Housesale completion "mutually agreed" Date - - - ??

[Dingerbell4]

my buyer has paid 10% to solicitor,awaiting clearance next tues/weds,BUT,---,he has stated he does'nt want to complete until Jan-15-'08. I 'm glad of a buyer.--but he's stopping me getting a months water co;s &C/Tax rebates,is it legal to stall the buying process for 6weeks like this as he's awaiting a suitable tenant so he says, should I be patient or put house back on the Market???

[buildersmate]

It is legal. The date of completion is agreed on the document that exchanges contracts. You could try negotiating a bit.

These costs you will incur sound relatively minor to the prospect of either starting the process all over again. And if you are living in the property you are going to have to pay for some water or council tax somewhere.

[bednobs]

agreed, nothing to do with laws really - the completetion date is negotiated between buyer and seller.

i'ts only 5 weeks away, so that dosent sound unusual to me. If you lose your buyer, you will still have to pay those costs you mention and possibly for a lot longer - what if you dont find another buyer for a year? what if the market slumps more and you have to take 10 000 off the price to sell? Hardly anyone looks for houses over xmas anyway, so you would be cutting of your nose to spite your face, in my opinion
i suppose it depends on how critical it is to you to sell

[bednobs]

also as bm says, council tax and water rebates for a month would only be 500 quid, even if you ived in a mansion!

[bednobs]

also as bm says, council tax and water rebates for a month would only be 500 quid, even if you ived in a mansion!

[jen78]

As said above, perfectly legal.

The market has been so quiet that if you have found a good buyer then stay with them as it could be a while until you find another one willing to pay the same and complete so quickly.

I've seen a lot of not very nice practices raising their ugly heads lately with people trying to make the most of the struggling market and trying to force large price drops last minute and get the best possible bargain they can knowing people don't want to risk having to remarket.