Help me make sense of this

[MiaFarrowsWheelbarrow]

We are buying a house outright and sent the money to our solicitor via CHAPs today. We had agreed that the exchange and completion would happen on the same day as soon as our payment was received.

Our solicitor has just got back to us and said the seller's solicitor cannot complete today as there is outstanding money owed on the mortgage. I thought the money we are paying would be used to pay off the mortgage so I'm struggling to understand what the hold up is. I'm also sure the solicitor had previously confirmed that the payment would clear the mortgage debt anyway.

We have bought and sold a few houses and never encountered a problem like this. Can anyone help me understand what is happening and what the delay is? I've messaged our solicitor and waiting to hear back but wondering if this is a common thing and we have just been lucky to swerve it before.

Maybe they are in negative equity?

Forgot to add, the house is being sold by the Executor and probate was granted a few months ago.

Reassurance was given that the sale price would cover the outstanding mortgage.

Have you exchanged though?

Sounds lime the otherwise hasn't got an up to date completion statement from the lender. It's because you are exchanging and completing on the same day. Someone has dropped a ball.

Otherwise. Phone the estate agent. They get paid to sort this sort of shit out - they'll be able to speak to the other side as well.

Arrrggg predictive text. The other side.

Thanks, that makes sense.