Stuck in a chain and desperate to move

gdesantis1

Hi guys

Need some property purchasing advice……

We have been trying to move from Hornchurch to Colchester since April. We are having terrible trouble with being stuck in a chain and there just doesn’t seem to be any movement? Being constantly told by Estate Agent that the people at the top of the chain ‘still’ havent found anywhere.  How long are they allowed to ‘look’ and keep everyone waiting? 

We are paying full rent on the property we live in and I start my new job in Colchester in 4 weeks and my daughter starts college in September so we will have to commute from Hornchurch. 

This situation has been going on for nearly 3 months with no end in sight. 

Not sure what to do (if there is anything we can do) to get it moving?  Any advice appreciated. TIA.

[Deleted User]

They're allowed to look indefinitely.  It's up to others how long they wait.

You can pull out, threaten to pull out or stay as you are. But if they're top of the chain, they're unlikely to buy something they don't want or to go into rented just for the sake of the chain.

julicorn

gdesantis1 said:

 How long are they allowed to ‘look’ and keep everyone waiting? 

There are absolutely no rules whatsoever. You might be better off finding a new house to buy, or see if your vendors are willing to break the chain at least (again, no guarantees of course). 

saajan_12

gdesantis1 said:

Hi guys

Need some property purchasing advice……

We have been trying to move from Hornchurch to Colchester since April. We are having terrible trouble with being stuck in a chain and there just doesn’t seem to be any movement? Being constantly told by Estate Agent that the people at the top of the chain ‘still’ havent found anywhere.  How long are they allowed to ‘look’ and keep everyone waiting? - there's no rule, its up to you whether to wait for them, someone break the chain, or look elsewhere. 

We are paying full rent on the property we live in and I start my new job in Colchester in 4 weeks and my daughter starts college in September so we will have to commute from Hornchurch. - could you move to rented in Colchester, then buy at your leisure? Yes another move, but you save on commuting cost / time plus you get a better idea of the new place. A house purchase take months not weeks, so you'd be commuting for a while even if they found something promptly. 

This situation has been going on for nearly 3 months with no end in sight. - how long is the chain? It  may have taken a while for your vendor to find a place, then their vendor to find etc etc, so the people at the top could have only started recently.  

Not sure what to do (if there is anything we can do) to get it moving?  Any advice appreciated. TIA.

There's no rule, the options are
- move to rented in the new area so your time pressure is reduced
- suggest someone breaks the chain and moves into rented further up the chain (though unlikely to want to without an incentive)
- wait

Remember a chain forms from the bottom, say so once you (A) find a house, then your vendor (B) finds a house, then their vendor (C) finds a house, then their vendor (D) etc etc.. so whoever's at the top may only have started recently. Also if they find a house where no one is moving out, then it ends there, but if not then you have a new top of chain who has to look for a house..