Searches back, waiting on enquiries. Is it still feasible to complete this month?

Oakeshott

We're in a rush to complete by the end of February for two reasons: 1. Our offer runs out at the end of March and 2. We're expecting our second baby in mid-March. We're at the point where all the surveys are done and the searches are back, and we're apparently just waiting on the vendor's solicitor to deal with a few enquiries. We don't have a completion date nailed down yet, but the vendor has already moved out so presumably will be flexible when it comes to agreeing a date.

Being FTBs we don't know how much more there is to do after enquiries, and if it's feasible to still complete this month. Does anyone have any advice as to whether we're being unrealistic, or what we can do in the situation to make things go quicker?

Thrugelmir

Who is in the chain above you? 

Windofchange

Depends on the enquiries. Some of ours were done in a matter of days, others dragged on and on. Strangely enough, one of the enquiries that took forever was to find out how to pay the permit zone charge for parking. I already knew the answer as I lived about two miles up the road in the same borough, but my god that one dragged on for some unbeknown reason.

Oakeshott

Thrugelmir said:

Who is in the chain above you? 

Sorry should have said: No chain. The seller is moving to rented and has already gone. House is empty. 

user1977

Windofchange said:

Strangely enough, one of the enquiries that took forever was to find out how to pay the permit zone charge for parking.

I wouldn't even think to raise something like that as an enquiry - "go and look at the council's website yourself" seems the obvious answer?

But anyway, yes it depends what the enquiries are, and whether the answers raise any problems.

Thrugelmir

Oakeshott said:

Thrugelmir said:

Who is in the chain above you? 

Sorry should have said: No chain. The seller is moving to rented and has already gone. House is empty. 

Then it's currently a question of what, if any queries, the enquiries throw up. That will determine events. Is the property leasehold or freehold? 

Windofchange

user1977 said:

Windofchange said:

Strangely enough, one of the enquiries that took forever was to find out how to pay the permit zone charge for parking.

I wouldn't even think to raise something like that as an enquiry - "go and look at the council's website yourself" seems the obvious answer?

But anyway, yes it depends what the enquiries are, and whether the answers raise any problems.

Yeah really. Our lawyer was quite insistent that he needed it answered by the vendor, and I even sent a mail with the link to the council. It didn't end up delaying things as there were other enquiries that took longer, but I suspect that the vendor just laughed and ignored it and ignored it and ignored it until finally replying from the council you idiots (in more professional terms). The other one was the knackered old path behind our house - an overgrown alleyway full of dead cats, nappies and anything else people can't be bothered to take to the tip. Couldn't find out about joint responsibility for upkeep for weeks! Anyway, not what you want to hear OP, but I guess you could have 100 enquiries left that get answered in a week, or 1 enquiry left that takes month. You and your legal team are the only ones who can really give any sort of idea as to the completion date. 

Oakeshott

Thrugelmir said:

Oakeshott said:

Thrugelmir said:

Who is in the chain above you? 

Sorry should have said: No chain. The seller is moving to rented and has already gone. House is empty. 

Then it's currently a question of what, if any queries, the enquiries throw up. That will determine events. Is the property leasehold or freehold? 

Freehold. 

TheJP

I don't think it is impossible to complete by the end of February, it will depend on what they are as this can sometimes be the longest piece in finding out information back and forth between legal parties. Its definitely doable though. 

turnergirl14

It is definitely do able to complete by the end of the month. We exchanged and completed on the same day with our first home last year and were in the same position as you with no chain and the property being empty. Depending what flags up on the enquiries though, keep on at your solicitor for answers

Tiglet2

I think you will struggle to complete by the end of the month.

Presumably if enquiries are still outstanding, the solicitor hasn't yet sent you the report on title, nor the official documents for your signature and return.

Until those documents are returned, there can be no exchange or completion.