My situation

Blotto17

Hi,

I’m in the process of buying (FTB) - Offer accepted end of May. Then solicitor recruited. Mortgage applied for straight away. Mortgage accepted end of June. Survey done, report back .

I have to give two months notice in the flat I’m renting. I’ve asked my solicitor about this (just to get some kind of idea when things might be finished) And I’ve asked them some other questions too but no response. With broker and estate agent there are good lines of communication but with the solicitor it feels like being ghosted. It just makes me feel a bit anxious as I assume the ball is in their court now. It’s my first time doing this so I’d like to have a bit of guidance/ reassurance from them as I’m not really sure what I’m doing tbh. Or am I being unreasonable and should just be patient and let them do it as and when they’re ready?

The two month notice thing makes me anxious as I still haven’t been given a time-frame. And two months from now is mid/end of September which seems a long time away. I’ve had a few emails sent which I haven’t had a reply to. Should I call to touch base? Or would  I just aggravating the situation? 

saajan_12

When did you ask the solicitor for an ETA? Generally they are less responsive than agents, particularly with update communications rather than actually doing the conveyancing work. That's usually reflected in the fee relative to the amount of work involved, because of how the market has gone over the years, as a race to the bottom for conveyancers. 

Ultimately the eta doesn't matter given when they do give the all clear from the solicitor's checks, you'll have ages in the 2 months notice to make arrangements. Its usually advisable to only give notice after you have exchanged on the purchase (else things could fall through) and a 2 month gap between exchange and completion will be a tough sell. So you may need to accept some overlap when you have both the rental and house mortgage. If that's not going ot be affordable then I'd start discussing this with the seller via the agent. 

Yorkie1

You are only 6 weeks into the process, and your solicitor is probably waiting for a whole lot of responses from the  seller, as well as results from searches. It is possible that they intend to pull all of these together and send them to you when everything has been received. Otherwise, they are constantly dealing with the file.

Yes, they shouldn't be 'ghosting' you, but it is too early yet for there to be an ETA.

HouseMartin567

Have a look at this recent thread as to the problems of giving notice on an anticipated exchange/completion date only for it to get delayed: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6618290/first-time-buyer-issue-with-completion-date/p1

Perhaps you could plant the seed early about having a long gap between exchange and completion - perhaps 4 weeks. That would give you another month overlap (depending on your tenancy dates) which would allow you to move gradually, potentially saving removal costs depending on how far you are moving.

Speaking from my own experience it was handy having a two week overlap. We were able to move ourselves and give the rental a good clean ensuring we got our deposit back. Thinking about it, we were also able to give our probate purchase a much-needed deep clean!!

gwynlas

Your situation is clear but how long is the chain above you and is everybody in the same situation?

Some people might not have had offers accepted yet or be waiting on local searches the timeframe for which varies between councils.

Unless you are able to move in with family or friends you are likely to have to wait until exchange of contracts completed before putting your notice in.

Whilst this might seem an expensive waste of funds when you are facing everything else it does give you time to decorate and move in at your own pace.

Do not forget to take out insurance when you exchange as you then become liable for property.

mlz1413

2 months is tough to guess 1 month between exchange and completion is normally acceptable as it gives people time to pack without living around boxes until a date is fixed.

Can you discuss with Landlord/Letting Agents that you are looking to move so want to give notice without being homeless.   So maybe they could accept notice now with a 1 month flexible end date and in that 1 month you are happy to have viewings.  This would allow the property to be ready to go as you move out.
If not you may have to accept an overlap.

I'd talk to everyone now and see what works for everyone. 

Re solicitors,  they are a law unto themselves with time.  Try and be patient or you juat get stressed with very little extra speed

Slinky

Are you sure you need to give 2 months notice? Admittedly it was several years ago now, but when we rented our property out, it was us as landlords who needed to give 2 months notice, the tenants could give 1 month.

sheramber

Does your vendor have an offer accepted on their next property?

Are there any others above them in the chain?

Once everybody is ready to exchange you will be notified and then you all agree a completion date. 

Hoenir

gwynlas said:

Your situation is clear but how long is the chain above you and is everybody in the same situation?

As above

The chain will only proceed at the speed of the slowest party in it. Everybody has their own agenda. Speak to your EA and find out what the position is. 

Blotto17

So the sellers will be moving into a property that is a new build and vacant but they are able to move in with family for the time being also. They seem to be eager to move things along. I’m just anxious as to not delay them. A purchase I was in the middle of last year fell through as the sellers felt I was taking too long and put it back on the market again. 

I have asked the solicitor to ask the sellers solicitors when they want to move out etc but no reply. It would just be nice to get some acknowledgment at least.

saajan_12

Blotto17 said:

So the sellers will be moving into a property that is a new build and vacant but they are able to move in with family for the time being also. They seem to be eager to move things along. I’m just anxious as to not delay them. A purchase I was in the middle of last year fell through as the sellers felt I was taking too long and put it back on the market again. 

I have asked the solicitor to ask the sellers solicitors when they want to move out etc but no reply. It would just be nice to get some acknowledgment at least.

That might actually work out better for you - new builds is the only thing where you commonly have a very long gap, as developers want to get teh sale agreed early but it takes time for the build to continue. So you sellers might not be in a rush to move and could be amenable to the 2 month gap, if its shorter time they have to leave with family. 

I'd ask that sort of thing via the estate agent, for a quicker, non legally binding response. You can do the debating over dates informally via the agent and then get it confirmed with the solicitors when everything else is mostly ready.