Problems Buying a Caravan? Discover Your Rights!

Questioner

2 weeks ago we bought a caravan via Marktplaats, for which we paid 500 euros in advance because the caravan could not be placed with us immediately. Last Friday we went again to take some measurements for transport and installation. During the viewing we discovered that the electrical system in the caravan was not in good condition, the power cables had all been cut and there was no fuse box in the caravan. The seller now says that the caravan was connected to an external earth leakage circuit breaker, but there is no fuse box and the wiring is not in good condition. We have indicated that we want to cancel the sale because the power supply is not in good condition and that we want the deposit back. The seller says he does not want this and that we are not entitled to it? I would like to hear who is in the right. .VRG

Lawyer

You have a duty to investigate and the seller has a duty to inform. He deliberately concealed that the electrical system is not correct (I dare say that) but you did not investigate enough because this fact is too easy to notice. In principle, advance money is intended to provide certainty of purchase. But the purchased item must meet justified requirements that the buyer could expect from it or whose properties he did not have to doubt. So something special is going on. This gives you the right to at least partially cancel the purchase or apply a significant price reduction, or to cancel the purchase. But sometimes the latter is not justified. May I ask whether you paid a normal price for the caravan or was it already a bargain?

Questioner

Thank you for the response We paid the normal price. VRG

Lawyer

Then you must cancel the purchase and not appeal to the deposit. This can be done in a letter addressed to the seller. However, it will still be quite difficult to actually get your money back. If necessary, I can help you write the letter, that may make more of an impression.