Damage caused to a property just before exchange - who is liable?

[Guest]

I recently purchased a property in London.

My designer visited the property a week before we exchanged with the agent and noticed the back door had been left open.

I exchanged and completed the same day, when I arrived at the property the door had been blown off its hinges by the wind. This has cost me £1400 to fix.

Can I claim this back from the seller? Or the sellers agent for being negligent and leaving the door open after viewings? I can get a written statement from my Designer to the effect that the door was left open.

[2222]

You purchased the property in the condition it was in at the moment you exchanged contracts. It's always a good idea to take a look round just before exchanging, btw.

Your designer's evidence does not definitely determine whether the damage took place before or after exchange, but there's a very very good chance that the door broke beforehand, as it had a week to flap around in the wind before exchanging, and there was presumably only a matter of minutes between exchanging and completion. After completion, it was your responsibility.