start a fund? Who knows! There are still people out there who understand, who can do something for us!

It's hard to ask for help, because we're independent. From the start we've done everything ourselves! To get this result!

Our project was legitimate and we did everything we could to get it. But not this way!

Thanks again to all of you who can make a small contribution! You who can share!

I'll keep you posted on what happens next.

Bauffe Cédric