Moving house this year

[GreekPotatoes]

We signed a contract with a developer about a year ago who wants to knock down our house and build on the plot. The planning application has gone in and we’ve suddenly realised a decision might happen by the beginning of August and then we have 12 weeks before we complete and need to be out.
We’re going round in circles but trying to get as organised we can with 4 DCs and potentially house hunting during the summer holidays in a recession. We’re in a good position as we’ll have no chain but we need to get moved quickly. Do we start going round estate agents in a few weeks and get them to put some feelers out? Or decide we’re renting? Or just try and ignore it because we actually quite like our house and we’d like to stay after all?

Well, I'm no lawyer, but I'd have thought that the fact you've signed a contract, means it might be a bit late to decide you are going to stay after all.

If you signed the contract a year ago, have you not started looking for houses over many months ?
'Starting' to go to Estate agents and 'asking them to put feelers out' all sounds like something you should have been doing months ago
I realise we've had 8 weeks of not being able to look round houses, but equally that also means the estate agents' portfolios will be the same as they were then so haven't you already shortlisted or ruled out those houses ?

12 weeks is doable, and you'll have posters telling you they move in 8 weeks or whatever, but none of my 3 house purchases have been less than 12 weeks from offer to move date.

I'd look for somewhere to rent, whilst still looking on-line and hoping.

Yes I'm confused too. If you've signed a contract is it not a done deal??

Yes, we’ve signed the contract and there’s no getting out of it!
We’ve been keeping an eye on the market but it was difficult to know timings earlier. The developer has spent a year getting everything ready to put the planning application in. There’s nothing on the market that is right for us. The 12 weeks starts from August so we’ll need to move potentially in November. I’d feel more excited if we knew it was definitely happening but it could still get turned down by the council and we don’t want to waste money on solicitors if we’re not moving.

Hi, we did this exact thing last year!

I am now sat in the living room of our forever house!

The developer name doesn't begin with an 'F' by any chance does it?

I would say to be cautious, the planning on ours went 4 months past the initial decision date and there was a 6 month extension clause in the contract that the developer could execute if planning took longer.

We started looking the day planning was approved but the developer was flexible and agreed a date with us past the 12 weeks. Before that you can't really be sure on time line in terms of making an offer but we were definitely online and had a short list ready to go!

We exchanged contracts fine but 2 days before the completion they called us to say they didn't have funds. It got very messy (our solicitor couldn't believe it). We then couldn't complete on the house we were buying and we were in breach of contract with them. We eventually completed on the sale and purchase 4 weeks late.

@herewegoagaintake20 We’re being cautious because we don’t know which way things will turn out, but at the same time we need to be prepared in case they get planning permission and we have to move. That’s good news the developer was flexible with dates - the summer is rubbish for house hunting anyway and now there might be a recession there will be fewer houses on the market. The contract has another year to run so they can appeal the decision. I’m trying to act as if we’re moving and getting rid of stuff but also as if we’re in our house for a bit longer. I hate being in limbo!

Yes I relate to the limbo! We should have moved in October 2018 as that was when the year was up that we signed for, it ended up being July 2019!

You are doing the right thing, clear stuff out, look online at houses etc. If prices are going to drop it's in your interests really to let that happen a bit first.

I really hope it's not the same developer as ours though as their attitude was shocking when they didn't have the funds to complete.