Re: Drop in house price
Hmm. It's an interesting one.
Not sure but...You could try to tell the builder that you simply do not have the funds now as you can't get a mortgage anymore given the credit crunch.
You could also tell him you can now only get a lesser mortgage than originally anticipated and will only be able to pay that amount.
At which point the builder could try to sue you for the remainder.
If you have it through other assets then he would quite possibly be successful if he went to the trouble of suing you.
However if you genuinely do not have it then he can sue you all he wants but he would be left with your deposit and an unsold house which he probably would not be able to sell.
So in a nutshell - if you call his bluff he may just give you a few quid off just in case he is lumped with the thing.
Worth a shot anyway.