HELP! Solicitors exchange/completion

Panda_1989

Hi everyone,
I am posting a message because I really need some advice about what to do about the exchange and completion on my new house.
I had a bid accepted on a property at the end of March and was informed we would be all completed for the 30th July (today) ready to move.
However, my vendor's solicitors and my solicitors have just been dragging their feet for no apparant reason. I have spoken directly to the vendor and he is ready to move out and I am ready to move in, yet we can't because our solicitors have not exchanged contracts yet. I have rung my solicitors every day for the last week and still I am getting no where. I am promised they will phone me back but they never do.
I am now in the situation where my contract ends on my flat at the weekend and I am now facing the possibility of having no where to live.
HELP PLEASE!

Lavendyr

This is why you don't give notice on a rented property before exchange of contracts!

Have you actually exchanged? If not, I'd suspect you are unlikely to complete before the week is out and you need to start making alternative arrangements for somewhere to stay - speak to your landlord to see if they can grant an extension/if you can take back your notice as a first thought.

Is your solicitor local? If so I would visit their offices and speak to them in person as even if there is no news, they should be telling you this. If this really is just solicitors messing about, your sellers should be doing this too!

Good luck - rubbish situation to be in.

cattie

There must be a reason for the hold up. Have you spoken to the ea, as they are the best go between for all concerned parties as far as knowing what is what with the other sides solicitors.

I myself was expecting to exchange on Friday, but it didn't happen due to problem with buyers mortgage lender and some paperwork they failed to send. Now I'm just sat waiting to hear whether things are sorted and see if we can exchange today.

Both me and my buyer have our removals provisionally booked for next Monday, but who knows if this will now be possible and my buyer is in the same situation as you. Next weekend she has to vacate her rental property.

I can't help, but truly do empathise. By the way, are your solicitors local? If they are then go in and demand to be told what the hold up is. If they are not local then get the ea to keep on at both sets of solicitors till somebody gives you a valid reason for the delay & lack of communication.

SternMusik

Sorry, I can't help on the solicitor front, but what do you mean by "my contract ends on my flat"? Did you hand in your notice and agree to move out at the weekend? Does your fixed term come to an end? Or were you served with a s21 notice by the landlord? (The advice given normally is that you should not give notice on your flat until you have exchanged contracts, as either party can withdraw without penalty prior to that.)

If your fixed term comes to an end, your tenancy becomes periodic if you stay on for another day. The landlord can only evict you by serving the correct notice and going though the courts. If you handed in your notice, and the landlord has new tenants lined up, it becomes a bit more tricky!

Fingers crossed it works out for you. Hopefully you will be able to exchange and complete soon. Worst come to worst, can you put your furniture and boxes in storage and stay with friends/family for a short while?

loubel

Until you exchange contracts any date suggested for completion is only a rough guide - and either of you could pull out.

Have you been sent the report yet with all the paperwork (contract, mortgage deed etc) to sign?