Temporary accommodation between completion dates - bad idea??

[Bobblesock]

We are in a chain, between a buyer and seller who are both refusing to compromise on completion dates - currently 3 weeks apart on their chosen dates. Solicitors are saying we are ready to exchange.

We are considering a move into temporary accommodation - holiday cottage/air BnB and putting our furniture into storage. What are the possible pitfalls, aside from annoying expense and hassle? Has anyone got any experience or advice on the situation? Thanks

Have you exchanged yet? I would only consider this once you have the date in writing and legally confirmed in the exchange. My agreed moving date was 17th September- I am still here surrounding by boxes getting grumpier by the day!

Oh how frustrating! There's talk of exchanging end of this week, with different completion dates. Our buyer (and their terrible solicitor) have already exchanged on his sale to compete this week. There was no consultation with our solicitor on this.

Will that mean two lots of removal costs for you if you are using a company?

If your buyer really didn't speak to your solicitor that's for them (buyer) to sort out.

Yes, I agree, but he doesn't see it that way and is threatening to pull out. He's a bit unpredictable and seems to be getting little or very poor advice from his cheap online conveyancing company.

@Bobblesock

Yes, I agree, but he doesn't see it that way and is threatening to pull out. He's a bit unpredictable and seems to be getting little or very poor advice from his cheap online conveyancing company.

He might be getting really good advice but ignoring it. I'd be extremely wary of anyone feigning ignorance or blaming bad advice to get their own way.

Your buyer is the problem.

Its you or him that has to stay in temp accommodation.

Considering he split the chain, its his problem.

Call his bluff

If he pulls out, doesn't he have to find rented accommodation anyway? He'll have nowhere to go? Or does he have another option.

We're probably going to have to do this. An Air BnB for three weeks near us is almost £5k for three weeks for the dates we need. It's also going to be about £6k on moving costs (storage and two moves).

If you do it I'd seriously consider asking him to pay your costs, or getting both ends of the chain to split them if no one will budge.

The offer from our purchasers included (some) of the costs of us going into temporary accommodation. The upper chain has now moved the date by weeks (!) so it's going to cost us a fortune.

Your buyer broke the chain and is expecting you to carry the inconvenience of it. Personally, I’d call his bluff and expect him to go into temporary accommodation. It’s not as if he can buy anywhere else quicker than he can buy your property at this stage 🤷🏼‍♀️

Surely your buyer is the one who has fucked up here. He has exchanged on his house and this is obliged to move by the first completion date or he will be liable for all sorts of costs/refunds to his purchasers.

So he has to go into temporary accommodation, not you!

If you said fine, pull out then, he's still up shit creek - he will have to start the buying process with a whole other property.

Call his bluff.