New build delay- advice

Doorlock21

Hello all! 

Long story short our new build was meant to be done in September and then was pushed back to December.
now being told March. Our buyers won’t wait that long and mortgage will expire with no guarantee of an extension (we can’t even ask for one until January).

They have come back to us finally and told us that because of a delay in our conservatory flat roof (it was revolved back in august) they had to re book in tradesman for stuff so that’s why it’s been delayed.
second fix is underway with everything looking like it’s almost done. 

We have in writing them saying- to get clear, this will not go over December. 

Another couple of houses on the road which is a bit further behind than ours is still on track to be completed in January. 

We have a meeting with them on Thursday and we will be saying no this is not on and our house needs to be a priority and should be the first on list to be sorted. our buyers won’t wait that long.

We are shocked by this and so stressed.

Any suggestions as to what else to do or say to them?

eddddy

Have you exchanged contracts on your purchase for the newbuild?  If so, is there a longstop date in the contract? Is it completion on 10 days notice?

Similarly, have your buyers exchanged contracts with you for your sale (on the same terms as your purchase)? If so, they can only walk away if there's a longstop date that passes.

Doorlock21

eddddy said:

Have you exchanged contracts on your purchase for the newbuild?  If so, is there a longstop date in the contract? Is it completion on 10 days notice?

Similarly, have your buyers exchanged contracts with you for your sale (on the same terms as your purchase)? If so, they can only walk away if there's a longstop date that passes.

No we haven’t exchanged as we lost 2 buyers from the delays and only had new ones now.

I know there’s probably not much we can do, but just wanted to ask. We have been promised so much in writing and we have the sales manager saying this would never go over December and could even be November. 

We have a timeline of events so this excuse we aren’t believing 

eddddy

Doorlock21 said:

No we haven’t exchanged as we lost 2 buyers from the delays and only had new ones now.

OK - so nothing you've been told verbally or in writing will be binding. You can't 'force' them to stick by anything they've said.

You can try making 'threats' such as you'll lose your buyer and/or your mortgage offer will expire - so you'll have to walk away. It's possible that it might persuade them to change their priorities - but I wouldn't bet on it.


Tbh, in an ideal world they'd want to get the properties finished and paid for asap, so I guess there are practical or business reasons for the delay.(e.g. shortage of labour, shortage of materials).

(Perhaps the houses being completed in January have already exchanged contracts - so they're prioritising them.)

Doorlock21

eddddy said:

Doorlock21 said:

No we haven’t exchanged as we lost 2 buyers from the delays and only had new ones now.

OK - so nothing you've been told verbally or in writing will be binding. You can't 'force' them to stick by anything they've said.

You can try making 'threats' such as you'll lose your buyer and/or your mortgage offer will expire - so you'll have to walk away. It's possible that it might persuade them to change their priorities - but I wouldn't bet on it.


Tbh, in an ideal world they'd want to get the properties finished and paid for asap, so I guess there are practical or business reasons for the delay.(e.g. shortage of labour, shortage of materials).

(Perhaps the houses being completed in January have already exchanged contracts - so they're prioritising them.)

I know what you mean.
no they haven’t exchanged yet…so is very odd!