Urgent help needed on selling

Diva1234

Apologies for the length of this mail.
I lost my Dad after a long illness recently. My Mum is 80 and cannot live on her own. The plan was to sell my mums house, rent a property while the work on my house was done and then we would all move back to my house. My Mums friends who live nearby, their son is buying the house. However we are just about to exchange, my builder is ready to go and the rental house has fallen through. The people buying mums house said they do not mind if we stay there for free for 10 weeks. I am neevous as they have a residential mortgage and although we are friends, is this legal. As you can imagine we are in a mess and my mum is so upset.
Please help with advice x

I_have_spoken

That's a pretty generous offer! AFAIK, so long as you are deemed to be 'house sitters' rather than tenants then consent to let isn't an issue.

YOu'd need to draw up agreement on paying utilities etc. and I'd suggest also sign a housesitters agreement that your Mum has permission to occupy the house for 10 weeks. (Obviously your Mum must have an up-to-date will to minimise further complications if the worst happens)

Diva1234

Thank you, what about things like their house insurance etc, will they need to tell their mortgage company?
I do not want to build up Mums hope if this is a non starter?

aggypanthus

I would see it as you being house guests for an extended stay, dont worry so much and good luck.

ValHaller

To protect your buyers and your mother and yourself it would be better to exchange anyway but delay completion for the time of the build. Obviously this will not work if your buyer's mortgage offer will run out or if you cannot raise the finance for the build.

If you can do it this way, it avoids having to do things which you would hope might stay under the radar