Vendor changing completion date?

kezzygirl

Hi everyone. We are finally purchasing a house-yippee! We have been to our solicitor today and signed contracts. Half an hour prior to our meeting the vendors solicitor got in touch and said the vendor wants to delay completion by a week.

Now, I have spoken on numerous occasions to the estate agent who has spoken to the vendor and confirmed next Friday 11th may as completion date. Apparently the vendor was in agreement with this and said she is ready whenever w3 are- she is moving into an annex at her son's house.

We have arranged a lorry for 11th and also our children are due to start their new schools 14th. We start our new jobs on 15th. Our tenancy ends the 13th.

Our solicitor has emailed their solicitor with the above response-where do we stand if she digs her heels in and pushes for the week after? We have planned everything around this mutually agreed completion date

glentoran99

what date is on the contracts that have been agreed?

kezzygirl

11th may 2pm.

kezzygirl

Does this mean we have exchanged? What if she hasn't signed the contract yet?

glentoran99

Your solicitor will know if she has signed

Thrugelmir

kezzygirl wrote: »

We have planned everything around this mutually agreed completion date

Completion date is set on exchange of contracts. While there can be a target date never is ever set in stone until exchange.

eddddy

Presumably you haven't exchanged contracts.

If so, it is just negotiation - i.e. a bit like a game of chicken... see who gives in first.

Ultimately, if you both 'dig your heels in' and can't agree on a completion date, exchange of contracts won't happen, and the property sale won't happen.

Jaywood89

From what I understand changing completion date after exchange is a failure to complete and causes the seller to break the contract, effectively making them liable to numerous costs and further legal action.

Though I believe this is a long and uncertain road.

However it is unlikely that much will happen in the week she wants to wait, but you could get you solicitor to stress that if she breaks contract you will be Perusing her for costs such as removal vans being cancelled or storage of Possesions on top of hotel costs for you and you kids until completion.

I’m sure a more experienced member of the forum will either correct me or provide a better understanding of your rights should I be misinformed.

But if I am correct maybe the mere threat of legal action will make her think again.

Btw I cannot see Tje response you mentioned? I’m guessing you pasted it into the thread? Maybe try again so we can see what exactly was said

Jaywood89

Just read the bit about not exchanging contracts so my advice is irrelevant

kezzygirl

eddddy wrote: »

Presumably you haven't exchanged contracts.

If so, it is just negotiation - i.e. a bit like a game of chicken... see who gives in first.

Ultimately, if you both 'dig your heels in' and can't agree on a completion date, exchange of contracts won't happen, and the property sale won't happen.

What is the difference between exchange and signing contracts? I thought they were the same? We had agreed a completion date. For some reason she is reneging on this

Asl77c

If you don!!!8217;t know if you have exchanged yet. Then you likely haven!!!8217;t exchanged. You would know. As others have said until this point the date can change without any repercussions.