New build exchange worries & removals issue

toniq

Hi, our new build is due to be completed on 24/09 but we haven’t exchanged yet due to new build solicitors not properly answering last 4 enquiries, it has been going back and forth for 10 weeks now.

Our solicitors chase to no avail & our site rep doesn’t answer her phone or emails for weeks at a time.

We are in a rental till 25/09 so the panic is on,

Removals issues, we had a quote for £2800 for the move out of there storage and to our new home, 300 mile journey.
I gave them a months notice now they say we have to wait till 10/10 or they can send a smaller van with half load for the £2800 and send rest later but they still want to charge us the same amount again! Even though the quote was for our all our possessions.
I have contacted one of the other firms that quoted who can do the 24/09 with the full load in one trip, £3000, which seems fair.
I need to make sure removal company who let us down allow access to their warehouse for the new removal company to access our 8 containers of belongings.

I plan to call to confirm that this morning but am worried they could block us from doing that.

Any advice on either situation appreciated I’m not sleeping with worry.

user1977

What are the outstanding enquiries? 

toniq

The outstanding enquiries user1977 said:

What are the outstanding enquiries? 

Thanks for any help

toniq

The enquiries above should have been answered fully in a response 2 weeks ago but weren’t and our solicitor approached them again for full response not partial response to no avail. 

pinkteapot

So, two key issues: 

1. You haven't exchanged so you don't know if you'll get the keys on the 24th. You need a contingency plan for where you'll stay temporarily if you definitely can't stay in your rental beyond the 25th. Also, are the builders still certain the house will be physically ready by the 24th? Is it definitely just the legal issues outstanding?

2. You've got a load of belongings in storage with a particular removal company, and they now can't move that stuff on the 24th. All you can do is ask them whether an alternative company can access their storage. If they say no, rather than pay twice, could you move with the bare minimum and have them bring all the stuff on 10/10? It's only a few weeks. While it's a bit rubbish, you could manage with basics - you presumably have some belongings in your rental that will be going with you when you leave?

toniq

The issue with enquiries I’ve just been informed by the new build rep is: the indemnity policy be topped up as its slightly short on the total figure for the whole development, its being looked into as to whether this is required.

The removals issue is they want us to pay £2800 twice rather than once as they will have to do two trips rather than the quoted one.

new build is def on track to be signed of on 13th to complete on 24th.

thanks 

toniq

We are in an Airbnb 300 miles from our belongings with a suitcase each.

pinkteapot

toniq said:

The removals issue is they want us to pay £2800 twice rather than once as they will have to do two trips rather than the quoted one.

If they'll let another company access the storage then great. If not, they can bring everything for £2800 on 10/10? Rather than pay another £2800, can you do that and find another AirBnB for the gap, or move in with your suitcases and get an airbed and microwave for those few weeks? Again, I know it's not ideal, but it would save a big chunk of cash...

AFF8879

toniq said:

Hi, our new build is due to be completed on 24/09 but we haven’t exchanged yet due to new build solicitors not properly answering last 4 enquiries, it has been going back and forth for 10 weeks now.

Our solicitors chase to no avail & our site rep doesn’t answer her phone or emails for weeks at a time.

Is this a large/well known developer or a one man band? I only ask because developers are known to aggressively chase deadlines and they specifically appoint solicitors who have the capacity to work to expedited timescales, so this in itself sounds unusual.

toniq

AFF8879 said:

toniq said:

Hi, our new build is due to be completed on 24/09 but we haven’t exchanged yet due to new build solicitors not properly answering last 4 enquiries, it has been going back and forth for 10 weeks now.

Our solicitors chase to no avail & our site rep doesn’t answer her phone or emails for weeks at a time.

Is this a large/well known developer or a one man band? I only ask because developers are known to aggressively chase deadlines and they specifically appoint solicitors who have the capacity to work to expedited timescales, so this in itself sounds unusual.

It’s a smaller developer with 150 houses on this estate.

im so worried

pinkteapot

toniq said:

im so worried

It'll be OK. The worst cases are (1) you don't complete on time - in which case you move to another AirBnB for a bit, (2) you can't get your stuff moved till 10/10 and have to live with complete basics for a couple of weeks. I know it feels really stressful right now, but by the end of October you are going to be settled in your new home and this stressful period will be forgotten.

And maybe the removals company will let another company empty your containers, as they can't do it themselves - have you asked them yet?