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Break the chain

13 replies

HouseBuyingFrustrations · 14/11/2025 07:00

I am in a chain and my house actually sold in April! Unfortunately two other properties were added at the end of my buyers side of the chain. My seller decided he didn’t want to wait and pulled out. I ended up finding somewhere else. The owner of this house had told me, at the viewing, that they wanted to put an offer in on a new build but they had to have an accepted offer on their house before they could do this. They also said that the new build was ready in November. I liked the house and had my 2nd offer accepted. I had presumed I could get moved in this month. My solicitor got everything sorted quickly and I paid for a survey (I’d already paid for a survey for the house that was pulled from the chain).

It’s years since I bought a house and not sure what the house buying jargon means. My sellers estate agents has contacted me (after I emailed for a progress update, as things had gone quiet) to say that the builder has said they can’t have the new build until February. They said the buyer is willing to break the chain. What does that mean? They’d move out?

I am conscious that my buyer has waited since April and Christmas is fast approaching (I really don’t want to move house around Christmas). I am worried they’ll pull out if we wait till Feb. I am happy to wait though. I’ve already paid two lots of survey and solicitor search fees. I have boxes all over my house too so it’s not in a ‘’viewing’ state at the moment and I really don’t want that stress again (I am on my own).

OP posts:
Advocodo · 14/11/2025 07:04

Don’t you mean that you accepted an offer on your house in April rather than sold it!

WeepingAngelInTheTardis · 14/11/2025 07:08

Ask the sellers if they would be willing to rent or go into an air b&b.

MagpiePi · 14/11/2025 07:11

If they are willing to break the chain it means they will move into a rented house or something until their new house is ready, so that you, and everyone in the chain behind you, can complete your sales and move in.
I would grab that offer with both hands and not worry about Christmas - you’ll have plenty more.
If you wait, peoples’ mortgage offers will expire and if they have to reapply they may not get one that is affordable and would have to pull out of the chain. (Ask me how I know this!)

ZanyMaker · 14/11/2025 07:13

You wrote the buyer is willing to break the chain - but do you mean your seller? As in the person living in the house you want to buy? If so, yes, them breaking the chain means they will move out enabling you to complete on both your sale and purchase. This would be great for you.

AreYouChewingMyPlectrum · 14/11/2025 07:52

I would call your solicitor as it seems they’re not helping you understand. PP are correct in that if your seller is breaking the chain, this indicates they will move out and go into rented/stay with family until their onward purchase is ready. Do speak to your solicitor for a full picture though - they should be able to talk you through things.

HouseBuyingFrustrations · 15/11/2025 17:05

Advocodo · 14/11/2025 07:04

Don’t you mean that you accepted an offer on your house in April rather than sold it!

Yes, sorry I have just accepted the offer

OP posts:
HouseBuyingFrustrations · 15/11/2025 17:06

MagpiePi · 14/11/2025 07:11

If they are willing to break the chain it means they will move into a rented house or something until their new house is ready, so that you, and everyone in the chain behind you, can complete your sales and move in.
I would grab that offer with both hands and not worry about Christmas - you’ll have plenty more.
If you wait, peoples’ mortgage offers will expire and if they have to reapply they may not get one that is affordable and would have to pull out of the chain. (Ask me how I know this!)

Yes, that’s what I’m worried about. I’m ok with mine but the people who have put the offer in on mine may have an old mortgage offer. No idea tbh.

OP posts:
HouseBuyingFrustrations · 15/11/2025 17:07

ZanyMaker · 14/11/2025 07:13

You wrote the buyer is willing to break the chain - but do you mean your seller? As in the person living in the house you want to buy? If so, yes, them breaking the chain means they will move out enabling you to complete on both your sale and purchase. This would be great for you.

Yes, the buyers of my house

OP posts:
ZanyMaker · 15/11/2025 18:52

HouseBuyingFrustrations · 15/11/2025 17:07

Yes, the buyers of my house

So the buyer of your house is willing to break the chain? That makes it sound like they are going to proceed with their sale and move into rented or with family whilst they wait for your purchase to be ready so that you in turn can sell to them. Is that right? In which case, what makes you think you would be moving around Christmas, you have said the new build isn’t ready until February?

Sundaymorningsonthesidelines · 15/11/2025 18:55

You haven’t given enough info OP. Do you mean they are ok to move into interim accommodation? Do they expect you to? And what if February slips? It would make more sense for your seller to move into rented but most wouldn’t. This is the complexity of new builds

HouseBuyingFrustrations · 15/11/2025 20:11

Break the chain means they’d move into temp accommodation to allow the rest of the chain to proceed. Right?

OP posts:
ZanyMaker · 15/11/2025 20:48

HouseBuyingFrustrations · 15/11/2025 20:11

Break the chain means they’d move into temp accommodation to allow the rest of the chain to proceed. Right?

Edited

Yes, but the only people who can proceed who completion are those below the person breaking the chain. You have said it is your buyer breaking the chain. You still won’t be able to proceed any further until the new build is ready (supposedly February).

If however it is actually your seller who is breaking the chain, then you will be able to proceed/complete.

HouseBuyingFrustrations · 16/11/2025 16:59

ZanyMaker · 15/11/2025 20:48

Yes, but the only people who can proceed who completion are those below the person breaking the chain. You have said it is your buyer breaking the chain. You still won’t be able to proceed any further until the new build is ready (supposedly February).

If however it is actually your seller who is breaking the chain, then you will be able to proceed/complete.

Yes, it’s my sellers are breaking the chain.

OP posts:
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