New Build Completion process

Sarahj1590

Looking for advice on how the completion process works on a new build property.

Me and my partner are buying a new build (not yet exchanged, should be this week) from Taylor Wimpey and we have always been told that the completion date would be 31st July and I have checked this almost weekly.

We've given notice on our rented flat and booked removals for the 31st. I rang Taylor Wimpey earlier just to check that everything was still on schedule, she said yes 31st July is the date. I asked a bit more about what would happen on the day (being a first time buyer and not really sure what to expect) and she said that they would get sign off from the NHBC and then she would sign it off and then we would decide a completion date.

Obviously I was confused 'So we're not completing on the 31st???'
'No that's when the house is finished, once it's finished and signed off then we have a 2 week window for you to complete'

Err... great.

Some may say it was stupid to make arrangements without exchanging, so I quickly got in touch with my solicitor to ask about the completion date and ask if a date is agreed on exhcnage of contracts, but he (the solicitor) tells me the same thing, that they wait for the NHBC certificate and then the developers will let us know a completion date.

How is this possible? So we are just waiting around (homeless at this point) until Taylor Wimpey tell us we can move in?

Does anyone have any advice or experience of this? Taylor Wimpey nor my solicitor are very helpful. I've emailed my solictor asking if we could agree a time frame for completion, so I can atleast make arrangements.

First port of call now is to speak to the lettings company to see if there is any wriggle room to our end date, but I somehow doubt it as they've already found new tenents!

Sarahj1590

Any advice?

kingstreet

You will exchange contracts without a completion date. Legal completion will be "on notice," where the builder's solicitor will serve notice on your solicitor to complete within two weeks from the build end-date, when the NHBC cover note is issued.

What you have been told is correct.

TonyMMM

Sounds like a confusion over terminology between the house completion (i.e. we've finished building it) and the legal completion (i.e. it's yours you can move in)

libf

With Barratt I get a 28 notice, but at this point it's still not completely firm so only tentative bookings with movers, and then I get a 10 day notice which sets the final completion date.

Advice would be put your things into storage and live somewhere else if you can't extend your rental. (I'm moving out of my flat at the end of September, storing everything and living with my parents for 3 months, with an hours commute to work each way instead of my normal 1/2 hour, until my new build is ready.)

Sarahj1590

Thank you all for your replies.

Turns out the developer (by which I mean the sales exec) got the dates wrong. We are due to complete on 31st with the NHBC on the 17th! Arghhhh.

I know this isn't a firm date as things could still go wrong but at least we are still on track.