Would you drop out of chain if divorcing couple holding up process?

Jmoo

I'm agonising over what to do about the house purchase me and my partner made last November.

Everything has been going smoothly up until the last month when we were told to hand over solicitors fees, the deposit and contracts ready to move. It was only then we were informed the top of the chain is involved in a messy break-up that's been going through the courts. 

Nobody wants to tell me anything about how long the process will take, will give a timeframe, and frankly the solicitor has had her money so she isn't providing any advice.

I'm frustrated as I'm temporarily living in a new city with a new job. My partner takes a different view and thinks we should hold on and take their assurances a signature on the document is imminent, but there are a lot of "hopefully" terms used, and no real evidence it's happening.

We have a mortgage agreed until July, after that we'll need to reapply and stand to lose solicitors fees. Obviously if we looked somewhere else, we'd probably be waiting just as long, but I am in a tricky position and really need somewhere to live!

Thrugelmir

Relationship breakdown is a far from uncommon event. Can be messy without the matter going to court. Ultimately the property will need to be sold whatever. Keep in touch with the EA for updates. 

TBG01

Nobody wants to tell me anything about how long the process will take, will give a timeframe, and frankly the solicitor has had her money so she isn't providing any advice

Advice on what? How can she answer a near impossible question on a transaction she isn't party to?  

GDB2222

The couple could agree tomorrow, and then everything will proceed smoothly. Or, they could go to court, and take many months over it. You are suffering from this, though.

You could do two things:-

Start looking around really hard for something else to buy. There’s no point withdrawing your offer at this stage.

Ask really personal and intrusive questions about what’s going on with the divorce. You can’t insist on answers, but you can make it clear that you are looking around the market at alternative property, and they need to answer your questions if they want to keep you on board as a buyer.

sheramber

How many are above you in the chain?

Are any of them prepared to break the chain to allow those below to progress?

Thrugelmir

GDB2222 said:

Ask really personal and intrusive questions about what’s going on with the divorce. You can’t insist on answers, but you can make it clear that you are looking around the market at alternative property, and they need to answer your questions if they want to keep you on board as a buyer.

Only directly impacts the party above. Everybody else maybe happy to wait.