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Original poster

Buyer wants us in rented - seems a colossal waste of money

114 replies

ChainStress · 21/07/2025 20:25

Our buyer is eager to move into our house but our vendor isn’t ready and doesn’t seem to be in a rush. Buyer has asked us to go into rented while we wait for our vendor. But the maths on this isn’t great.

Current outgoings - £1700/month on a low interest mortgage comprised approximately £1350 mortgage, approx £350 interest.

Potential rental - at least £2250 (we have three kids and both work from home - we need at least 4 beds). So each month we’d lose £1350 on rent that could have paid off our mortgage loan plus an additional £800 in rent (£2500 rent - £1700 current monthly outgoing).

Over 6 months that would cost us £12,900, plus another £3000 in additional removal costs. About £16k all together! And if it falls through with our vendor we’re stuck for even longer in an expensive rental paying off someone else’s mortgage until we find a house.

What am I missing? Why are people willing to break the chain if it’s so expensive?

OP posts:
Navigatinglife100 · 21/07/2025 20:29

Whilst I don't blame you, if your vendor is being slow you have to consider your buyers position......they need a home and perhaps waiting around for some vendor higher up the chain who seems disinterested in selling is not what they want either!

AudiobookListener · 21/07/2025 20:36

If it doesn't suit you just say no. But accept you will probably have to wait for another buyer. That seems the best option as you presumably aren't in a hurry to move as you are willing to wait for your own seller.

Poopeepoopee · 21/07/2025 20:38

Ask your vendor to do the same.

TabbyMcTatFace · 21/07/2025 20:41

When you break it down like that, it sounds like a lot of money but you would also get some money back in the form of interest on your sale proceeds. Depending on how much you're selling for, this could be quite significant. You will also lose money the more times you have to rebuild the chain with new buyers and vendors.

I don't think breaking the chain should be viewed as an entirely financial decision, as it also depends how much you need to move. If you're reasonably happy to stay put while you find new buyers if they decide they don't want to wait, then it's probably not worth considering moving into a rental. Will you lose the house you're trying to buy if this happens though? Also depends on how long the buyers are being asked to wait as to whether their request is unreasonable.

HarrietSchulenberg · 21/07/2025 20:41

If the house you're buying is a solid goer then rent a 3 bed house instead of a 4 to keep your costs down, as it's only going to be short term. 2 kids sharing will be fine. I'd eleven consider a big 2 bed rental if one bedroom was big enough for 3 single beds.

ShesTheAlbatross · 21/07/2025 20:41

What’s going on with the vendor? What stage are you at/what are you waiting for from them and how long have they kept you waiting? Or are they still looking for their purchase?

Depending on what’s going on and how long it’s been I’d be asking my solicitors to follow up with theirs, and I’d be calling their estate agent to see if they’ll give them a call. In our case it was the seller’s solicitors being really slow, so it was only when we called their EA, who then called them, that things started moving. Our seller had completed the info forms ages before but their solicitor hadn’t sent them to ours. The seller had no idea we didn’t have the forms.

FrodoBiggins · 21/07/2025 20:43

You're planning for possibly 6 months until your vendor is ready? What's do you expect your buyer to wait 6 months too?

MustTryHarderAndHarder · 21/07/2025 20:49

It depends if your buyer is saying that he will pull out if you don't do this and how quickly you think you can find another buyer if he does. So how gutted would you be if you lost your new house if you couldn't sell your current property.

No one wants to go into rented and they will only do if they have no choice.

Mrsttcno1 · 21/07/2025 20:51

Well it depends how much you need this buyer, if you aren’t bothered about keeping them then refuse but judging by the fact you’re planning on needing to pay for 6 months rental I’d say you’re unreasonable to expect them to wait for you.

CarolineKnappShappeyShipwright · 21/07/2025 21:22

I might have been willing to do this when it was just me and DH but not with 3 kids. Moving is awful and stressful and you don't want to do it twice in the space of a year. The rental won't feel like home either. so I would say no.

Original poster
ChainStress · 21/07/2025 21:37

I think I will say no and expect my buyer to wait… or pull out. I don’t want the stress or expense of moving into rented. £16k is a huge amount of money that I just cannot justify. We were always very open with the buyer that our vendor was still looking for their property. Clearly we can’t put our lives on hold for ever and the vendor will have to find somewhere soon… but I don’t think this is a problem worth £16k yet.

OP posts:
Navigatinglife100 · 21/07/2025 21:40

So long as you don't mind losing them and trying to find another. That's the real risk

LinkedinLovely · 21/07/2025 21:46

House prices are going down so you could recoup the cost on your onward purchase. You might lose more than 16k by finding another buyer.

saraclara · 21/07/2025 21:53

If your vendor hasn't even found a property yet, I think you can wave goodbye to your buyer.

Most EAs where I live won't even take on a home until the vendor has found somewhere to go to

NewsdeskJC · 21/07/2025 22:07

I was absolutely crystal clear last time that we would not go into rented. We were moving longish distance with a school age child. We had pressure. The first time buyers at the bottom of the chain had waited 8 weeks for our buyers to find us ( we accepted their offer the day it went on the market).
I was clear, delays not due to us and we could always find another buyer

Doris86 · 21/07/2025 22:08

ChainStress · 21/07/2025 21:37

I think I will say no and expect my buyer to wait… or pull out. I don’t want the stress or expense of moving into rented. £16k is a huge amount of money that I just cannot justify. We were always very open with the buyer that our vendor was still looking for their property. Clearly we can’t put our lives on hold for ever and the vendor will have to find somewhere soon… but I don’t think this is a problem worth £16k yet.

Sounds like absolutely the right decision. The buyer is entitled to ask, but at the end of the day you have to do what is right for you. Moving twice is a big hassle, as you’ve mentioned it’s a massive extra cost, and there is always the risk your vendor will
pull out leaving you stuck in rented with no house to buy.

The only time it’s worth doing is if you are absolutely desperate not to lose your buyers. However if losing them isn’t the end of the world , and you think you can relatively easily replace them with new buyers, then say no to renting.

Original poster
ChainStress · 21/07/2025 22:17

saraclara · 21/07/2025 21:53

If your vendor hasn't even found a property yet, I think you can wave goodbye to your buyer.

Most EAs where I live won't even take on a home until the vendor has found somewhere to go to

Really? How does this work? Isn’t this a chain in reverse….

OP posts:
Heronwatcher · 21/07/2025 22:29

I think it depends on the market near you. it’s a pretty brutal market and I’d be worried if I were you whether you’ll find another buyer at the same price. If you have to wait another 6 months for a new buyer you could potentially end up reducing the asking price by more than 16k and lose out on the house you want to buy.

Personally I’d put a rocket up your sellers and get some smaller holiday accommodation for a couple of months. If you do take out a 6 month rental go for somewhere smaller and put some
stuff in storage/ work from a shared space etc.

saraclara · 21/07/2025 22:41

ChainStress · 21/07/2025 22:17

Really? How does this work? Isn’t this a chain in reverse….

Show quote history

I don't know, but when I was interested in having my house valued to see if I should downsize, that's what the agent said to me. They want to ensure that the vendors they take on are serious about moving, and in a position to do so should they find a buyer reasonably quickly.

Whether that changes with the state of the market, I don't know. But it was a very definite 'come back to us when you have something in your sights and are in a position to progress'.

Advocodo · 21/07/2025 22:51

You need to do what is right for you and your family, it’s a massive upheaval moving twice and very unsettlingly. You may not even be able to find a rental.

Sabretoothtigress · 21/07/2025 23:09

How much are you selling your house for - will the interest while it’s sat in the bank go part way to paying the rent?

or, if the buyer is so keen, will they front extra cash to pay part of your rent costs?

Elektra1 · 21/07/2025 23:10

Depends how annoying it would be to lose your buyer. If you love the house you’re buying and might lose it, short term pain for long term gain. That’s why people break the chain. On the other hand, if you could easily replace your buyer and/or find somewhere else to buy, you can play hardball and say no. It’s no more complicated than that.

Rainbowqueeen · 21/07/2025 23:20

Ask your vendor to go into rented so you can move straight in. Or reduce the price. They are being really unreasonable expecting everyone to sit around waiting for them.

I think you need to put some pressure on them or you will lose your buyer and find it very hard to find another buyer.

LemondrizzleShark · 22/07/2025 00:58

saraclara · 21/07/2025 22:41

I don't know, but when I was interested in having my house valued to see if I should downsize, that's what the agent said to me. They want to ensure that the vendors they take on are serious about moving, and in a position to do so should they find a buyer reasonably quickly.

Whether that changes with the state of the market, I don't know. But it was a very definite 'come back to us when you have something in your sights and are in a position to progress'.

Show quote history

Exact opposite around here - you have to have your place under offer before EAs will accept you for viewings on properties to purchase. To avoid time wasters who just want to have a nosy, I think.

FrodoBiggins · 22/07/2025 01:17

LemondrizzleShark · 22/07/2025 00:58

Exact opposite around here - you have to have your place under offer before EAs will accept you for viewings on properties to purchase. To avoid time wasters who just want to have a nosy, I think.

Show quote history

Yes same here with every EA I've met