Page 4 | Buyers pulled out today

DelphiniumBlue · 30/07/2025 20:54

I used to do conveyancing, and it’s not an unusual story. I think buying a house and committing to a joint mortgage makes people think really hard about what they want, but often not until signing papers and handing over the deposit- that’s when it all becomes real. Until then, for some people it’s just theoretical and going along with what their partner wants. Of course it would be better to think it all through in good time, but there’s something about hard cash and a deadline that really focuses people.
OP, this is hugely inconvenient for you, hope you can find another buyer soon.

Original poster

Thefaceofboe · 30/07/2025 21:00

DelphiniumBlue · 30/07/2025 20:54

I used to do conveyancing, and it’s not an unusual story. I think buying a house and committing to a joint mortgage makes people think really hard about what they want, but often not until signing papers and handing over the deposit- that’s when it all becomes real. Until then, for some people it’s just theoretical and going along with what their partner wants. Of course it would be better to think it all through in good time, but there’s something about hard cash and a deadline that really focuses people.
OP, this is hugely inconvenient for you, hope you can find another buyer soon.

I agree that’s likely whats happened here. I think with exchange looming, he’s got cold feet, I just wish he’d got them weeks ago and not so close to exchange/completion 🙄

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SunnySideDeepDown · 30/07/2025 21:01

How bloody awful, I can’t even imagine how you’re feeling.

I would ask family for help to unpack, call in all your favours. Dust yourself off and take a deep breath. Be honest with your employers who may wait. Email the local school to see if your child can have a place.

It WILL be ok, but it must be shit right now.

That man ought to feel awful, fancy doing this to his girlfriend and a young family. He should be utterly ashamed, although I doubt he’s thought two seconds about it.

MN2025 · 30/07/2025 21:04

Thefaceofboe · 30/07/2025 09:14

Our buyers have pulled out today, the day we were due to exchange. My house is in boxes ready to relocate across the country. My child is due to start school in September and we both have jobs lined up. We have spent so much money (more than we have) on this. I’m in total disbelief. Not sure what I want from this thread really

I can sympathise with you OP - I was in a similar situation as you in late 2024 - buying our forever home and the chain collapsed further down - luckily for us, the owners who we purchased from were willing to wait for us if we managed to find a new buyer for the property we were selling! Luckily we managed to do so.

Might be worth reaching out to the vendor and asking if they can wait for you - if you’re confident your house will sell quick again - the only downside to this, you will need to rent temporarily in your new area until a sale would complete - you would be looking at late October/Early November now at the earliest - unless you can get a quick completion - but again this all depends when your current property re-sells.

Its a shit situation as rent is expensive and you are burning money that could have gone towards your new house.

Another option would be to get your children back into their current school and if you’re able to stay in your current jobs (and they’ve not replaced you) - it will be a bonus otherwise you’ll have to look for something else.

Sending you luck

Wrenjay · 30/07/2025 21:08

Deposits are not required until Exchange. If that has not occurred then the Vendors have no redress. I suspect that they pulled out before Exchange of Contracts.

Original poster

Thefaceofboe · 30/07/2025 21:29

Wrenjay · 30/07/2025 21:08

Deposits are not required until Exchange. If that has not occurred then the Vendors have no redress. I suspect that they pulled out before Exchange of Contracts.

Yes we were due to exchange today, they pulled out just before

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Original poster

Thefaceofboe · 30/07/2025 21:35

MN2025 · 30/07/2025 21:04

I can sympathise with you OP - I was in a similar situation as you in late 2024 - buying our forever home and the chain collapsed further down - luckily for us, the owners who we purchased from were willing to wait for us if we managed to find a new buyer for the property we were selling! Luckily we managed to do so.

Might be worth reaching out to the vendor and asking if they can wait for you - if you’re confident your house will sell quick again - the only downside to this, you will need to rent temporarily in your new area until a sale would complete - you would be looking at late October/Early November now at the earliest - unless you can get a quick completion - but again this all depends when your current property re-sells.

Its a shit situation as rent is expensive and you are burning money that could have gone towards your new house.

Another option would be to get your children back into their current school and if you’re able to stay in your current jobs (and they’ve not replaced you) - it will be a bonus otherwise you’ll have to look for something else.

Sending you luck

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I’m so glad it all worked out for you.

We have spoke to the estate agent about the situation today and said she would get in touch when she’d spoken to them, so I think I’ll hear more tomorrow. My daughter is due to start school in September so she hasn’t started yet, so I’d need to sort that and find a childcare place for my youngest (gonna be near impossible I fear!)

My job has gone unfortunately

we are happy to rent if we need to, anything is an option at this point

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Original poster

Thefaceofboe · 30/07/2025 21:37

SunnySideDeepDown · 30/07/2025 21:01

How bloody awful, I can’t even imagine how you’re feeling.

I would ask family for help to unpack, call in all your favours. Dust yourself off and take a deep breath. Be honest with your employers who may wait. Email the local school to see if your child can have a place.

It WILL be ok, but it must be shit right now.

That man ought to feel awful, fancy doing this to his girlfriend and a young family. He should be utterly ashamed, although I doubt he’s thought two seconds about it.

Unfortunately we have no family here, as they all live where we are trying to move to 😂 I’m holding off on unpacking as if our vendors can wait or we manage another way to proceed, I want to be ready. Same applies for renting.

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SunnySideDeepDown · 30/07/2025 21:59

Thefaceofboe · 30/07/2025 21:37

Unfortunately we have no family here, as they all live where we are trying to move to 😂 I’m holding off on unpacking as if our vendors can wait or we manage another way to proceed, I want to be ready. Same applies for renting.

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Did you sell quickly last time?

2025ishere · 30/07/2025 22:00

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 30/07/2025 18:29

The system needs to change so people who pull out bear the cost.

That’s what the system is if you exchange a week or two before completing, ie you would lose your deposit if you pulled out which would help with costs others incurred

SunnySideDeepDown · 30/07/2025 22:01

As you’re not working or on maternity now, will you still qualify for the mortgage you need in your new house? When does your mortgage offer expire?

Original poster

Thefaceofboe · 30/07/2025 22:02

SunnySideDeepDown · 30/07/2025 21:59

Did you sell quickly last time?

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It took 3 months and we ended up reducing it. We had sooo many viewings but only 1 offer

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Original poster

Thefaceofboe · 30/07/2025 22:03

SunnySideDeepDown · 30/07/2025 22:01

As you’re not working or on maternity now, will you still qualify for the mortgage you need in your new house? When does your mortgage offer expire?

Yes, it expires in November

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rainingsnoring · 30/07/2025 22:06

Thefaceofboe · 30/07/2025 21:37

Unfortunately we have no family here, as they all live where we are trying to move to 😂 I’m holding off on unpacking as if our vendors can wait or we manage another way to proceed, I want to be ready. Same applies for renting.

Show quote history

Is there any chance you might be able to move to the new area and live with your family temporarily? That way, you could start your new job as planned. Is the mortgage offer based on your salary too?

HouseHouseHouse7 · 30/07/2025 22:25

I wouldn’t stay put OP. I’d get to the new life somehow i.e. relocate, start the job, send the elder DC to school and the little one to childcare as planned.

I don’t know how I’d make it happen but I’d find a way, even if it meant relying on family or old friends. Easier said than done but there is a solution here somewhere that doesn’t involve you staying in your current location feeling miserable.

Uggghh the system in England and Wales sucks. It’s so ridiculously longwinded, no wonder things go wrong.

fourelementary · 30/07/2025 22:34

@Thefaceofboe could you share your house sale link on MN as there is a wide audience here and you would
maybe get a quick sale?

timetochangethering · 30/07/2025 22:42

In your circumstance I would move into rented, albeit short term and go ahead with your sale. You have too much riding on it to pull out.

Anon501178 · 30/07/2025 22:46

How awful! So sorry that must be really infuriating.

If it was their doing would you not get your money back though surely?

Stories like this make me glad I rent!

k1233 · 30/07/2025 23:04

I don't understand house selling in the UK. In Australia there's no chains dependent on multiple parties getting organised simultaneously. It's a one to one deal and much better protection around people not pulling out once contracts are unconditional. In the UK it seems like it's way too easy to pull out just because you're no longer feeling the vibe. When I bought my place the process took two, maximum three months, between offer and moving in.

Cattenberg · 30/07/2025 23:13

k1233 · 30/07/2025 23:04

I don't understand house selling in the UK. In Australia there's no chains dependent on multiple parties getting organised simultaneously. It's a one to one deal and much better protection around people not pulling out once contracts are unconditional. In the UK it seems like it's way too easy to pull out just because you're no longer feeling the vibe. When I bought my place the process took two, maximum three months, between offer and moving in.

That sounds great. How does it work? Do you sell your house first, move into rented, then buy your next home? Or do you get a bridging loan?

CandidHedgehog · 30/07/2025 23:22

Anon501178 · 30/07/2025 22:46

How awful! So sorry that must be really infuriating.

If it was their doing would you not get your money back though surely?

Stories like this make me glad I rent!

No. Since there was no exchange of contracts, the people who pulled out don’t have to pay a penny.

Spinachpastapicker · 30/07/2025 23:34

DottieMoon · 30/07/2025 12:17

I’m so sorry, we were in the same position last month, they pulled out the week before exchange. We wasted 6 months and a lot of money. Can’t get our dream house as the market has slumped and unlikely we’d get what we had back then. Terrible there is no consequences when people do this. The UK process is a shambles.

You mean the English system is a shambles. I’m in Scotland where it’s very different - and a lot more sensible by the sounds of it.

I hope it all works out in the end for you, OP.

Original poster

Thefaceofboe · 31/07/2025 06:33

timetochangethering · 30/07/2025 22:42

In your circumstance I would move into rented, albeit short term and go ahead with your sale. You have too much riding on it to pull out.

Yeah I just need to find a way to get funds to continue with our purchase. Didn’t sleep a wink last night 😬

I have a few rentals to enquire about today. We have 2 cats and a dog but my mums kindly offered to have them if we do go into rented

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BettyPhuckzer · 31/07/2025 07:01

Thefaceofboe · 31/07/2025 06:33

Yeah I just need to find a way to get funds to continue with our purchase. Didn’t sleep a wink last night 😬

I have a few rentals to enquire about today. We have 2 cats and a dog but my mums kindly offered to have them if we do go into rented

Show quote history

Definitely the way to go
Move to your new area, kids start school/nursery
You and DH start new jobs
Rent and put current house back on the market
You'll have to pull out of the house that you're buying (I guess) but I bet you find somewhere even nicer

MissHollysDolly · 31/07/2025 07:36

How awful for you :-( the system is really dreadful in this regard. Im
sorry you’re going through this.