Vendors unwilling to Chainbreak, is there anything we can do?

Toffee_

Hello, me and my partner have purchased our first home at the start of December. We were told by our solicitors that end of March beginning of April is a realistic completion time as everything was going smoothly. But we then found out that the vendors original home they were buying “fell through” and they have now purchased a new build home which has an estimated completion date of end of May begging of June. How can we be sure of this being accurate due to the new build homes constantly being delayed too? Do we have any rights here? We will be homeless by the end of April, and we don’t see why we should be out of pocket even more because the vendors original purchase fell through, if we rent anything then it will be a minimum 6 month tenancy agreement, that we will be obligated to pay for; and if the move happens before then, then we will be paying our mortgage plus the rental, which we won’t be able to afford. Any advise or help would be appreciated!

[Deleted User]

If you haven't exchanged, you have the right to withdraw from the purchase without penalty. You have no more rights than that.

As you're gong to be homeless before April, you need to work on fixing that problem first. What is the cause of your homelessness? End of tenancy? Eviction? Can you move in with friends or family?

Flugelhorn

unfortunately that is the way with the property market and no you don't unfortunately have any rights - the vendors may not see it as very long to wait even though it is causing you problems - the problem is that one of you would  have to go into rental and they are in the stronger position not to - is there any chance staying where you are? 

theartfullodger

Yes, offer a lot more money.

saajan_12

Toffee_ said:

Hello, me and my partner have purchased our first home at the start of December. We were told by our solicitors that end of March beginning of April is a realistic completion time as everything was going smoothly. - realistic yes, but the margin of error on these is +/- 6 months, maybe more.. Anything can happen to make things stop running smoothly. 
But we then found out that the vendors original home they were buying “fell through” and they have now purchased a new build home which has an estimated completion date of end of May begging of June. - ah! a bump in the road! Only another 2-3 months on the expected timeline is pretty good going. 
How can we be sure of this being accurate due to the new build homes constantly being delayed too? - its not accurate, you can't be sure of anything. 
Do we have any rights here? - you have the same rights as someone without a contract to buy a property and hence figuring out your own housing until you do. You can wait, negotiate or pull out. 
We will be homeless by the end of April, - why? Have you served notice or been evicted via courts? If its just a fixed term ending then you can just continue as a periodic tenant.. 
and we don’t see why we should be out of pocket even more because the vendors original purchase fell through, if we rent anything then it will be a minimum 6 month tenancy agreement, that we will be obligated to pay for; and if the move happens before then, then we will be paying our mortgage plus the rental, which we won’t be able to afford. Any advise or help would be appreciated!

You can't rely on anything with the level of certainty you're looking for - a house purchase is fraught with trials & tribulations, delays and fall throughs.. You don't have any rights or ability to force a certain timescale until exchange, so until then you just need to figure out your housing separately. If you advise on your current accommodation situation, we can perhaps advise there (no, the LA may not be telling the truth in what you *have* to do)

Lavendyr

Can you not roll on to a statutory periodic tenancy (i.e. month by month)? If not then honestly you'd be best keeping the tenancy anyway and continuing with the purchase process - it can take time and it's never a bad thing to plan for a month or two of overlap. 

Sandtree

Toffee_ said:

me and my partner have purchased 

My partner and I had an offer accepted... you haven't purchased until you have completed and its courteous to name yourself last.

Toffee_ said:
How can we be sure of this being accurate due to the new build homes constantly being delayed too? Do we have any rights here?

Not until you have exchanged contracts, before that you are both noncommittal 

TripleH

Sadly the only way to move into a new build on time is to buy a completed one the previous buyer backed out on.

I haven't heard of anyone who didn't have delays on their new build.

Sadly this is how it works, even though the delays not your fault, as you haven't exchanged, you are not entitled to anything. We had to pay a month's rent as well as a mortgage at the same time due to delays with searches coming through.