Can I let vendor stay in the house for a few weeks after we complete?

meadow408

Just really looking after some advice and suggestions here.
I will try to make a long story short: I'm buying a house from an elderly couple who always said they would go into rental accommodation; there is no chain as I'm a FTB. They wanted to go for a quick sale and turnaround so after positive building survey at the end of July my solicitor requested deeds and docs from their solicitor; my lender valuation was done and mortgage offer came through mid August. Towards the end of August the vendor's solicitor still hadn't sent deeds and docs and only after some pushing between me and the EA he got his act together and sent them through; as of today we are still waiting for this solicitor to reply tothe last enquiry (removal of an entry on the title deeds) and again together with the EA and my solicitor we are trying to push him.
However there is another problem and we might be running out of time: some weeks ago the vendors indicated that they suddenly wanted 6 weeks between exchange and completion to find rental accomodation. It really buffles me how they can't sort it out earlier as they have 3 adult children who can all help with house search, packing and moving. They have known all along that I absolutely must complete by the first week of October as I'll be moving jobs at teh end of October and it could be a problem with the mortgage. I know that changing jobs while buying a property it's not ideal however I had to as my current firm is not doing well, I got a very great offer for my same role with a much more stable firm and a higher salary so I had to accept.
I can give the vendors at best 3 weeks (this is if their solicitor finally attends to the last outstanding point) but no more than taht otherwise the lender might withdraw the mortgage given my change in circumstances>
My question is: could I offer some kind of arrangement to let them stay a couple of weeks in the house after completion? would that be even legal? what woudl the pitfalls be? I'm really trying to not take to harsh a stance here as the vendors are quite old (in their late 60s) and I understand they might find hard also emotionally to pack up all their stuff " in a hurry".
thank you in advance for your advice

PasturesNew

Short answer: No

Lender won't allow it; solicitor would be in trouble if they knew/allowed it; solicitor would tell you "No!!!".

For another thing, if you buy a house and the previous owner continues to live in it, they inherit some special new powers ..... e.g. you might not be able to get them out for 5 years if they decide not to leave ... and what if one has a heart attack and asks to stay on etc etc .....

So .... no.

DRP

I think your mortgage company will require the house to be empty.

Unless you have a BTL mortgage.

Raksha

Insurance would be another issue

Tixy

If you know you are changing jobs then won't you need to inform the mortgage lender of this change in your circumstances anyway (regardless of whether you complete before or after you move jobs)

I cannot see any sensible arrangement whereby they would stay in the property after completion. I don't think it would be sensible (imagine if they refused to move out and you had to spend thousands trying to evict them through the courts) and I suspect your mortgage lender would be very concerned about the arrangement, quite likely enough to pull the offer anyway.

hazyjo

Why don't you offer to pay for professional removals/storage until a certain date? Am sure some agreement could be drawn up, although not sure where they'd stay... Will you have a spare room?

Jx
PS longstanding joke on here, but there's always the campervan on the driveway option!

theartfullodger

No:

Well, you CAN. I can sue Dave Cameron for being a twit, I CAN shoot Nick Clegg...

Don't do it, Either delay completion date until he's gone or pay a bit to get him out.

Anything else, walk away..

Cheers!

pimento

Late 60s isn't old.

fed_up_and_stressed

The day before we completed (van hired) vendors said they needed more time ..extra few days...as it turned out those days were to remove the fittings and fixtures we had paid for as part of the sale.

Unfortunately for us it would have caused us more to pursue them than to replace but it was extra hassle stress and expense we hadn't counted on.

Don't do it.

mummytofour

Personally, they either want to move or not, they either want you to buy their house or not. Perhaps this is not the right house or time for you? They seem to have dragged the heals for months and you have been reasonable. Tell the agent you want first week of oct for completion or your not going to buy, whatever will be, will be.

meg72

Have to agree with previous posts, especially the 60`s not being old lol.

Dont do it it opens up endless potential problems for you.