2 month exchange?! Help!

[Maureen24]

Advice needed! Our chain of three houses is ready to go but the seller at the top (we are in the middle) has had a sudden family emergency and has to go out of the country, now won’t move until the end of June. The rest of the chain are disappointed but have said we will hold on as long as we can exchange soon to show commitment to the sale. Otherwise I wonder if the woman will just keep pushing it back (she’s moving in with family.) so my question…. Are we being realistic to ask for a two month exchange period, solicitor is pushing for that but estate agent said it’s not recommended. Selfishly, we need to exchange to apply for a local school place for our son so it would be great to get that asap. Any advice? I feel like the chain is very fragile, if we put too much pressure on the top she may pull out but equally we can’t wait forever…..

It’s not common or particularly recommended. But if everyone in the chain wishes it, it is possible.

Do you mean 2 months from exchange to completion? Not usual but if everyone is happy, nothing to do with the EA. I expect they do not want to wait 2 months for payment.

We have just sold our house and in a similarly long chain with difficulties. No advice but solidarity, we are moving to be closer to my aging parents and also got school places relying on it. Tough isn’t it!

We are first time buyers with a 2 month notice on our rental (landlords not willing ti budge at all, so will need 2 months from exchange to completion as we can’t hand our notice in until we’ve exchanged (bloody good too as chain has had a couple of almost go’s and then stopped at no fault of our own) which we’ve been honest about the whole way through, not ideal but it it what it is, no way we can afford even a month of rent and mortgage payments at the same time, let alone two. You do what works.

The only problem with this is that you are then tied to buying the house regardless of what happens with your mortgage, job, health, and are also responsible for insuring the house. Whereas the seller isn’t responsible for anything.

The seller isn’t a woman called Jane, supposedly moving in with her mother in Somerset is she? If so, she just doesn’t want to move out.

Thank you all! Yes I mean 2 months between exchange and completion, I know it’s not ideal but it’s the only way I think our chain would feel secure. So stressful

This made me laugh, no thankfully it’s not a Jane 😂

If you exchange, is there anything to stop her pushing completion past two months?

Check your mortgage, if needed, will not expire during the 2 months. Everyone has buildings insurance between exchange and completion, which is always required so will protect all parties should something happen.

Look at the positives, gives you plenty of time to pack and organise removals.

2 months will fly by and once you are all moved in, you will barely give the time scale another thought.

I had that with my first house purchase. There were some remedial works that had to be carried out on a listed property at the top of the chain. We all sucked it up.