Sellers not moving forward- help!

[EnidTheCat1]

We had our offer accepted on a house about 2 1/2 months ago, mortgage offer was issued 6 weeks ago. But the seller hasn't sent in any of their paperwork to their solicitor so the buying process hasn't started at all and I'm at a loss of what to do...

We have been chasing our solicitor and our agent, who have both been apparently chasing the seller and the seller's solicitor. About 11 days ago the agent said the seller hadn't realised the importance of the forms and had been ill, but that things should start moving now. However we've still heard nothing and our solicitors can't get started on the searches etc. until they have received the paperwork so we are totally stuck!

We thought we would be moving in in feb but I'm now I'm thinking we're going to have huge delays if it even happens at all. Any advice on what to do or what's going on here? We're first time buyers so confused and nervous.

How much do you want the house? I’d give them a date that the paperwork is in by or else you will withdraw your offer and look elsewhere. It doesn’t bode well for the rest of the purchase if they are this slow at this stage although I would guess they have yet to find somewhere to move to, so are in no hurry.

This does not sound good. We had a vendor pull out of the sale 8 weeks into the process just after we had forked our £1000 on a survey. They were also extremely slow in submitting their paperwork and instructing a solicitor. They pulled out because they couldn’t find anywhere else suitable. I would do as the previous poster suggested.

Agree with 2020 - give them a date when all papers need to be with your solicitor. Ask the agent whether the vendor has a place to move to. Perhaps they are delaying the sale because of this?

Thanks all, I will put a date on it. We really want the house and it's already been a faff getting to this point so we want to crack on ASAP.

The property isn't in a chain, he's moved in with his partner so the house is mainly empty but apparently he puts it on air b&b. Really hoping he's just in no rush to move and not that there are any other issues! He's let us go ahead with a survey etc so it'll be a massive waste of our money if he backs out.

Please don't pay out for survey until your solicitor has the papers and a date to exchange (esp as vendor has already moved out!) Sounds like he's got a lot of AirBnB visitors lined up which is not good news for you.