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Original poster

How does anyone buy a house from renting

27 replies

WeAreTheWeirdosMister · 18/01/2022 14:34

So I rent and started on the 25th of a month and have to give my notice on an anniversary of that date - so if I give notice now it doesn't start until 25th Jan and we'd leave 25th Feb...
I am currently in the process of buying and yesterday they've suggested we complete next Monday 25th Jan.

I am flustered to say the least - how do people do this - do I go for the Jan date and pay rent for an empty flat for a month (£1k) which would bereft me, or push the completion back and month putting everyone out?

Is this overlapping a normal cost I should have taking into account or do you usually get more than 7 days notice?

OP posts:
Pontypandytaxpayer · 18/01/2022 14:41

Normally a renter would let the estate agent know what their notice period is and say if it's a condition, e.g. that you need to know the completion date x number of weeks in advance.

Completion for next Monday is very short notice, surely no one will have much time to organise movers etc? How many are in the chain?

You could just suggest a later date and see what the vendors say.

Ohbotherpiglet · 18/01/2022 14:44

You either give notice early and risk being without a rental if something goes wrong or you wait until exchange.
You can push for delayed completion after exchange but that’ll only help you by a week or two

Original poster
WeAreTheWeirdosMister · 18/01/2022 14:45

I have told everyone at every point that I'd need notice - I even have an email from last Thursday - the 13th from my solicitor saying we aren't in a position to discuss dates yet - after reiterating I needed notice.

Just myself and vendor in chain and house is empty as it was being rented. Vendor is moving out of the country at end of Jan so I know they want to complete soon. But I didn't hand my notice in back in Dec because I was too scared it would take longer.

OP posts:
iloverunningslow · 18/01/2022 14:52

We had six months notice on our rental property because of the type of contract. When we exchanged we told the landlord and he agreed to waive the notice if he got a new tenant which he did.

PattyPan · 18/01/2022 14:58

We ended up with two weeks' overlap which was quite handy for being able to move stuff over in stages, paint, clean the rented place etc. Give your notice when you exchange and ask the agents/vendors for slightly longer between exchange and completion?

negomi90 · 18/01/2022 15:07

Ask to complete on the 20th so you have a few days overlap. That's what I did.

Pontypandytaxpayer · 18/01/2022 16:02

All you can do is refuse that date and suggest a different one. The seller is unlikely to pull out.

If they insist on a Jan completion then you could ask them to contribute to rent costs.

Pontypandytaxpayer · 18/01/2022 16:05

Also, your solicitor should be able to guide you on this! That's what you're paying them for.

SlipperyLizard · 18/01/2022 16:09

You should push back on the completion date - it is better for there to some overlap for cleaning etc, but not that much.

You could also speak to your landlord, many are willing to waive the strict rules for notice, so perhaps they will shave a week or so off (they may not, but no reason you shouldn’t ask).

JLQ1020 · 18/01/2022 16:10

We had 3 weeks overlap which suited us as meant we didn't have to rush with moving house and getting apartment clean at the same time.
We took into account the additional cost and looking back it well worth it for the less stress.

Hannahthepink · 18/01/2022 16:17

We gave our rental notice too early and ended up having to stay in a B&B for a week as our completion date was pushed back a fortnight. The B&B and storage facility cost us more than a months rent, so I'd definitely advise caution!

Mull · 18/01/2022 16:41

I didn’t want to give notice until we had exchanged as dates kept moving too much until then. There was 2 weeks between exchange and completion and we had to give 4 weeks notice so ended up with a 2 week overlap. This was actually really useful for moving, cleaning etc. Painful to have the double cost but worth it in my opinion.

Fluenty · 18/01/2022 17:32

We pushed it back 2 weeks, but offered to exchange on the date they wanted, so the sale was secured.
That meant we were only paying twice for a few weeks rather than a whole month
It gave us time to move things in less of a panic, and get in the house, clean it, decorate how we wanted
Clean the old rented place to hand back over, sort out post etc.
It was really useful and now when I move I’m always regretful I can’t have that window

Original poster
WeAreTheWeirdosMister · 18/01/2022 18:08

Thanks all, I've said I can complete 21st Feb (given myself a few days if overlap to move and clean) and I suppose if the vendor is desperate they can suggest a sooner date and a rent contribution.

OP posts:
Xfox · 18/01/2022 18:33

Check your dates and your tenancy agreement. If you started on 25th, you will almost certainly have to hand keys back on 24th and give notice on or before 24th. Make sure you allow time for them to receive it by that date too.

I'm having this issue around dates - vendors solicitors trying to move dates to after my notice date. Angry

NannaMcPhoo · 18/01/2022 18:47

We had a few weeks overlap and it was so worth it.

Champagneforeveryone · 19/01/2022 08:13

We're in this position now and I'm actually relieved there will likely be an overlap.

Frankly how people manage a complete move out of one house into another without either murdering a close family member or having a complete nervous collapse is beyond me.

purplesequins · 19/01/2022 08:15

a few weeks overlap is great. gives time to clean the new place. get wifi installed, those little repairs. possibly a paint job on that ugly feature wall...

IHaveToSay · 19/01/2022 08:15

We budgeted for the overlap, which ended up being nearly a month.

ImInStealthMode · 19/01/2022 08:17

I would overlap, it'll make life so much easier for moving!

I was renting when I bought and overlapped by a month, it meant I could get everything I wanted done in the new place done, get furniture delivered, do a bit of decorating before I moved in.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 19/01/2022 08:19

You won't pay a mortgage payment at the start of the mortgage so your rent will come out on 25 Jan but your first mortgage payment will be around 25th feb. That will give you a month also to clean and decorate the new place and move in a leisurely way.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 19/01/2022 08:20

@WeAreTheWeirdosMister

Thanks all, I've said I can complete 21st Feb (given myself a few days if overlap to move and clean) and I suppose if the vendor is desperate they can suggest a sooner date and a rent contribution.
You can complete any time before 25th feb and you won't pay an initial mortgage payment til over a month later anyway
Asdf12345 · 19/01/2022 08:21

We kept the rental for about six weeks after completion. It made moving and some decorating much easier.

purplesequins · 19/01/2022 08:21

we planned for an overlap, but due to delays completing on the new house didn't have one, including a week in a b&b and all our stuff in storage. well, that was hideous.

CharSiu · 19/01/2022 09:59

We had a 2 week overlap, because we left the rental house in such good condition and had cleaned everything the landlord gave us the two weeks rent back as he wasn’t going to have to arrange a deep clean.