Completion dates help needed please!

[Missy44]

I've spent this afternoon in the solicitors office with df signing the exchange documents for a house we are trying to buy. We had just finished signing the paperwork when we had a phone call from our estate agent, telling us that the people above us in the chain now can't complete until August, we had previously planned to move in early June.

The person at the top of the chain is moving into a care home which won't be ready until August. The people above us had previously planned to move into rented accomodation to allow us to complete quickly, as that was one of the conditions of us buying that house over a similar house in the same street (we've already paid hundreds on the valuation so we can't pull out now)

We are living at home with parents at the moment so really need to move quickly. Does anyone have any experience of speeding things up. There are 4 people in the chain above us, we are first time buyers so should be in a strong position, but it feels like we're quite helpless. Come on mumsnetters, give me your best tips!

[Lottiesinteriors]

Do you have the kind of relationship with the people above you in the chain to be able to get together with them to discuss the situation?.....see if you can explain your 'desperate' situation (lay it on thick that you need to move out of parents home.....that is why the purchase of theirs seemed ideal....that you are under real pressure but really don't want to pull out....etc etc) and see if there is any way they may re consider renting? Failing that, I think you are in a difficult situation as the top of the chain seems to be calling the shots and probably not able to change their situation. Your best bet is to try and break the chain lower down somehow. Or you just have to wait I'm afraid. Good luck. House buying is a frustrating, annoying process at times!