Vendor refusing to break the chain before exchange

vanishaxo

The joys of buying a house...
My vendor had initially agreed to break the chain and seek a rented property so that I didn’t need to wait for her onward purchase to complete. She is awaiting a grant of probate on her onward purchase. 

Two days before exchange, she’s now changed her mind!
This in incredibly frustrating given I’ve just gone through the lengthy process of searches and the conveyancing etc...
The estate agents are struggling to get hold of her to try and change her mind. She’s also currently separating from her partner, and also struggling to hold of him as they don’t believe he’s aware. 

As I have just sold my property, and had broken my chain to ensure my sale goes through most of my possessions are in storage as I was under the impression I would complete on my purchase soon

Any suggestions?

anselld

Probate and separating couples are two of the most unreliable inputs to the house selling process and you are involving both.  

Start looking at other properties and let their agent know that is what you are doing.  You never know you might find something you like better, but it might just persuade them to proceed.

TBagpuss

Unfortunately pre-exchange nothing is guaranteed, so other than threatening to pull out or actually pulling out, there's not a lot you can do. 
As Anselld says, start looking at other properties, you are not bound either, so if it drags on, and you find somewhere else, you're free to buy a different property. 

jane_

We had exactly the same issue - so withdrew the original offer which was based on completion within 12 weeks and reduced it.  We eventually agreed a revised price for exchange and completion approx. 2 weeks after the original agreed date. 

I’m not suggesting this should be your route but we were prepared to walk if necessary.
Good luck.

pinkteapot

You can't force her to exchange if she doesn't want to. As others have said, start looking at other properties. Tell the agent you're in temporary accommodation and need to buy something that can complete quickly, so if you find a place with no onward chain you'll be buying that instead. They'll have a go at talking her round. 

If you do find something else ask a lot of questions about the chain before switching, or you could have just as long a wait there. If your current living situation really isn't ideal then rent somewhere that will do a six month contract, or only view houses with no onward chain (and check it really is no onward chain). 

Sistergold

I agree with all above. Separating couples is a difficult house to buy as sometimes they are not really in agreement and one might not even be wanting to sell. You also add probate to that? 

Best tell agent you are now going to view other properties and that if you don’t complete in the agreed timescales you will no longer be prepared to pay the agreed price as you will be suffering losses on your end! Also be ready to pull out! Most of the time it’s devastating but when it’s all done even if it means buying another house you will be glad it all happened like that! It always works for the best!  

FTB_Help

So sorry to hear that, frustrating when you get told one thing only for them to not follow through and then go silent. Sounds like you now need to look for alternative rent for yourselve and incur storage and rent costs. Karma would say gazunder them just before they're about to exchange on her upward purchase! Maybe go back to the EA and tell him it is going to cost you £x for rent and storage and you would like to knock those costs off the purchase price or atleast meet half way on costs, as you were told xyz and now due to them not following through its going to cost you £x