What to do if you do no longer want to sell your home

Have you changed your mind and no longer want to sell your home? Here's what happens and how to proceed.

It can happen that you have second thoughts about selling a property. If you have decided not to sell your home, know that it is possible to do so, but the consequences vary depending on the status of the negotiation.

Let's look at each case individually to see how to proceed and what legal responsibilities you may have.

Case 1: you have put your house up for sale but have not yet received or accepted an offer

At this stage, you can withdraw without legal consequences, but be careful how you have handled the listing:

• Private sale: you can simply remove the advertisement and stop offering the property for sale

• Selling with an agency: if you have signed a sales agreement, the property will remain on the market until the contract expires. Do not renew the agreement and formally notify the agency to avoid misunderstandings

In summary: as long as you have not accepted an offer, you can change your mind without penalty.

Case 2: you have accepted an offer or signed a preliminary agreement

Here the situation changes: you are bound by a contractual agreement and changing your mind may result in financial or legal obligations.

If you have already received a deposit:

• If the buyer accepts your change of mind, you will have to return double the deposit
• If the buyer does not accept, they can go to court and request the forced transfer of ownership (specific performance) or the termination of the contract with a claim for damages (usually double the deposit)

Remember: the accepted proposal and the signed preliminary agreement are legally binding, even if the final deed has not yet been signed