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Original poster

We have had an offer but it needs to be approved by the embassy? Any experience?

29 replies

Monr0e · 16/08/2020 13:18

We received an offer on our house yesterday. As it was also our DS's birthday DH took very little details apart from the offer amount and said we would consider it over the weekend. The only information I know so far is that the couple who viewed it were viewing on behalf of family members in Hong Kong who wish to move here and that the offer needs to be approved by the embassy. Whether that is the British or Hong Kong embassy I don't know, DH failed to ask any further questions and I'm completely in the dark. I have also heard that the potential buyers would require visa's also so no idea how much this would take either.

Does anyone have any experience of this or know what the process is? We are just wanting to know if the offer is actually procedable or if if we could be waiting months. We are luckily not in a major rush to move but we certainly want to start looking if we can, Thanks for any information.

OP posts:

Peridot1 · 16/08/2020 13:54

If they need Visas it won’t be the British Embassy I wouldn’t have thought. It will be the Chinese Embassy.

I think I’d be a bit wary if you are in a hurry but if you are not it may be ok. Maybe put a time limit in place?

SuzieCarmichael · 16/08/2020 13:58

Sounds highly unusual. Doesn’t the agent have more info? I would be v wary tbh.

ZigZagPlant · 16/08/2020 13:59

Sounds really odd. I am a property solicitor and have had clients from overseas purchase in the UK but have never heard of this.

JoJoSM2 · 16/08/2020 14:02

It just sounds like they’re immigrating to the U.K. and so need visas before they can exchange or complete the purchase? I don’t know if it’s anything to be wary off as there has been a huge wave or people from Hong Kong and they’ve been buying houses over here. I’d just dig deeper to understand the timescales and how likely they are to get/not get the visas.

Rainbowshine · 16/08/2020 14:02

Are they diplomatic staff and getting a relocation allowance/payment for moving to the UK, either returning or on an assignment?

JoJoSM2 · 16/08/2020 14:03

@ZigZagPlant Doesn’t it just sound to you like they need to have their own visas confirm before they can proceed?

Original poster

Monr0e · 16/08/2020 14:11

From what I understand they are immigrating to the UK and their family member has been viewing properties on their behalf. The agent has said the family have put offers in on two properties as 2 families are due to move here, the family members who viewed already live in the area.

They definitely said they needed to have the mortgage approved by the embassy, unfortunately DH didn't dig any deeper on timescales etc but it sounds reasonable to assume they won't be able to do anything without the proper visa's in place. DH will call the agent tomorrow and hopefully get more information.

OP posts:

AllTheCakes · 16/08/2020 14:22

I would dig deeper on how they are mortgaging the property too. You mentioned a mortgage, but I would assume that if they don’t have the right to live here yet or have proof of income then how would they get a mortgage?

Rainbowshine · 16/08/2020 14:29

If they’re waiting for visas I wouldn’t take the property off the market, I’d ask them to wait until they are in a position to truly proceed.

For UK visas, you have to have a large amount of money in reserve in the bank. I am wondering if the message was that they have to wait for the visas to be approved, then they can get the mortgage sorted.

ExchangedCat · 16/08/2020 14:32

They could be among the first applying to come over under the HK BNO offer. I don't know how that works as it wasn't announced that long ago, so it could be that they need to confirm how to do it? Don't discount them just yet, but do get more information and read up on the scheme yourself.

ProfessorSlocombe · 16/08/2020 14:47

@ExchangedCat

The Chinese have already stated they have no intention of honouring the UKs BNO offer. What that means in practice - especially at this distance - isn't clear, but it's unlikely to be good news.

Personally if I had another offer that didn't involve second guessing what the Chinese state is up to, I'd take that. And if I didn't have such an offer, I'd do a lot to get one.

ZigZagPlant · 16/08/2020 14:49

I’d agree it doesn’t sound like it relates to their purchase directly, but rather their ability to reside in the U.K.

ExchangedCat · 16/08/2020 15:01

The Chinese have already stated they have no intention of honouring the UKs BNO offer. What that means in practice - especially at this distance - isn't clear, but it's unlikely to be good news.

Very true. We have friends who want to come over as BNOs but they aren't at this stage in the process yet. China haven't clarified how they'll stop it, so it's hard to say how much it's rhetoric and how far they'll go if it isn't.

ProfessorSlocombe · 16/08/2020 15:25

@ZigZagPlant

I’d agree it doesn’t sound like it relates to their purchase directly, but rather their ability to reside in the U.K.

Before you can talk about residing in the UK, you need to talk about leaving Hong Kong. And how that might be affected by the Chinese governments public statement they won't recognise BNO status given since they warned the UK not to (if not all BNO status ?). Not an uncertainty I would like to put at the start of a property sale.

ZigZagPlant · 16/08/2020 15:27

I have no idea of the implications of leaving Hong Kong as a resident. Sounds like it’s full of bureaucracy!

Saz12 · 16/08/2020 15:27

They don’t sound straightforward! Personally I’d only consider their offer if it was very generous, and I was desperate.
Find out more info but can always reply “thanks it’s not high enough given the risk of failure to complete/delays”. That way they can offer more or wait and offer again once they are more proceedable.

Mimitoo · 16/08/2020 16:12

I would find out more info and timescales. It is true that a large amount of families from HK are planning to move and quickly. It wouldn't be unusual to have someone else view at this time. However, like others have said, find out more definitive information and timescales, if you're not happy then don't proceed.

Lonecatwithkitten · 16/08/2020 17:13

We are a diplomatic family ( though not HK or China) we have been waiting for the British government to approve and clear our funds into the U.K. to allow us to complete on the purchase since May. We are coming from a country that is supposedly friends and have a good trading relationship. We are both British citizens, but also diplomatic for another country, and our money is coming from there.
There are so many things that might make this purchase tricky.

Viviennemary · 16/08/2020 17:22

I certainly wouldn't take the property off the market in this case. They need to come back when they are in a position to proceed. House buying is stressful enough without this added red tape. Keep letting potential buyers look round. It could be delayed for months and months.

ExchangedCat · 16/08/2020 19:27

@ZigZagPlant

I have no idea of the implications of leaving Hong Kong as a resident. Sounds like it’s full of bureaucracy!

The situation in HK is extremely difficult - years of protests against Chinese rule then the new security laws a few months ago. Many HK residents want out, so the UK offered BNO passport holders the opportunity to come here. China have said no, the US are talking sanctions and it's all very very messy. It wasn't always like this

themummyway · 19/08/2020 00:28

Avoid - my sister had a nightmare with diplomats at her old place.

Admittedly they were renting from her, but it sounded like a nightmare. Ugh.

AdoreTheBeach · 20/08/2020 14:50

Any bed @Monr0e?

AdoreTheBeach · 20/08/2020 14:51

Blasted. Sorry, news not bed. Why oh why does my mobile change my words.

Original poster

Monr0e · 03/09/2020 07:23

Sorry for not updating, I hadn't realised there were more answers.

We had the offer on a Saturday, on the Monday they sent through proof of funds and requested our solicitor details in order to begin proceedings. DH thinks it is the family member who came to view the house who is actually buying it at this stage as their name is on the paperwork.

We are proceeding cautiously, mainly because we are unable to find anything we want to buy!

OP posts:

Notmulan · 21/03/2021 08:33

@Monr0e what’s happened since ?

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