Property purchase timeline in the UK ridiculously log winded.

Comms69

seradane said:

csgohan4 said:

seradane said:

Why do people get so defensive about a cumbersome and difficult system, just because it's the one they are familiar with?

Like it's clearly a frustrating and lengthy process, for people on here to blithely go 'Oh well if you have a problem don't buy then' is just inane. Even Scotland does it better and they have all the same rules as we do here. People in European countries buy with mortgages too. There's no reason why the English system couldn't be better than it is.

Sadly it's reality and nothing you can do unless your a cash buyer or buying an auction house, in which case 28 days and jobs done. 

We all go through it, no stamping your feet will get your buyer's solicitor to pull their finger out of their behind just for you will they? Everything has to follow due process, I'm sure you don't want to buy a house and find out later the covenant in the lease is problematic for you

Look at buying a flat with cladding now, a real PITA now, so many reports you need to get before a lender will touch it. Do you want to forgo this and risk your house being worthless? By all means buy with cash then

Op has options, but if they need a mortgage, they need to wait like every other mortgaged purchase

Yes, everyone here is aware that it's "how things are" in England, and obviously if you want to buy a house you have to deal with it.

But I assume what OP is saying is WHY, why does it have to be like this? It's so unneccessary! Other countries have all the same issues and restrictions we do. People buy houses in Germany which were built years before planning and building regs. People buy apartments in Australia that have cladding (and its a very flammable country). People buy houses with mortgages in France. People buy houses with restrictive covenants in the USA. People buy leasehold properties in Scotland.

Nothing about houses in England are particularly unique or difficult, and yet for some reason it takes us three times as long to complete a property sale as it does anywhere else. Well, that I'm familiar with.... I'm sure there must be somewhere on earth that also does it as poorly, but that's hardly something to be celebrated.

Just saying 'that's the way it is' and 'due dilligence' isn't a very good excuse, is it?

Because the lenders have stipulated a number of checks and balances - i really dont understand the confusion.

seradane

Comms69 said:

seradane said:

csgohan4 said:

seradane said:

Why do people get so defensive about a cumbersome and difficult system, just because it's the one they are familiar with?

Like it's clearly a frustrating and lengthy process, for people on here to blithely go 'Oh well if you have a problem don't buy then' is just inane. Even Scotland does it better and they have all the same rules as we do here. People in European countries buy with mortgages too. There's no reason why the English system couldn't be better than it is.

Sadly it's reality and nothing you can do unless your a cash buyer or buying an auction house, in which case 28 days and jobs done. 

We all go through it, no stamping your feet will get your buyer's solicitor to pull their finger out of their behind just for you will they? Everything has to follow due process, I'm sure you don't want to buy a house and find out later the covenant in the lease is problematic for you

Look at buying a flat with cladding now, a real PITA now, so many reports you need to get before a lender will touch it. Do you want to forgo this and risk your house being worthless? By all means buy with cash then

Op has options, but if they need a mortgage, they need to wait like every other mortgaged purchase

Yes, everyone here is aware that it's "how things are" in England, and obviously if you want to buy a house you have to deal with it.

But I assume what OP is saying is WHY, why does it have to be like this? It's so unneccessary! Other countries have all the same issues and restrictions we do. People buy houses in Germany which were built years before planning and building regs. People buy apartments in Australia that have cladding (and its a very flammable country). People buy houses with mortgages in France. People buy houses with restrictive covenants in the USA. People buy leasehold properties in Scotland.

Nothing about houses in England are particularly unique or difficult, and yet for some reason it takes us three times as long to complete a property sale as it does anywhere else. Well, that I'm familiar with.... I'm sure there must be somewhere on earth that also does it as poorly, but that's hardly something to be celebrated.

Just saying 'that's the way it is' and 'due dilligence' isn't a very good excuse, is it?

Because the lenders have stipulated a number of checks and balances - i really dont understand the confusion.

And you think the lenders in other countries just go, "nah, all, good, take a few hundred thousand pounds of our money, we're not going to bother to check what you spend it on"?

MovingForwards

Just have to say, a lot of people are crying out to have the speed / efficiency like in Scotland, no-one ever seems to reply saying a similar process was trialed in a few areas of England. It didn't work as everyone buying was still getting their own valuations and surveys done.

When buying up here (Scotland) it's:
1. Look online / in EA windows for suitable properties.
2. Get the HB report and property information pack.
3. View property.
4. Solicitors make offer.
5. Offer accepted / negotiated.
6. Mortgage application submitted / offer received.
7. Solicitors deal with purchase.
8. Get property keys.

Because of point 2, I was easily able to rule properties out within seconds. 

davidmcn

seradane said:
People buy leasehold properties in Scotland.

Please see above.

Comms69

seradane said:

Comms69 said:

seradane said:

csgohan4 said:

seradane said:

Why do people get so defensive about a cumbersome and difficult system, just because it's the one they are familiar with?

Like it's clearly a frustrating and lengthy process, for people on here to blithely go 'Oh well if you have a problem don't buy then' is just inane. Even Scotland does it better and they have all the same rules as we do here. People in European countries buy with mortgages too. There's no reason why the English system couldn't be better than it is.

Sadly it's reality and nothing you can do unless your a cash buyer or buying an auction house, in which case 28 days and jobs done. 

We all go through it, no stamping your feet will get your buyer's solicitor to pull their finger out of their behind just for you will they? Everything has to follow due process, I'm sure you don't want to buy a house and find out later the covenant in the lease is problematic for you

Look at buying a flat with cladding now, a real PITA now, so many reports you need to get before a lender will touch it. Do you want to forgo this and risk your house being worthless? By all means buy with cash then

Op has options, but if they need a mortgage, they need to wait like every other mortgaged purchase

Yes, everyone here is aware that it's "how things are" in England, and obviously if you want to buy a house you have to deal with it.

But I assume what OP is saying is WHY, why does it have to be like this? It's so unneccessary! Other countries have all the same issues and restrictions we do. People buy houses in Germany which were built years before planning and building regs. People buy apartments in Australia that have cladding (and its a very flammable country). People buy houses with mortgages in France. People buy houses with restrictive covenants in the USA. People buy leasehold properties in Scotland.

Nothing about houses in England are particularly unique or difficult, and yet for some reason it takes us three times as long to complete a property sale as it does anywhere else. Well, that I'm familiar with.... I'm sure there must be somewhere on earth that also does it as poorly, but that's hardly something to be celebrated.

Just saying 'that's the way it is' and 'due dilligence' isn't a very good excuse, is it?

Because the lenders have stipulated a number of checks and balances - i really dont understand the confusion.

And you think the lenders in other countries just go, "nah, all, good, take a few hundred thousand pounds of our money, we're not going to bother to check what you spend it on"?

no? You asked why, im telling you why. 

You want to borrow money to buy a property, the lender says sure, as long as X, Y and Z happens. If you dont like X, Y or Z - dont borrow the money. 

It's nothing to do with anywhere else, because these are the conditions under which the money is lent by the market here. 

If people suddenly stopped taking mortgages, the lenders might change the criteria

seradane

davidmcn said:

seradane said:
People buy leasehold properties in Scotland.

Please see above.

Okay - I assumed they were more common than they are, but they do exist.

davidmcn

seradane said:

davidmcn said:

seradane said:
People buy leasehold properties in Scotland.

Please see above.

Okay - I assumed they were more common than they are, but they do exist.

They don't. That'll just be an English-based online estate agent absent-mindedly clicking on "leasehold" because it's a flat.

Thrugelmir

seradane said:

Comms69 said:

seradane said:

csgohan4 said:

seradane said:

Why do people get so defensive about a cumbersome and difficult system, just because it's the one they are familiar with?

Like it's clearly a frustrating and lengthy process, for people on here to blithely go 'Oh well if you have a problem don't buy then' is just inane. Even Scotland does it better and they have all the same rules as we do here. People in European countries buy with mortgages too. There's no reason why the English system couldn't be better than it is.

Sadly it's reality and nothing you can do unless your a cash buyer or buying an auction house, in which case 28 days and jobs done. 

We all go through it, no stamping your feet will get your buyer's solicitor to pull their finger out of their behind just for you will they? Everything has to follow due process, I'm sure you don't want to buy a house and find out later the covenant in the lease is problematic for you

Look at buying a flat with cladding now, a real PITA now, so many reports you need to get before a lender will touch it. Do you want to forgo this and risk your house being worthless? By all means buy with cash then

Op has options, but if they need a mortgage, they need to wait like every other mortgaged purchase

Yes, everyone here is aware that it's "how things are" in England, and obviously if you want to buy a house you have to deal with it.

But I assume what OP is saying is WHY, why does it have to be like this? It's so unneccessary! Other countries have all the same issues and restrictions we do. People buy houses in Germany which were built years before planning and building regs. People buy apartments in Australia that have cladding (and its a very flammable country). People buy houses with mortgages in France. People buy houses with restrictive covenants in the USA. People buy leasehold properties in Scotland.

Nothing about houses in England are particularly unique or difficult, and yet for some reason it takes us three times as long to complete a property sale as it does anywhere else. Well, that I'm familiar with.... I'm sure there must be somewhere on earth that also does it as poorly, but that's hardly something to be celebrated.

Just saying 'that's the way it is' and 'due dilligence' isn't a very good excuse, is it?

Because the lenders have stipulated a number of checks and balances - i really dont understand the confusion.

And you think the lenders in other countries just go, "nah, all, good, take a few hundred thousand pounds of our money, we're not going to bother to check what you spend it on"?

What are home ownership levels like in other countries?

As with many things these days. People want a cheap service. To provide a cheap service conveyancing has to be a volume driven business. Staff sitting around doing nothing is a non starter. One pays ones money out of choice. Pay more and you can have a personalised service. Your solicitor on call at the other end of the telephone........

seradane

Comms69 said:

seradane said:

Comms69 said:

seradane said:

csgohan4 said:

seradane said:

Why do people get so defensive about a cumbersome and difficult system, just because it's the one they are familiar with?

Like it's clearly a frustrating and lengthy process, for people on here to blithely go 'Oh well if you have a problem don't buy then' is just inane. Even Scotland does it better and they have all the same rules as we do here. People in European countries buy with mortgages too. There's no reason why the English system couldn't be better than it is.

Sadly it's reality and nothing you can do unless your a cash buyer or buying an auction house, in which case 28 days and jobs done. 

We all go through it, no stamping your feet will get your buyer's solicitor to pull their finger out of their behind just for you will they? Everything has to follow due process, I'm sure you don't want to buy a house and find out later the covenant in the lease is problematic for you

Look at buying a flat with cladding now, a real PITA now, so many reports you need to get before a lender will touch it. Do you want to forgo this and risk your house being worthless? By all means buy with cash then

Op has options, but if they need a mortgage, they need to wait like every other mortgaged purchase

Yes, everyone here is aware that it's "how things are" in England, and obviously if you want to buy a house you have to deal with it.

But I assume what OP is saying is WHY, why does it have to be like this? It's so unneccessary! Other countries have all the same issues and restrictions we do. People buy houses in Germany which were built years before planning and building regs. People buy apartments in Australia that have cladding (and its a very flammable country). People buy houses with mortgages in France. People buy houses with restrictive covenants in the USA. People buy leasehold properties in Scotland.

Nothing about houses in England are particularly unique or difficult, and yet for some reason it takes us three times as long to complete a property sale as it does anywhere else. Well, that I'm familiar with.... I'm sure there must be somewhere on earth that also does it as poorly, but that's hardly something to be celebrated.

Just saying 'that's the way it is' and 'due dilligence' isn't a very good excuse, is it?

Because the lenders have stipulated a number of checks and balances - i really dont understand the confusion.

And you think the lenders in other countries just go, "nah, all, good, take a few hundred thousand pounds of our money, we're not going to bother to check what you spend it on"?

no? You asked why, im telling you why. 

You want to borrow money to buy a property, the lender says sure, as long as X, Y and Z happens. If you dont like X, Y or Z - dont borrow the money. 

It's nothing to do with anywhere else, because these are the conditions under which the money is lent by the market here. 

If people suddenly stopped taking mortgages, the lenders might change the criteria

 Sure, but this whole thread is talking about why house buying in England is/isn't different to elsewhere, so it is relevant.

But also - we're getting focused on the lender's checks. In my experience that wasn't really the problem - when we bought, from providing documents to our mortgage broker to getting the mortgage offer took all of one week. Our survey, from quote to getting the report, was also just about a week. 

The bit that really seems to hold things up is the solicitors and their searches and associated queries. That seems to take months and months. Again, yes, I know, it's all due diligence. But again I do have a hard time understanding why that all seems to be so much harder for us.

And on top of that it really isn't helped by the fact that anyone in the chain can pull out at any time for any reason, leading to everyone else having to start again. Having that surety where everyone's locked in and can't just change their mind seems to result in such a simpler process. 

seradane

Thrugelmir said:

What are home ownership levels like in other countries?

As with many things these days. People want a cheap service. To provide a cheap service conveyancing has to be a volume driven business. Staff sitting around doing nothing is a non starter. One pays ones money out of choice. Pay more and you can have a personalised service. Your solicitor on call at the other end of the telephone........

According to this, the UK sits at 65% home ownership, 4% less than the EU average. So not particularly exceptional.

To your second point, you're not wrong, but again, this isn't a problem unique to England...