So disappointed

[GRMA]

So, after 20 years of renting together, my DH and I are buying our first house together. After a year of searching, we found our forever home. We had all our ducks in a row with every aspect, thanks to the help of a really good broker, and we got the ball rolling right away.
We notified our solicitor in early February, explaining that we are hoping (praying) to exchange as soon as possible because we must hand in our written notice on our rental property by March 28th, giving our landlord one month's notice.
We're holding off on giving our notice until the contracts and keys have been exchanged, just in case anything unforeseen comes up at the last minute.
We'd like to be out by the end of April because our landlord has told us that he is planning a complete rewire of our rental house, which will affect every room with floor boards, additional wall sockets, etc. and other issues that we don't want to deal with when we're moving out.
The sellers accept that a quick exchange is fair and practical. And they've been really welcoming.
With a week to go and no answer, I contacted our solicitor to inquire, only to receive an email indicating that the searches are still underway and will not be finished until March 31st. so no completion date can be agreed.
We're devastated because we'll have to put up with the rewiring mess, and the sellers are worried because they'll have to rearrange their removals van.
I am trying to see the brighter side of the situation,

1. We may in theory complete in early April, and both houses will be operational, allowing us to complete some of the work on the new house we were planning before moving in.
2. Give the services provider some time to work things out.

Who am I kidding I am very disappointed ☹ and so are the sellers.
Thank you for reading

You don't have to allow the work to start while you are still paying rent

It's always difficult to get leaving a rental to coincide with exchange/completion on a purchase.

Unfortunately there are (and have been for some time) long delays with searches at the moment. Partly because of Covid (people working remotely so maybe not as efficient) and also due to the increase in house sales.
I'm surprised that your solicitor didn't manage your expectations appropriately when you discussed the need to move quickly. In our area, they're advising a minimum of 12-16 weeks for a house purchase to reach completion.

@Wishitsnows

You don't have to allow the work to start while you are still paying rent

This

It is hard to tell the timelines from your post, but I think you might have had some unrealistic expectations. You should be keeping track of things like searches coming back and if you had, you would have known that you were not on track to exchange in the next week.

I have found some solicitors are not great at keeping clients informed and you need to keep on at them. I would suggest going forward, you keep better track of the various steps that need to be carried out, like searches, surveys, dealing with the other sides questions etc.

We are going to have the same issues, apart from we haven’t sent the searches off yet as still waiting on the paperwork from the sellers. It’s making me twitchy. Ideally want to give notice before may 22nd in the rental. We are only moving a short distance so will be moving ourself and gives us more time to clean both ends, but I really don’t want to be paying loads extra rental!

Keep badgering your solicitors for updates.

This was always optimistic, particularly at this time. Your timeline is possible but unlikely and always was.

I thought you were going to say the deal fell through.

You're buying your forever home, why so doom and gloom?

What is the notice period? Does your tenancy roll over onto automatic 30 day renewals or will it automatically renew for another year.

Could you speak to your landlord to come to an agreement on notice?

So it’s sounds like things have just been pushed out by a couple of weeks? Unless I’ve missed something?

I thought you were going to say you’d missed out on the house altogether - that would be reason for being devastated, not a small delay.

Just don't allow the work on the rental and wait the few more weeks needed.

Sounds simple enough.

@Cadent You are right. It shouldn't be all doom and gloom because it's worth waiting for; the notice period is 4 weeks, and yes, the tenancy rolls on to another year; we've spoken to the landlord (agent) and they agreed to wait until the end of April because by law, the landlord can't rent the property because it failed the electrical inspection, so they can't rent it out to someone until it's fixed;

In hindsight, I think our hopes were unrealistic. I suppose because we were so well organised, we just thought everything would run smoothly. christ As soon as the offer was accepted, I had the house packed up and ready to go. :)

Your right a small delay I need to think class half full
Thank you for kicking my butt Nicely xx

Just tell the landlord they can't do the work until you move out. It's not the end of the world.

I am in the middle of a house move at the moment so you have all my sympathy. It has taken a year to get everything sorted - searches are very slow at the moment I am afraid. It is very frustrating. But hopefully I will be moving on Thursday. It is so frustrating when everything moves so slowly and is out of your control.

I send you lots of fellow feeling and hope very much that you will get to be in the house you want - fingers crossed!

Congratulations on buying your house! You may feel downhearted right at this moment, but think of it this way - everyone has a story to tell about the time they moved house! This is yours! In, what is really only a few weeks time, you will be sat in your new home reminiscing about how organised you were and no one else was and you may even chuckle (she added hopefully).

Good luck

Sorry but you were overly optimistic.

Last house move about as simple as could be and still took six months from offer accepted until in the door. The searches can take 12 weeks easily and that is without added covid delays.

Unfortunately it just takes a long time, but if you love the house you are buying then you never need to do it again.