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Original poster

House buying & property

16 replies

Crazyoldmaurice · 11/05/2020 15:23

Does anyone know if there has been an update today regarding house buying/solicitors/surveyors?

We had sold our flat and was awaiting our buyer getting a survey arranged and had our offer accepted on a vacant house we wanted to buy and needed to arrange a survey a day before lockdown; we are still desperate to go ahead with this so just wondering if surveys can resume yet?

OP posts:
JemIsMyNameNooneElseIsTheSame · 11/05/2020 15:26

I just posted the same question! We were ready to exchange contracts when everything ground to a halt. I can't see anything re house moves Sad

Feelinghistoric · 11/05/2020 15:27

I’m so keen to know! It’s such a basic thing, and so important to so many people. How can they be clear about FUCKING ANGLING and not this??

JemIsMyNameNooneElseIsTheSame · 11/05/2020 15:30

Haha, I was going to say exactly the same thing. Imagine they all sat around debating whether we should be allowed to play tennis and ran out of time to discuss the complete stall in the housing market.

Feelinghistoric · 11/05/2020 15:32

Exactly!! This whole thing has been done from the point of view of a group of men who’ve thought through what matters to them (golf. GOLF??) and not to what matters to everyone else. Aaaargh.

Feelinghistoric · 11/05/2020 15:33

And they probably all have nice families, so hasn’t occurred to them that people on their own are going absolutely loopy. Sorry. Derailing rant. Does anyone know anything about the housing market?

Sunshineonacloudyday20 · 11/05/2020 15:36

Watching for this too!!!! Ftb and so keen for the market to get back on its feet again- hoping a similar question gets asked in parliament now!

Original poster
Crazyoldmaurice · 11/05/2020 15:41

We are so desperate for the house we offered on; currently living with inlaws with 2 kids under 5 and a newborn... really thought we'd be waiting for exchange and to move in before my 4 year old starts school in Sept

OP posts:
JemIsMyNameNooneElseIsTheSame · 11/05/2020 15:45

I don't understand how 'workers who work in other people's homes' are now allowed to resume work, but house moves haven't been given the green light?

HelpMeh · 11/05/2020 15:49

Also awaiting the answer to this. Our survey was postponed as seller had flu symptoms, then lockdown came into force just as we were about to rearrange... I'm curious to see what the valuation is.

Is it worth holding out any hope for a stamp duty holiday? That would be a welcome relief.

QueenOfCatan · 11/05/2020 15:49

We're waiting too. We were ready to exchange on our purchase in early March but our buyer and their solicitor dithered until after Lockdown, planned to go ahead regardless with a same day exchange and complete but our seller refused as he's moving in with vulnerable family and is a key worker. Understandable but we are so ready to move now and want to know if/when that can happen as we're relocating for work and we want to be ready to go back to our work premises rather than both of us commuting 1.5/2hrs each way!

stnvcfo · 11/05/2020 15:58

Hi everyone we are in a similar situation with an offer accepted by j a house but unable to move forward. Very frustrating!
I wondered if this might help anyone?

I can forward e mail if you'd like.

House buying & property
JellyTotsGrewTooBig · 11/05/2020 16:31

Same situation here - except we’re in NI. I’m really hoping that our announcement due tomorrow from the Executive will be more specific on surveyors etc. We had our offer accepted beginning of March. Our mortgage is agreed and just needs the final rubber stamping from the top level in the bank. We’ve paid for our survey with the bank but can’t do anything until the surveyors get back to work.

We had really hoped to be in before our rental period ends mid August, but I would say if we’re in by halloween wend be doing well.

I’m gutted. The place we’re living in was only ever meant to be very short term - max 6mths, but was already longer than planned because of a real shortage on the housing market locally. We finally got the perfect house and then lockdown happened. We are so ready to move. We’ve been in this tiny rental since last summer and we still haven’t unpacked half our boxes and have furniture stored in various family member’s houses because of a lack of space here. So over this.

Frankiefree · 11/05/2020 16:34

And so many jobs rely on the housing market too. Also the government get all the tax from stamp duty so you'd have thought they would have discussed this.

Pipandmum · 11/05/2020 16:44

If they can maintain social distancing then they can do their jobs. It might not be til after June 1 though. I've read most of the 50 page document and there are lots of further references to other websites. So whole it doesn't specify house moving in its main body it may in a referenced website.
The online government guidance on house moves has not been updated since March 26, hopefully it will be soon.

coronade · 11/05/2020 17:13

I’m in the same situation. House sold and buyer had done searches but Soliciters are being really slow as they all seem to have furloughed most of their staff so there is no one left to do any work. 🤯

HelpMeh · 13/05/2020 04:59

Looks like we're back on. Will wait to hear from surveyor/lender...

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