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.










