Help having found onward purchase

[Mollyeyes]

Hello, we are due to complete on our flat sale end Feb 2021, our buyer won’t move on this date and has been patient. We haven’t found our forever house and nothing coming on market. If we rent there’s not many places that allow cat and rentals will not have a cat flap as she is outdoor cat. So what shall we do? Our plans was to buy our forever home and also a second property to rent out.
Do you think we should look for our investment place first which is no chain flat/house (we will be cash buyer), move in quickly take advantage of stamp duty exemption and then let it out later?

seems the best plan. Shelter's campaign to cap deposits means landlords cannot legally charge extra deposits for pets. That means it is much more difficult to find a rental that will accept the damage risk from pets.

Are you up to speed with rental legislation and forthcoming changes? When section 21 goes it will be even more impossible to evict than it is now. There is nowhere else that you can put money but be aware of the high risk and actual costs.

@murbblurb can you please advise of the upcoming changes ?