Help! Completion date won’t be met - New Buyuer

bethan11

Thrugelmir said:

bethan11 said:

It’s also worth me mentioning that I was not informed that the tenant was still at the property - never mind self isolating until they’d taken my payment

Weren't you aware of that there was another party involved? The EA should have kept you informed of developments. Lockdown is hardly a new event. 

What I was told upon my original offer is that the sellers ex husband is staying at the house until its sold. The house is not in his name it’s in the ex wife’s name and she’s the seller. I don’t know what/if any tenancy agreement they’ve had between them but I’ve had a document to say that he has agreed to leave the property so I was under the impression that he had when the sellers solicitors agreed with a completion date. I can’t fathom how a date can be given and agreed upon when the tenant was still there and had made no attempt to leave in the months that the process has been ongoing, or why I’ve not been informed since lock down started that he was self-isolating. I have reason to believe he is not self-isolating but accusing him of not self isolating isn’t going to get me anywhere. 

blue_max_3

You need to be clear about whether you have actually exchanged. If you haven't, you haven't bought a house.

bethan11

AdrianC said:

bethan11 said:

I’m waiting on more clarity today from my solicitor on whether they HAVE exchanged. From the conversation I had with her it appeared they had, as they arranged the completion date and payment a day before the phone call out of the blue to say that the seller can’t meet the completion date. 

The completion date has to be agreed in order to exchange, because the date is part of the exchanged contract.

I suspect what's happened is that the solicitors have spoken on the phone, yours has said "Right, we're ready to exchange - and there's vacant possession, yep?" - to which the other solicitor's said "Ah, about that... My client tells me..."

According to the estate agent also they weren’t informed that the tenant was still there until yesterday afternoon either - the same time that my solicitor was informed I imagine so I have no idea what to do going forward! The estate agent had spoken to me about key collection hours earlier so they were also under the impression that the house was vacant!!

bethan11

blue_max_3 said:

You need to be clear about whether you have actually exchanged. If you haven't, you haven't bought a house.

I’m trying to get written confirmation from my solicitor on whether the exchange has officially gone ahead but it’s proving impossible as they aren’t responding to emails and their direct phone line is constantly on voicemail! 

greatcrested

I'll lay heavy odds: you have not exchanged.

Anyone willing to bet against me?

davidmcn

If you had exchanged contracts then your solicitor would (almost certainly) have confirmed that to you.

bethan11

davidmcn said:

If you had exchanged contracts then your solicitor would (almost certainly) have confirmed that to you.

I was so annoyed/upset during the phone call she may of said but I can’t remember. It’s the first time she’s called me since I started the process with them - it’s not been a great experience with that firm as you can probably tell 

blue_max_3

I can see the vendor being a little unhappy with their ex!

bethan11

blue_max_3 said:

I can see the vendor being a little unhappy with their ex!

For sure!! Funnily enough the day I went to view the house he was present and the estate agent said to me “don’t pay any attention to him, he’s an idiot”.

He 100% isn’t isolating because he is out in the public on bike rides so I’m sure he’s doing it to be difficult. 

bethan11

greatcrested said:

I'll lay heavy odds: you have not exchanged.

Anyone willing to bet against me?

You very well may be correct and I’ve been led to believe otherwise - I shall confirm once I hear back from my solicitor (whenever the heck that’ll be I don’t know)