House moving completion dates - negotiation tips?

Hey peeps,

My lass and I are buying a place and are gtting kicked out of current rented place in December. However, now our seller is saying he can't complete until Jan the 9th, even though he wants to exchange on Friday! That leaves us with two weeks of nowhere to live, over christmas!

I don't want to lose this place. Do any of you lot have any experience of what to do? Do you think it's worth asking for a discount? Bit late in the game though...

Moving house is so stressful...

Do you know the situation of the seller?

He is buying something. Apparently his seller is applying the pressure for the exchange date. The reason it takes so long to complete is because he is disabled and needs the new place modiying. How long does that seriously take? 2 months? He's definitely making money on the deal whereas we'll be up in our eyeballs in debt. I can't afford 2 weeks in a hotel + an extra move + storage.

[G]

I think your solicitor is the best person to speak to, I wouldnt complete friday if you not getting the keys??

We got the keys on the day everything was completed and george wimpey had their money.

If your completeing monday he will get his money and then be living in your house for 2 weeks........at least thats my understanding of it.

No, we exchange on Friday, so no keys until completion - in jan

[Gazza77]

Tell him you won't exhange on Friday if he can't complete in Decemebr - and if he can't complete in December you will pull out of the sale. Doesn't mean you have to follow through with it, but puts the pressure back on him.

PM Ed see if you have any legal leg to stand on?

[Gazza77]

Does your current landlord have someone lined up to move in as you move out? If not, might a short term extention be a possibility?

My landlord has someone lined up, very little chance of an extension...

We are both working over that period so we would have to be in / near london. My sister has a flat in london that might be possible but she would have to kick her tennant out.

[tigersaw]

Happened to me early this year, had to live in a hotel for a month as vendor suddenly decided he wanted his daughter to finish term at old school before they moved. Their solicitor wrapped it all up in delays and excuses, but there was nothing I realistically could do.