Sellers/Sellers solicitors not being honest about progress

Bromaria

Hello,

I'm looking for some advice or guidance on, if anything, I can do about the current situation we're in. We're currently in the process of buying a property (£350k). The offer was accepted at the start of November last year, and the seller who did the viewing told us that they were in a rush to move.

Our mortgate offer was accepted at the end of December, and my solictors enquires have been completed since the end of Februray. During this time the sellers, through the EA have repeated that they are ready to move ASAP. About a month ago, my solictors send theirs an email with a completion date of today (24th April), only to be told that their purchase file isn't completed yet, and that they aren't in a position to discuss completion dates yet, but it was almost done. 

I then recieved an email from the EA last monday (15th April) saying that due to the delay, the sellers would break the chain and move into rented accomdation until their purchase is complete, only for the following morning, to go back on this, and say that they weren't specific enough, and that that would be the worst case scenario and something they wouldnt want to do.

On wednesday last week, we said that if we didnt have a completion date by the end of April, we would have to look at alternatives. The following day, the sellers solictors responded to say that their enquires had been completed, and discussed exchange of contracts for the 24 April, and completion on the 30th April. This was never formally agreed.

Today, after chasing their solictors, we have found out that they don't currently have a mortgate offer for their purchase, as the property has structural issues, and they need a survey and for the issue to be resolved before the offer is given. 

I'm left feeling very frustrated and angry, with the deadline for my mortgate offer soon approaching, it's very concerning to find out that they don't even have one in place. I don't want to pull out, as the property I'm buying is what I want, but not sure what other options I have available?

Thanks

Hoenir

Ball is in your court. Personally I'd be looking elsewhere. You've no control over events elsewhere in the chain. Solicitors work for their own clients only. Not for them to comment on what's going on. 

mebu60

You need to be prepared to walk away to have options. For example, exchange by 3 May for completion x weeks later (giving them time to find rented and/or storage if needs be) otherwise . . . . . . . . 

No harm in looking elsewhere now. Especially if it's property listed by the selling estate agent! 

propertyrental

You either

* wait

* wait but give a deadline and be prepared to stick to the deadline and walk away

* wait but give a deadline but then extend th deadline if they miss it

* walk away now, or

* continue waiting for them but also start looking at other properties. See which comes first: them exchanging contracts or you finding another property you like

As for the truth of their position regarding survey, mortgage, moving to rented etc, you'll never really know so can only decide which of the above options you want to take.