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Original poster

Seller lied about being ready to move - I'm stressed and scared.

86 replies

HouseNightmarePanic · 20/03/2024 17:15

This is my first house purchase. I think I allowed my stress and panic at being evicted to cloud my judgement? I've been foolish. I don't need a kicking though...

I currently rent a house. Landlord is selling it. My section 21 runs out mid April.

I managed to scrape together enough for a deposit to buy a small home of my own. House prices around here are very high so to be able to find one in my budget was a small miracle. I cannot rent anymore - not only because I can't deal with a LL ever again but if I do it will take everything I've saved. I think it's my only option though. I know that I am very fortunate to be able to private rent and save for a house deposit and people have it a lot tougher than me but I was so close to being free from renting.

From the beginning I was very up front with everyone involved that I was on a tight timeline, that I was being evicted and I wanted to move fast. I viewed the house the day after it went on the market and I put an offer in during the viewing. I explained the situation and I was told the seller was ready to move and was very motivated to get everything done quickly as well. The chain was me at the bottom, seller, and 1 more person. Seller accepted my offer the next day.

It's been 7 weeks and everything on my part was completed last week. I asked my (brilliant) solicitor if there was an update on seller's progress and she emailed me this morning that actually the seller has not found anywhere to live and is still looking but is taking the time to find the right house.

I'm going to have to pull out of the sale, aren't I? But this will mean I will lose all fees etc. that I've already paid? There's no way the seller is going to move within 4 weeks.

What happens when I pull out?

Would it be possible to try and put an offer in a definitely empty/chain free house and get it done quickly?

I've fucked up and I don't know what to do.

OP posts:

ForNaiceHiker · 20/03/2024 17:17

the seller didn’t lie op

bilbodog · 20/03/2024 17:18

Can you ask your landlord if you can stay longer? Can you move in with family or friend for a few weeks?

buying property is always like this and most transactions take 3 months anyway.

can you find a short lease somewhere?

ForNaiceHiker · 20/03/2024 17:18

stay with family or friends?
budget hotel
storage for furniture etc?
short term rental?

HotChocWine · 20/03/2024 17:19

Are the baliffs coming mid April to enforce the section 21? Or is that when the LL has to go back to court?

Have you spoken to your LL and explained the situation ? They may be happy for you to stay a few more weeks.

Therealmetherealme · 20/03/2024 17:23

Ask the estate agent, the sellers may move in with family, maybe rent somewhere. Your purchase can go through without them having to buy. Inform them you're on a deadline and will pull out if they don't confirm timelines. I think some solicitors can put in classes, where it costs the seller if they pass a deadline.

mnahmnah · 20/03/2024 17:24

We moved out for our buyer as we didn’t want to lose them, but we had 6 weeks before the one we were buying would complete. Lived with family for those weeks. Could you suggest this to your seller? Or, you move in with family? Get a good deal with an Airbnb or caravan park?

RhubarbGingerJam · 20/03/2024 17:24

Look at storage costs - some removal firms do it.

We had endless delays with this house - our stuff in storage and 5 of us camped with relatives - could could look at short term lets or try talking to the landlord for extra weeks.

DH had his landlord - before marriage and kids - need him out two weeks just as he was moving areas and did two weeks of hotels.

Octavia64 · 20/03/2024 17:25

Average time from offer to moving in was 13 weeks last summer.

You are very unlikely to find somewhere that you can buy in 4 weeks.

Options:
You go to Airbnb while waiting
They move out to rented to keep the sale

hedgehoglurker · 20/03/2024 17:27

I think you are likely worrying too much. Has a court ordered your eviction or have you given notice to the landlord? If not, your tenancy is unlikely to end in April.

Shelter has lots of information.

MushMonster · 20/03/2024 17:27

Do not pull out. Put your things in storage and stay with friends or family.
Really, it will be a short time. And you would have nowhere to go anyway.

MiltonNorthern · 20/03/2024 17:27

You aren't being evicted: you don't have to leave in April. You might want to pull out of the purchase if the seller hasn't even found a property to offer on but you don't have to leave your current property.

MushMonster · 20/03/2024 17:30

And try to talk to your solicitor and seller and ser a final date for them moving out.

Namenamchange · 20/03/2024 17:33

Speak to the estate agents, ask for a time line, and what she is looking for? Has she decided where she would like to live? Or is she still looking at different areas? All this will give you an ideas if she’s wants to move.

Zonder · 20/03/2024 17:35

Explain to LL and ask for a few weeks more. 7 weeks is pretty quick to expect to move so hang in there.

638298362a · 20/03/2024 17:35

Rent a air Bnb for a month or 2

leamington66 · 20/03/2024 17:36

Was your offer conditional on a move in date?

MiltonNorthern · 20/03/2024 17:36

638298362a · 20/03/2024 17:35

Rent a air Bnb for a month or 2

Why? When she can just stay in her house?

hairbrush1234 · 20/03/2024 17:37

Unfortunately nothing is binding until you exchange - the system in this country is crazy. There's usually a month between exchange and completion anyway - sounds like you were expecting 11 weeks from offer to completion which is pretty unusual. I would hold tight - can you rent somewhere else short term in the meantime? Can you offer more money conditional on exchange within a week and completion 3w after that and your seller then rents?

Original poster

HouseNightmarePanic · 20/03/2024 17:38

Even with staying after the s21 ends it won't buy us that much time. Courts are moving quickly here, could be as little as 8 weeks.

I have no family here and friends would not be able to take us in.

I could not afford an airbnb.

I'm looking for a short term tenancy but the 2 I called about already want 12 months. I will keep looking.

One of my children has complex physical needs. I don't know if we could stay in a hostel? I've never stayed away from home with them.

Will look for a storage facility.

OP posts:

LittleOwl153 · 20/03/2024 17:38

Neither your seller or you if you start again are going to complete in 4 weeks.

Go back to the solicitor tell them the deadline is mid April and without a completion date before then you will need to reduce your offer to account for costs of rental etc until the move can happen.

Realistically though I think you will either have to find somewhere to crash or pull out. Buying/selling houses is stressful.

I'm about to have to tell a buyer that the house they plan to move into by the end of April now has to go through probate. There is some leway in the chain but likely not enough. Nothing anyone can do but hope that the probate goes through quickly.

MiltonNorthern · 20/03/2024 17:42

Have you asked the landlord if they will be flexible given that you're looking to buy?
I think 8 weeks is very unrealistic!

ForNaiceHiker · 20/03/2024 17:45

7 weeks completion aim was not just ambitious it was nothing short of daft.

your expectations should have been managed by your solicitor

have you even had a survey?

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 20/03/2024 17:45

Don't pull out! You'll be in an even worse situation.

Just stay where you are... the LL won't be able to sell the house you're in any quicker than you can buy your new home.

You can also get your solicitor to ask the vendor if THEY can move out into a rental to let you move in.

ForNaiceHiker · 20/03/2024 17:46

I managed to scrape together enough for a deposit to buy a small home of my own.

how much is the property you’re buying?

did you factor in solicitor fees, surveyors, moving costs?

ForNaiceHiker · 20/03/2024 17:46

One of my children has complex physical needs

is this property even suitable for them?

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