Help! Buyer won’t move out until he has a house and has decided this last minute

Marcie1989

I put an offer in for a house 7 weeks ago. The offer was accepted and I have completed all paperwork and I have transferred the money to the solicitor. The solicitor called me last week and said ‘how does the 5th of March sound for a date to get the keys in which I replied ‘great!’ He said don’t start getting things put into place as the seller has to agree which I’m sure he will.’ My solicit has had a reply from the sellers solicitor to say that he won’t move out until he has found a house for himself and won’t give me a date! I feel like surely this should have been flagged up at the start otherwise I wouldn’t have went for the house 

Slithery

Perfectly normal. Were you told at any point that this wouldn't be the case?

You shouldn't have spent any money or instructed your solicitor to do any work until the chain was complete.

Also 7 weeks is incredibly quick, I would have expected it to take 4+ months from the time you had a complete chain at the moment.

AnotherJoe

Tell the EA the deal is off unless exchange happens by Monday,  and tell your solicitor to stop all work, and then start looking again.  

Looks like either massive miscommunication or the vendor totally changed their mind about going into rented or otherwise moving without buying. 

Thrugelmir

Marcie1989 said:

 I feel like surely this should have been flagged up at the start otherwise I wouldn’t have went for the house 

Didn't you ask? 

NameUnavailable

I expect the OP was told by the vendor that they would move into rented accom. if they hadn't found somewhere themselves.

I've heard this so many times as an agent, yet never saw it happen in practice. I think sellers think it will be easy but then the reality dawns on them about signing up for a minimum term, references, utilities etc. etc. and possibly the cost of storage on top of renting plus double removal costs.

nicmyles

NameUnavailable said:

I expect the OP was told by the vendor that they would move into rented accom. if they hadn't found somewhere themselves.

I've heard this so many times as an agent, yet never saw it happen in practice. I think sellers think it will be easy but then the reality dawns on them about signing up for a minimum term, references, utilities etc. etc. and possibly the cost of storage on top of renting plus double removal costs.

I've bought two properties, both times they said they would do this, both times they did not.

Jaybee_16

NameUnavailable said:

I expect the OP was told by the vendor that they would move into rented accom. if they hadn't found somewhere themselves.

I've heard this so many times as an agent, yet never saw it happen in practice. I think sellers think it will be easy but then the reality dawns on them about signing up for a minimum term, references, utilities etc. etc. and possibly the cost of storage on top of renting plus double removal costs.

I guess I'm the exception here. I sold my property and now living in a rented flat until the legal processes of the next purchase are concluded. There are additional costs in regard the minimum rental period and storage but wanted the sale of my flat to complete.

eve824

The vendors of our current house did this. Told us no onward chain then tried to sneak an onward purchase in the legal paperwork. Their EA knew about it and lied to me. Told them I wouldn't proceed unless the chain ended with this house. They moved in with family.

greatcrested

Marcie1989 said:

.... My solicit has had a reply from the sellers solicitor to say that he won’t move out until he has found a house for himself and won’t give me a date! I feel like surely this should have been flagged up at the start otherwise I wouldn’t have went for the house 

Perfectly normal. This is how 80% of property deals work. Everyone in the chain finds somewhere to move to and buys, sells and moves on the same day.

It would not be 'flagged up' as it is the normal process.

What would have been 'flagged up' would be if your seller was not dependant on buying somewhere eg elderly and going into a care home,or had chosen to rent in future, or getting married /moving in with partner etc.

MaryNB

nicmyles said:

NameUnavailable said:

I expect the OP was told by the vendor that they would move into rented accom. if they hadn't found somewhere themselves.

I've heard this so many times as an agent, yet never saw it happen in practice. I think sellers think it will be easy but then the reality dawns on them about signing up for a minimum term, references, utilities etc. etc. and possibly the cost of storage on top of renting plus double removal costs.

I've bought two properties, both times they said they would do this, both times they did not.

My colleague was telling me yesterday that his parents were having a nightmare trying to exchange. Top of the chain bailed on their initial promise to move into a rented property. To keep the chain from collapsing, the next person down agreed to go into rented and the day before exchange changed their mind and now won't go into rented. I wouldn't trust a vendor promising to go into a rental property, it's a very easy promise to make and break.

pinkshoes

Marcie1989 said:

I put an offer in for a house 7 weeks ago. The offer was accepted and I have completed all paperwork and I have transferred the money to the solicitor. The solicitor called me last week and said ‘how does the 5th of March sound for a date to get the keys in which I replied ‘great!’ He said don’t start getting things put into place as the seller has to agree which I’m sure he will.’ My solicit has had a reply from the sellers solicitor to say that he won’t move out until he has found a house for himself and won’t give me a date! I feel like surely this should have been flagged up at the start otherwise I wouldn’t have went for the house 

What do you mean by "find a house for himself"? Has he now decided to buy another property? Or is he going into rental accommodation and trying to find somewhere suitable?

If the latter then it won't be quite as long. In some areas it isn't easy finding rental accommodation.

If the former, then you should have been informed of this and not paid for any searches and surveys until the vendor had and onward purchase.