Can we still make stamp duty deadline?

[cooperbug]

Do you think we are pushing it now to complete before stamp duty deadline of 31st March next year?

Would it only work if we found somewhere chain free to buy?

Well it depends on your position? Do you have somewhere to sell? Do you have a mortgage AIP?

We have sold and almost completed. just about to move into rented in next couple of weeks.

Mortgage agrees in principal also.

But the thought of paying over7k in stamp duty if we were to complete a month following deadline kills me

I bloody hope so, otherwise we won't be able to move!

We are awaiting surveyors on both our flat and the house we are buying, so quite early on in the process 🤞

Why not? As first time buyers, buying chain free property, back in 2011 ish we went from offer to completion in 8 weeks.

Obviously harder if there’s a chain but not impossible.

In normal times I've bought chain free in 2 months twice but not sure how long covid delays is adding to thing. Someone just offered on ours which is chain free and we've accepted, they have chain of 1 for theirs which is 5 weeks in and survey done, searches and mortgage applied for so would have thought maybe 3 months more assuming all goes well. Think it is achievable as 5 months to go.

Its going to be different across regions however the conveyancing solicitors and local authority searches are absolutely inundated at the moment so sales where we are are very slow, for that reason the last safe date is believed to be end of Oct. Beyond that people here are advising there is a risk it may not complete.

But of course that is broad brush, individual circumstances might change that but i would certainly get an idea of how buys your conveyancer will be before signing up.

I would think it is doable. Are you actively looking? You may be lucky and find a probate sale.

Yes actively looking and panicking as very little on the market here (North east).

The local council searches are just back on our property and have taken 7 weeks! I think covid has a lot to answer for