How long should this take/ do they actually want to sell?

[MaltTeaser]

Thanks in advance if you read all the way thru!

I'm in a short chain of what I thought would be almost ideal circumstances. I'm a chain-free cash buyer, and my seller (Mr X) is moving on to an empty retirement flat being sold by an executor (Mrs Y). Both sets of offers were made and accepted in june, all my surveys/searches were complete in July & we've been ready to exchange/complete since then.

Unfortunately, there seems to be a series of (unnecessary) issues and delays with the sale by Mrs Y. She lives far away and has chosen to use a solicitor local to me/the property who has a really poor reputation . Mrs Ys solicitor has failed to supply some (minor but essential) info that has been requested several times, and been rude to Mr Xs solicitor when they've chased it up. We have basically been in a rolling two-week-window for imminent exchange for two months. Mr Xs solicitor is trying to source this info themselves from elsewhere now.

However, we're all starting to wonder if Mrs Y simply doesn't want to actually sell. The property has been in the market since jan, but she's only just this week started removing any furniture, and still hasn't removed significant items "because she might want to stay there again", which suggests she isn't planning for it to be off her hands imminently....

Am I being unreasonable to think this should have taken 8 weeks from start to finish?
Any thoughts, or tips for how to get things finished off quickly? How to force Mrs Ys hand without stressing Mr X?
Or do you think we should assume it's just not going to happen?
(And where does everyone stand with costs if Mrs Y removes the property from the market?).

I think it depends if you (and MrX) would seriously be prepared to walk away. If you would, then you could ask your solicitors to let her know that if the information isn't received by 'D-date' then you will be withdrawing your offer and the sale will collapse.

I think you need to prepare to lose Mr X's property. If Mrs Y changes her mind and Mr X can't find anywhere else suitable or isn't willing to rent, then they are wasting your time and will end up not selling to you. Start viewing other properties, preferably without chains (serious sellers) and put out some deadlines/ultimatums for when you will let go of this property. I think at least 80% of the homes in this country never sell. I have been in your position, dealing with an older lady who could not decide what she wanted to do and ultimately pulled her property from the market. They are probably wasting your time.