"Chain-Free" House, no longer chain free?!

jezebel

So, I put in an offer for a house 6 weeks ago, it was accepted and then rejected as they'd had a higher offer from a previous viewer - I upped to the full asking price as a) it was still within my budget and b) I wanted the house enough and think it is worth it. Second offer was then agreed.

I was told that the seller was moving in with family and was chain free and as a first time buyer I too am chain free, in fact one of the reasons that they were happy to have me was that she was allegedly looking for a quick sale so she could move in with family to be closer to them.

I agreed mortgage, went ahead with homebuyers survey, have had all searches through and signed contract in a fairly short space of time (5 weeks including a couple of bank holidays).

We've been waiting to hear back from seller's solicitor for a week so I rang my solicitor to check what was going on and he called me back today (having chased seller's solicitor) to say that they cannot exchange yet as she is waiting for a related transaction and they have just received the contract for her new property! :mad:

I know that there are few rights for buyers in my circumstances, but I entered into a chain-free deal partly to avoid all the hassles of a chain and the uncertainty of it. I suffer with anxiety anyway so this isn't doing me any favours.

Is there anything I can do, or any legal entitlements at all I have? Obviously I've spent over a thousand pounds already on the house and now don't know how much longer I'll have to wait for the house I was hoping to move into next month.

I know there is probably not much to do but wait but I'm just annoyed and sad about the house because I really had geared up to move...

poppysarah

It's mostly tough. You can have a rant at whoever told you if was chain free ... you could try insisting on a date or threaten to pull out. but be prepared to pull out.

cattie

No there's nothing you can do unless you want to pull out or threaten to.

Lot's of sales start off as chain free when seller's haven't found a property & agree to go into rental or with relatives, then the situation changes if they find a house they wish to buy in the meantime.

You could push for them to move in with family, which is what I did with my vendor's who were keeping me waiting while they slowly looked for a property to buy. They had originally mentioned moving in with relatives was an option if they didn't find anything.

My buyer gave me an ultimatum of complete by a certain date or he walks, so I gave the same ultimatum to the vendor's of the house I was buying. They said impossible, I stuck to my guns & a week or so later they caved in & we completed on deadline set by my buyer.

You've offered full asking price, as my buyer's did, so the vendors should be anxious not to lose you as you are a perfect buyer. Full asking price & ftb, what more could a vendor ask for? Good luck.

chickmug

Shame the EA involved did not have the terms we used.

We said to the sellers if they said they were 'chain free' and able to move out into rented, or with family, they signed and agreed to this. Some forgot until we reminded them and whilst I doubt, in court, we would of won the case it did prove enough of a deterrent and I can't remember one case where it didn't work.

jezebel

I don't think pulling out will work as there was another buyer (housing association) so not sure if they would care if I did and I would be out of pocket.

Being a buyer sucks!