Can I let the Sellers stay in the house for 3 weeks?

FTB_Help

I wouldn't advise on revising offer as you did go in with the expectation of incurring the 15k stamp duty cost anyway, if i was the seller i would be irked if you tried to negotiate down.

How about offer to pay for their stay at a hotel/ air bnb and storage cost for a month, it will cost you a few thousands but this will be so much cheaper than the full SD cost

Mutton_Geoff

Why offer anything? It's the sellers problem, they knew this would be a possibility when they put their house on the market. The old phrase "a bird in the hand" springs to mind. There are several threads today with purchasers trying to bend over backwards to accomodate the vendor. Just remember you are putting money in their hands, let them work out what best to do. If they think they can get a better deal by selling to someone else, let them go ahead, my guess is they won't.

I've just sold my house, completion by end of June. I can't find anywhere else to buy that I like but I'm not asking my purchasers to help me in any way, I'll move into rented if needs be.

FTB_Help

Agreed but i think the difference is that the vendor was upfront from the start and said they wont be able to move until mid-July, the offer was accepted in Feb before the SD extension was officially in place.

So i don't necessarily think in this case,  offering something to the vendor to vacate earlier is bending over backwards to accommodate them.

[Deleted User]

I have always found this idea weird but I have a friend who did similar. 

Her and her other half were buying a house off an old lady. It was their first time buy, and the old lady was looking to move into some retirement property I think. Anyway, for some reason they completed before the old lady had moved into her place, so they agreed for her to stay in the house they had just bought for about 4 weeks after completion! 

I was pretty shocked at this idea to be honest. The old lady could have burnt the house down and it probably wouldn't have been covered. But my friend seemed pretty relaxed about the idea! 

moneysavinghero

They were clear with you - the house won't be available until after the SDLT holiday ends.

Just wait until the house is ready. Do pass SDLT end date. Do not collect £15,000.

lookstraightahead

What is there other option? You pull out, they won't want that. 

pbartlett

the way round this is simple - the property has to have vacant posession on completion so they have to.move themselves out for at least completion day and overnight.

so they stay a night in a hotel and you move in.

the house is then legally yours and you can have anyone you like as a guest.

GDB2222

lookstraightahead said:

What is there other option? You pull out, they won't want that. 

In fact, the sellers are in dire straits. They really need to sell before they move to America. Dealing with a house sale from thousands of miles away would be a nightmare for them. 

You are a firm buyer, without a chain, and they would be absolutely daft to let you go. The timing is unfortunate, but they really need to vacate by end of June. 

steampowered

You could offer to pay for them to spend 3 weeks in a AirBnB, plus an extra few grand for their trouble?

If you spend £2k on their accomodation and £3k as a "sweetener", it's worth doing to save £15k in stamp duty.

They might say no, especially if they have young kids, but it might be worth asking. 

field1990

We are in a similar situation but we are the sellers, we actually offered to move by end of June and move in with family to save our FTB £8k in stamp once we heard of the revised deadline as we wanted to retain them as buyer than have a chain! Definitely worth asking them.