Completion date changed

Santababy24

Hi!
So we are first time buyers for a brand new house.
We were told that the house is gonna be ready in oktober then were told its gonna be ready in november.
Now on the 16th of november we received a letter from our solicitor that completion date is 15th of december.
9 days before moving we received a letter saying it is gonna be 26th of january.
Our mortgage expires on the 23rd of january.
Is it legal for them to change a date 9 days before moving?

davidmcn

I presume that by "is 15th of December" and "gonna be 26th of January" you're talking about estimates, rather than any sort of formal notice under your contract? If they're still building your house then you need to wait until they've finished building it before you move in.

It almost certainly is "legal", at most you might have a longstop date in the contract entitling you to walk away if e.g. the delay goes beyond the expiry of your mortgage offer.

Read your contract, which I hope your solicitor explained to you before you exchanged, and if in doubt ask your solicitor.

Santababy24

First 2 times it was a verbal notice the third was agreed letter of the 15th of december so we were all set to move in.
It just surprises me that they can change it couple of days before moving.
Basically leave us homeless.

Lucky_Duck_2

Depending on what the contract says, it may be the completion notice is binding so costs of the delay may be recoverable from the builder.


My current house was completed three weeks later than originally planned which meant I had a semi-nomadic existence for that time

Theguywhovapes

Mortgage offers can be extended. Check with the lender their procedure on doing this. Usually would expect the solicitors to have to do this but double check this. For the sake of 3 days I can’t see the lender having an issue, especially as it sounds it’s the builders delaying completion

Dolly123

Until you have your notice served its still an Anticipated Legal completion date, sods law but you don't want a substandard house, it would if taken a lot to move a date out as their year end will of been December 22nd.

Who is your Mortgage Lender and Developer?

Santababy24

Mortgage is with Nationwide

Verix

Nationwide can give you a 10 day grace period as long as the solicitor applies for the funds by the 23rd. Get your broker to speak with them if you are concerned.

saxo_appeal

Have you actually called the building site office and asked why it’s delayed and why they have pushed the build by a month each time

Sounds like they are delaying, could be they are waiting on units, have you orders anything special, special made items?

If it was supposed to be ready by October and they pushed it by a month surely you would have been in for the first inspection? Sorry bit bleak on that one so I may be wrong?

Santababy24

Nothing special has been ordered. The problem was road amd they said house is gonna be ready in november but because of the road they put the date back. Now they said they can't get electric in till the second week of the january and then can't turn it on for a week.