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

[HouseNightmarePanic]

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.

Yep. Lots of people have to stay on past the s21 notice because housing is fucked in this country. Most people aren't arseholes looking to take the piss, they just need to find somewhere to live. It would be much better for the OP to try to negotiate with the landlord rather than surprise them with the news she's not leaving though.

Of course they can do exactly that. It’s their house? Until contracts are exchanged they could even decide not to move at all if they like!

@MeinKraft they can do exactly that!!

Your beef here is with the solicitors and estate agents, who should all have properly confirmed the chain was complete and advised you not to do all your bits until it was.

the op knew she had 7 weeks to complete when she put her offer in and that she has a child with serious physical disabilities

but what’s weird is that she also says from the outset she did not “expect to move in until June”

which is much longer than 7 weeks!!

Could you put everything into storage and look at other properties? If ones already vacant, that would be idea for you.

I'm so confused by your solicitor allowing things to get to this stage when the chain was not complete. They should warn you against spending money out without a complete chain. If your seller had a property but it fell through then they should be working with you to try and get their sale to go ahead. It could take ages for them to find somewhere and then the conveyancing process will be months. So you either need to find a 6 month rental or if you can't apply for council housing as you are being made homeless.

I'm so confused by your solicitor allowing things to get to this stage when the chain was not complete

what “stage”? the op hasn’t exchanged or anything like that!

This. One house I bought the seller moved in with his mother so sale could go ahead.

The OP really is the weaker party in any negotiations at this point

It’s the OP frantically working to a tight timeline
It’s the OP very restricted with options both financially and fact she has a child with complex physically conditions

So i think advice to start throwing down conditions and clauses and penalties will be met with 🤔 from the seller

@beliefbelieve progressing all the posters side of the conveyancing without highlighting what a sunk cost it was without a complete chain? Mine suggested hanging fire until the chain completed otherwise it was wasted money. So thats what we did they were basically on stand buy until everyone was ready and then swung into action. OP seemed not to be aware of the chain situation which at least on the surface suggests issue with the solicitor communicating with their client and managing their expectations. As it is they have done a survey I presume, all their searches and probably spent all the legal fees quoted with nothing to show for it. Very much depends on if the vendor has changed position or not