How to mitigate for a covid isolation delay in never-ending chain

Thonian

We have had endless, endless delays in our chain and we (at the bottom of the chain) have been extraordinarily patient (over 7 months).

We can’t wait any longer and need certainty on this purchase. However the party above are refusing anything other than a simultaneous exchange due to the risk of delay between exchange and completion because someone has to isolate. We had a date for this but it has been delayed again by them (work commitments this time).

Are there any other options? Can we exchange to provide us with certainty, and then if someone has to isolate we agree an extension to the completion date?

Thanks.

anselld

Given it is those above calling the shots there is very little you can do.  

You could give an ultimatum and threaten to pull out; probably be seen through straight away as an empty threat.  Or you could move into temp accommodation, but that brings all the risk onto yourself.
Exchanging with a COVID clause removes the very certainty you are trying to achieve so seems to be pointless and would probably be rejected by those above anyway.
Just keep putting the pressure on.  If they were ready other than work commitments they must still be ready so there is no excuse not to fix another date.

HampshireH

Thonian said:

We have had endless, endless delays in our chain and we use (at the bottom of the chain) have been extraordinarily patient (over 7 months).

We can’t wait any longer and need certainty on this purchase. However the party above are refusing anything other than a simultaneous exchange due to the risk of delay between exchange and completion because someone has to isolate. We had a date for this but it has been delayed again by them (work commitments this time).

Are there any other options? Can we exchange to provide us with certainty, and then if someone has to isolate we agree an extension to the completion date?

Thanks.

Have they proposed a further date?

You could threaten to walk away but you would need to be prepared to do so.

Thonian

Thanks both. We have moved into temporary accommodation, we’ve been so flexible honestly. But our worry is an indefinite delay given someone in the five party chain could have to isolate.

Thonian

Yes a new date proposed - in three weeks!