Any Solicitors out there???

[fml2026]

Any solicitors out there?

Posting on behalf of a friend;

Here’s what happening; friend has just moved into their dream home on a new build estate. Sale completed, all is/was well.
Friend has learned by chance that her SIL is planning on buying a house beside her. SIL never intended on disclosing her plans and for the few family members who are aware of the plans were to secrecy.

SIL just recently started a new job so is on probation. They have approval in principle and contract is expected to be issued in 3 weeks. However SIL probation is not complete until April. So she will not able to get her loan offer from the bank until April - and won’t be able to complete the sale until then. This particular developer expects the contacts to be back within and we or 2. There is currently a waiting list of dozens of other potential buyers who would gladly take the property of SIL had to drop out.

So SIL’s solicitor intend on delaying things until the loan offer is through and can complete the contract. He plans to do this by raising lots of queries with the developers solicitor that will delay things enough to close the gap until probation is over and the official loan offer can be issued.

So SIL and her solicitor are being slightly sneaky and hope to avoid having to disclose the fact that she is not 100% mortgage ready.

My first question is; is what her solicitor is doing actually allowed?

Next question; my friend happens to know who the developers solicitor is, and is considering contacting them and letting them know that SIL and Solicitor intend on doing. Would the developers solicitor be obliged in anyway to take action/not proceed with her purchase or could they just turn a blind eye. I imagine this type of thing happens a lot.

Friend is aware that she will come across as crazy for even considering but due to family history of issues, she simply cannot live this close to SIL and genuinely does not agree with any form of dirty tactic like this as the SIL actually has other options out there.

TIA

ChatGPT is really good if you paste your question directly into the box.

I asked and it said that legally this is absolutely fine, and you need to get advice on how to cope with your SIL.

Sending sympathy . Family can be complicated.

You cannot dictate where someone else lives
Unless there is some kin d of restraining order

Thank you x

So she ideally wants to find a way to stop this woman from moving in? I guess if you think that telling the developer or something might mean the sale will fall through then you may as well.

It's a bit mean but if you desperately don't want her as an NDN I can see why you thinking this way.

Yes that’s it. It will be an unbearable situation for her if the SIL does move in. And daft as it’s sounds, we suspect she specifically chose that house to cause trouble. From what I gather there is a long history of jealousy and resentment. The SIL was offered 2 other properties but chose this one despite knowing that it would cause upset.
But also it’s a case genuinely not agreeing with sneaky tactics like this, given the state of the housing market etc. and feeling like another buying who IS ready deserves it more.

I know, that’s the thing. Technically she isn’t doing anything wrong. That’s the tough part. Friend just has to like it or lump it.