Completion and Exchange: No end in sight

lauraj27

We are in the process of trying to buy a house. 

Offer was made and accepted on 2 May 2023 and there are three of us in the chain (us at the bottom) and we ourselves have been ready to exchange and complete since 22 June. 

All of us as individuals want to move as quickly as possible ( we are basically homeless after being driven out of our home and have been staying with friends and in Air BnBs since the end of April) the other two in the chain have health issues which means they need to move quickly. 

Our solicitor has been great but the other two not so much. The sellers solicitors originally said they were hopeful for exchange and completion at the beginning of July and when it got to the 14th July and our solicitor attempted to query the progress, the seller solicitors basically said they would be ready when they are ready. 

Every time we/ our solicitor has chased for an update the response is just there are queries outstanding but they are refusing to provide details or any estimated time scale; the sellers themselves told us on 12th July there were 2/3 queries that needed boxing off yet these haven't been completed. 

It just seems queries are being invented and the other solicitors are dragging their feet and I really don't know what to do; the only option left is to threaten withdrawing unless there is a completion and exchange by X date but we have to be willing to go through with that, which means we will be back to square 0 and substantially down moneywise due to having had to pay out for air bnbs for the last 3 months. 

If there is any advice anyone can offer I'd be grateful. 

chanz4

our council local searches took ages

MultiFuelBurner

Not unusual to take 12-16 weeks

lauraj27

All the searches for all parties are back and have been for about 4/5 weeks. 

All the other two solicitors keep saying is that there are enquiries outstanding but refusing to say how many and what the queries are. We are now in week 12 but given how urgent it is for everyone, you would have thought that the solicitors wouldn't be dragging their heels. 

jlfrs01

Unfortunately, in many cases the only people who Solicitors will answer questions from are their clients. When it comes to conveyancing some take too much work on or are pendants. 

Therefore, in your situation I would contact the vendor's Estate Agent, express your dissatisfaction with progress and ask they contact the vendor requesting they find out the nature of the hold-ups, same goes for your buyer too.

RelievedSheff

I would say that you are doing well to be at the stage you are at in 12 weeks!!

lauraj27

RelievedSheff said:

I would say that you are doing well to be at the stage you are at in 12 weeks!!

Thanks it's just we are in a horrible situation. We can't return to the house we own due to threats/violence from the neighbour and we have been moving between friends houses and air bnbs so we are completely unsettled, constantly on the move and paying out a fortune. 

jlfrs01 said:

Unfortunately, in many cases the only people who Solicitors will answer questions from are their clients. When it comes to conveyancing some take too much work on or are pendants. 

Therefore, in your situation I would contact the vendor's Estate Agent, express your dissatisfaction with progress and ask they contact the vendor requesting they find out the nature of the hold-ups, same goes for your buyer too.

We have tried the vendor's estate agent and all they have said is there are queries outstanding and the more we chase the longer it will all take. 

Postik

I remember it was like this when I moved end of last year.  The council searches were delayed, then our buyer's mortgage offer ran out and he needed to re-apply, then there was a last minute enquiry with the council which took another 30 days.  Even before the process started our buyer's solicitor was adament it would take 16 weeks - which it did - but I kind of get the feeling they would have stretched it out to 16 weeks regardless of how straight-forward it might have been.  Then when you've pretty much given up all hope, everything happens in the space of 1-2 weeks and you're suddenly surrounded by removals boxes.

MultiFuelBurner

Bear in mind your home insurance may be invalid if you have been away from home for an extended period. I do hope.you are regularly checking the property.

That and did you declare the issues with neighbours to your buyers?

Anyway should be in the next 1-4 weeks with any luck

lauraj27

MultiFuelBurner said:

Bear in mind your home insurance may be invalid if you have been away from home for an extended period. I do hope.you are regularly checking the property.

That and did you declare the issues with neighbours to your buyers?

Anyway should be in the next 1-4 weeks with any luck

Yeah we have spoken to the house insurers and they have been very good. We have multiple CCTV cameras and security measures installed. 

We are perhaps fortunate in that we don't need to sell in order to buy. the plan is to be in the new house, empty the old one give it a deep clean/ paint touch ups and then put it on the market. 

We were told on 11 July it would be 2-3 weeks but still no end in sight as more and more queries keep being raised and existing ones aren't being resolved. 

housebuyer143

Unfortunately it takes as long as it's takes. Everyone could be in a rush but the enquires are the longest part and it could be absolutely anything that has holding it up and needs to be resolved. Threating to pull out will not speed the solicitor up if they are not satisfied with the enquiry responses so far. 

I know you are stress and keen to move but lived experience taught me that trying to control a situation outside of your control is a recipe for stress.