People buying our house want us to pay their rent - is this reasonable?

[ragle]

Hi,
We are leaving the country on October 30th and agreed to sell our house to a couple on condition that completion occurred on 24th October. Today they said they wanted to delay completion until 10th November unless we paid their rent (£700). On all the property documents the completion date has been set for 24th October. They have also delayed exchange, which was supposed to have happened by now and we have bent over backwards to accommodate their every whim in order to keep the sale on track. I feel completely over the barrel and I am so angry with these people! But is this normal to pay the buyers rent so they are not left paying rent and a mortgage to get the completion date originally agreed on?
Any advice very welcome!

Personally, I would rather lose the sale and pay more mortgage on my own property than cave into the demands of shysters like this

Oh dear, their professional roles mean they are doing this totally intentionally and it may not be the last trick they pull - I'd definitely call their bluff. Good luck.

If she's a solicitor, especially a conveyancing one, then she should know better. She of all people will know how stressful this is for you. If they are moving from rented and you're not buying on, there's no chain so it sounds like she's in complete control. Cheeky bugger. And I speak as a former property (now corporate) solicitor.

Oh the cheeky bastards!

Years ago when buying our house, the seller said they weren't in a chain. The liars were. They out the moving date back 6 weeks from what we'd agreed. We had to move on the date we'd previously agreed as our buyers were coming from abroad on that date to start jobs! I really, really wanted to pull out but had been made redundant and knew we'd struggle to arrange another mortgage so went along with it with gritted teeth - I was so angry though at the lying bastards having us over a barrel.

Ultimately I think if it comes down to you being stuffed if they pull out you might have to suck it up. If you can out the house back on the market without hurting yourselves then call their bluff.

I would tell them to fuck off and probably tell the agents to do one as well.

If I had to write the cheque I would post date the bugger for the exchange date. If they want to be arseholes they can handle that at least.

For the moving date, not exchange- ie 10/11 Nov

i'd say bollocks to them as well! tell them to swivel.

you can rent your house out, or sell it while you're abroad.

oh and disinstruct that agent. he's a tosser, probably on a cut too.

I very much doubt they will pull out if you don't pay the £700. We agreed with our vendors to move by 23rd of month two years ago. Three weeks before they said they would do it if we paid their rent for the inbetween property. I told them that this wouldn't happen, no explanation, just a big fat no. We completed on 23rd as agreed.

Absolutely call their bluff. Given their jobs they're not going to struggle to find 700 quid.

They want a cheque before exchanging? C'mon! Your agent needs sacked.

I would call their bluff.

I would offer rent if I wanted to delay events causing them further rental charges but no way would I if they wanted the delay

Call their bluff and tell the agent to take a running jump. Instruct a new agent

A friend offered to pay rent because of the buyers situation and how she had to be in on a set day or she would walk away. They bust a gut to be out, the owners of the house they were buying let them move in pre completion all to accommodate this womanand she didn't even bother moving in until the following week!

Tell them NO. I can guarantee they are trying it on and will miraculously be able to proceed as they are meant too.

at people saying offer half. WTF should she? The vendors are bullies and chancers. Never give in to bullies.

If they are prepared to walk away for the sake of £700, let them. Twats.

Because itsfab the OP is leaving the country. Does she really want to start from scratch from hundreds of miles away? It's all very well with you calling them 'twats' but it's not you who will have to live with the consequences. For the sake of £700.

Incidentally, the OP is the vendor, you've just called a chancer and a twat.

It feels dodgy to me - the whole doing their own conveyancing bit - is that actually legal ? (Vague memories of working for a mortgage company and something about fraud).

Their professional roles mean they have saved costs in the house buying and therefore don't have much to lose, compared to usual buyers who will have forked out for legal fees that they are liable for regardless. Massive red flags.

I would seriously call their bluff, and I would be prepared to walk away from the sale. Why don't you rent your house out while you're away? Is it in London?

well, if they get away with this, they will try something else next.

I reckon they sound like the kind of wankers who will ask for another £5k off or something the day before exchange or they'll pull out.
I would rather cut my nose off to spite my face if anyone pulls this on me.
Say no. Fuck off.

What you going to do, OP?

could you say you will pay it and add it to the cost of the house.

Oh don't be so silly Bowlersarm, It is obviously the person demanding the rent being paid I was calling a twat.

Another one strongly in the 'no' camp. I sold my flat to a friend of the lady in the flat downstairs without using estate agents (don't see the need for them, they don't actually do anything). All was going well until the buyer decided that she wanted another two months before exchange. As the downstairs lady had a key, I sent a friend of a friend round as a prospective buyer - surprisingly everything happened pdq after that. Don't do it, say no and walk away.

Tell them to F Off. Jeez, they sound like right bastards.