Seller's EA wants to "check the chain"

[Buttonsandbeads]

Currently in a chain. Our buyers house has been sold to FTB. The house we are buying is end of chain. It has been a complete PITA so far and is taking ages (long story - land covenant, structural reports and mortgage all complicated). The EA of the house we are buying wants to "check the chain" and has asked for our buyer's address so he can check the sale. He asked our EA who gave him our buyer's names but refused to give the address. Who is BU here? Would I BU to give them the address so there isn't yet another reason to hold things up?

Hope that makes some sort of sense! We haven't been in a chain before so this is all new to us. Not sure why our EA would refuse to give them the info?

I’m not surprised you’re EA wouldn’t give the details surely there are data protection issues here. I would ask your buyers in an email if it’s ok to pass on their details up the chain. Alternatively ascertain what details are needed ask your buyers and then pass them to relevant EA.

Checking the chain is normal. my last purchase involved 7 houses and had colapsed twice
we solved it by being able to complete within a month.

Thanks Lasvegas. I did wonder if it was a DP issue, even though they had given the buyers names. I shall contact our EA to see what they say and if they have an email address for our buyers.

Seems a perfectly normal request to me. It's what estate agents do all the time, and rather strange of the EA you are using to sell through not to give out your buyer's address.

Not giving out such information might suggest there is a problem being concealed.

if they have an email address for our buyers
But they won't give it to you, because of DP!

That's a good point Mildura! If it is DP I wonder why the EA didn't say they would need to get permission first instead of refusing outright. I am also a little wary of our seller's EA as they tell us different things every time we talk to them about the house we are buying!

It does seem rather odd. This sort of process of chain checking takes place every day.

Maybe the buyers have some good reason why they don't want their current address revealed. A certain level of trust ideally should be present between agents your buyers agents check with you agents who have checked with the agents below.

It is usual for estate agents and solicitors up and down the chain to have details of all the other estate agents and solicitors, but not the buyers contact details. Checking the chain is done through speaking to them not the buyers.

I've spoken to our EA. They've tried to call Seller's EA with an update on the chain but can't get through. It was down to DP and GDPR why they didn't give an address which is fair enough. Hopefully they'll be happy with our EA's info when they get through and we can get on with it. Thanks all