Could I be taken to court if I don’t complete?


Yes — if you fail to complete your auction purchase, the seller can take you to court to recover their losses. This is because buying a property at auction creates a legally binding contract the moment the auctioneer’s hammer falls.

What you’re committing to

By placing the winning bid, you agree to:

  • Pay the 10% deposit immediately.
  • Complete the transaction within a set timeframe (usually 14 or 28 days).
  • Comply with all the contract terms and special conditions in the auction legal pack.

If you breach any of these terms — for example, by failing to complete — you are in contractual default.

What the seller can do

If you don’t complete, the seller is entitled to:

  • Keep your deposit.
  • Sue you for their losses.

This may include:

  • The difference in resale value (if they later sell for a lower price).
  • Their legal and auction costs.
  • Additional expenses, such as bridging finance or abortive purchase costs.