Will lockdown affect house move?

Helptobuypurchase

Thaipie said:

Helptobuypurchase said:

So after being told my house move is on hold indefinitely, I have requested that my solicitor returns my deposit, will they do this as they are now not answering my emails or calls? 

Our solicitor explained that they are prioritising people who have exchanged and due to complete first so perhaps that's why you've not heard back yet. I suspect they are pretty busy today.

I understand that their busy, but i need my deposit back ASAP as we have found another local  solicitor that is willing to exchange and complete for us by next Friday. 

ConfusedSeller

We are due to exchange and complete on Friday as well. I have heard nothing to say otherwise. We are in the fortunate position (or unfortunate maybe!) of having a second property which means although time will be tight whilst we can't get a tenant into the flat we're living in now, it doesn't make much difference to us whether we complete or not on Friday, it'll just delay the renovation start!!

PasturesNew

If you can exchange/complete and pay electronically as solicitors are working from home and banks operating... the only issue then is removals.  For some this isn't an issue as they're OK to stay where they are (friends/family) and simply want to know it's done. 

bigmortgage

Helptobuypurchase said:

Thaipie said:

Helptobuypurchase said:

So after being told my house move is on hold indefinitely, I have requested that my solicitor returns my deposit, will they do this as they are now not answering my emails or calls? 

Our solicitor explained that they are prioritising people who have exchanged and due to complete first so perhaps that's why you've not heard back yet. I suspect they are pretty busy today.

I understand that their busy, but i need my deposit back ASAP as we have found another local  solicitor that is willing to exchange and complete for us by next Friday. 

And the sellers and their solicitors are also willing? Seems like quite a tight turnaround to have the file transferred to another solicitor.

Assuming all other parties are onboard, have you tried taking it higher up the chain at your current solicitor, pointing out many others are still exchanging this week? Maybe expressing how likely it might be that you could end up without a roof over your head if they are the only block in the road?

Helptobuypurchase

Big Mortgage:
The file will hopefully be transferred tomorrow and there is nothing left to do as we were meant to exchange today and then compete once mortgage had sent through funds 5 days later, hence the quick turnaround.

I did try to raise with my previous solicitor that we were virtually finished and she stated that it wasn’t her decision to stop all transactions, it was the decision from her firms partners. 

Empty_Purse

I was due to move into a rental property on Saturday 4th April.  The contract's signed & I've paid the deposit etc.  Trouble is, I can't move in due to the lockdown - and the current tenants won't be able to move out of the property or have it cleaned professionally (one of the standard end-of-tenancy terms set by the landlord).  It seems to me that the current tenants are going to be in breach of contract if they don't move out;, I'll be in breach of contract if I don't move in and start paying rent / taking on the utilities; & the landlord will be in breach of contract for not supplying with me with a habitable property (it's not habitable because someone else is living there).  What an utter mess!  The letting agent was urgently seeking advice this morning but I've heard nothing so far.  I'd be interested to know if any other renters are in similar situations and have been told how their agent / new landlord is proposing to manage the situation.

DorianRae

Empty_Purse - I'm also a private renter and was due to move around that time (am due to move on the 9th). I had been stressing about exactly this situation a few weeks ago, so at that time, had started prepping then. I got written (email) assurances from my landlady that, if I was physically unable to move into the flat at that time (e.g. the current renters cannot vacate or there are road closures) that she would not charge me rent as I would not be able to live in the flat. At that time, I also made back up plans for movers (e.g. a friend driving their car or a van rental). 
I'm in a fortunate position that no one is moving in behind me in my current flat, so if need be, I can stay here longer although I can only afford to do that if I'm not able to move into my new flat and am therefore not charged two rents. I contacted my movers later this afternoon and they are planning to continue as normal and had already implemented enhanced procedures. I'm now checking with my new landlord if she is still happy for me to move on the 9th and if there will be any issues with her current tenants - appreciating that the situation could further evolve in the next two weeks. 

I deal directly with both landlords and both have been fairly reasonable and flexible thus far - but I appreciate not all are, and with the government taking a bit of a flexible approach on this, there is scope for some landlords to not be flexible. Let me know how you get on! 

VK41

We exchanged a few weeks ago and are completing on Friday as planned too thankfully. Our removals will only put 2 men on the job instead of 4 so they will start Thursday instead. Good luck everyone else with imminent moves 

big_vern

twitter.com/DanielHewittITV/status/1242461451681509376?s=20
he is saying clarification coming   twitter.com/LooSeaKelly/status/1242449643319054339?s=20

bigmortgage

Empty_Purse said:

I was due to move into a rental property on Saturday 4th April.  The contract's signed & I've paid the deposit etc.  Trouble is, I can't move in due to the lockdown - and the current tenants won't be able to move out of the property or have it cleaned professionally (one of the standard end-of-tenancy terms set by the landlord).  It seems to me that the current tenants are going to be in breach of contract if they don't move out;, I'll be in breach of contract if I don't move in and start paying rent / taking on the utilities; & the landlord will be in breach of contract for not supplying with me with a habitable property (it's not habitable because someone else is living there).  What an utter mess!  The letting agent was urgently seeking advice this morning but I've heard nothing so far.  I'd be interested to know if any other renters are in similar situations and have been told how their agent / new landlord is proposing to manage the situation.

Best thing is talk to the landlords. Find an equitable arrangement for all, as this is no one's fault.