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Original poster

Can I change completion date

40 replies

Sellinghouses101 · 26/04/2024 22:59

Aibu

Sold my house STC

Used to be my home, had to relocate due to health reasons .

We didn't agree to a completion date.

Found out they want to complete on the same day the tenants move out.

I emailed solicitors saying I want to move date to a month later

Shit hit fan - buyer goes crazy

EA says she will walk if irs not tht day.

Back story , me n dh work full time , daughter is slap bang middle of gcses plus we are now 7 hours away too .

We wanted to go on the weekend the tenants move to empty

Loft etc .

EA now phoning me tomo and feels like he will ply on the pressure.

Aibu or should I be allowed to change date?

OP posts:
Haggisfish3 · 27/04/2024 09:09

Exchange is when contracts are exchanged and no one can pull out after that. Completion is when the property is no longer yours and the buyer can move in. Usually a few days or weeks between exchange (happens first) and completion. Be very clear about when each bit is expected when you are on phone today.

Original poster
Sellinghouses101 · 27/04/2024 09:06

Sorry , yes I mean exchange,
It's a furnished property so I need to empty it. And realistically can't do this in one day. I assumed completion and exchange was the same thing but I'll clear it up today I suppose!

OP posts:
ElinoristhenewEnid · 27/04/2024 09:02

As a buyer I would not exchange contracts until the tenants move out because you could end up committed to buying a house you can't move into if the tenants fail to vacate.

Duckinglunacy · 27/04/2024 07:40

Why don’t you find out the issue. It could be the mortgage offer running out. I think a few days is reasonable but anything more is less so. A month is ridiculous and I’d be fuming.

is the place furnished, as in do you have things to move out? If it’s unfurnished and you’re just going to check it’s clean and tidy for the buyers then you may be justified in negotiating that date but refusing to accept liability for the cleanliness and condition of the property.

But the buyer is insane if they want to move in the day the tenants move out as they may not be motivated to be cleared the moment the property ownership hands over (usually sometime in the middle of the day). That’s a fairly big risk and one I wouldn’t take on actually.

MultiplaLight · 27/04/2024 07:39

If you've not exchanged then legally you can, but the buyers can pull out too.

A month is a huge delay and you should have shared a prospective date frkm the start, not drop a month delay just before exchange.

WonderingWanda · 27/04/2024 07:39

You usually agree a completion date at exchange and you should have been very clear about the date your tenants were leaving. A month after that is really unreasonable but maybe having a week would be ok.

Catinmyshedoh · 27/04/2024 07:37

If you haven't exchanged you can do what you like but equally they can choose to pull out.

A month between exchange and completion is quite long, most people these days seem to expect a few days to a week. We had 3 weeks but that was on the long side.

whistleblower99 · 27/04/2024 07:36

A month delay is huge. Personally that would have caused us to pull out of our sale for specific reasons.

Mnk711 · 27/04/2024 07:34

Should you have agreed a completion date when? Before exchange? Yes definitely. That can be one of the things that can make people pull out. Good luck sorting it.

TeaKitten · 26/04/2024 23:19

A month to empty stuff is unreasonable, im not surprised they want to speak to you

Scampuss · 26/04/2024 23:17

Do you mean exchange or complete?

Your buyers would be very naive to exchange, let alone complete, with tenants in situ.

Are you prepared for if your tenants don't leave?

And, do you really need a month to empty stuff?

Hall84 · 26/04/2024 23:16

Have you exchanged? If so, then no. If not, fair game but a month might be too long.
They wouldn't find another house that would complete in time depending on the dates so you can be equally firm.

Original poster
Sellinghouses101 · 26/04/2024 23:09

Mnk711 · 26/04/2024 23:04

YABU. A month is a big delay. Why can't you just move it a couple of days if you feel you can't do that same day?

I have now asked the EA for a week but they want to phone me tomorrow .

Should a date have been agreed beforehand.

OP posts:
SalviaDivinorum · 26/04/2024 23:04

The buyer may have equally strong reasons for wanting to complete that day.

They may be bluffing - or they may not.

Mnk711 · 26/04/2024 23:04

YABU. A month is a big delay. Why can't you just move it a couple of days if you feel you can't do that same day?