Sale fallen through
When your sale falls through.
A buyer pulling out — sometimes weeks or months in — is frustrating and can put everything else on hold. If you'd rather not start again from scratch, we can look at buying the property ourselves.
It happens more often than people realise
Until contracts are exchanged, either side can walk away in England and Wales. Common reasons include:
The buyer's mortgage didn't go through
A down-valuation, a change in circumstances, or the lender declined.
A survey put them off
Something came up — damp, movement, a roof — and they withdrew or asked for a big reduction.
The chain collapsed
Someone further along couldn't proceed, and it brought everything down.
Your own plans are at risk
You're trying to buy, or you have a date to be somewhere, and this puts it in doubt.
How we can help
No chain on our side
We're buying directly — we're not waiting to sell somewhere else first. How purchases are funded: [PROOF-OF-FUNDS PROCESS TO BE CONFIRMED].
Your existing paperwork may help
Searches, property information forms and a draft contract from the first sale may speed up the legal work.
We'll look at what the survey found
If the last buyer's survey raised issues, share it. We'll tell you how it affects our offer rather than leaving it until later.
A date that fits
We'll try to agree a completion date that works with your onward plans.
What you don't need to do
- Put the property back on the market
- Host another round of viewings
- Wait for a new buyer’s mortgage
- Fix the issues the survey found
Step by step
How it works after a failed sale
1. Tell us what happened
Why the sale fell through and how far it got. Any survey or legal paperwork is useful.2. We review and inspect
We check local sales, the documents you have and, if needed, visit the property.3. Written offer
You'll get our offer in writing, explained, to compare with re-marketing.4. Solicitors pick up the file
Your solicitor may be able to reuse much of the work already done. We agree a completion date with you.
Things to consider
Check your estate agent contract first
If you signed a sole agency agreement, you may owe the agent a fee if you sell during the agreement or to a buyer they introduced. Read the terms, or ask them, before you agree anything with us.
We'll be below your agreed price
A direct sale is usually below open-market value, so our offer will probably be lower than the one that fell through. Weigh that against the time and uncertainty of starting again.
Your previous buyer’s concerns may be valid
If a survey found a genuine problem, any buyer will take it into account. It's worth knowing that before you re-market.
Other routes you could take
Selling to us is one option. Depending on your circumstances, one of these may suit you better.
Go back to other interested buyers
Your agent may have had other offers or viewers who could proceed quickly.
Re-market the property
Often the best price, especially if the problem was the buyer rather than the house. It does mean starting again.
Renegotiate with the original buyer
If the issue was a survey or valuation, a price adjustment might keep the sale alive.
Questions
Common questions
Can a buyer pull out after an offer is accepted?
Yes. In England and Wales, neither buyer nor seller is legally committed until contracts are exchanged. After exchange, pulling out usually means losing the deposit and possibly further costs.
Can you use the searches from my previous sale?
Sometimes. It depends on how recent they are and what our solicitors need. Your solicitor can tell you what's been done and what can be passed on.
Will I owe my estate agent a fee if I sell to you?
Possibly. It depends on your agency agreement — particularly whether it's a sole agency or sole selling rights contract and whether it's still running. Check the terms before you proceed.
Can you work to the date my onward purchase needs?
We'll try. Tell us the date you're working to at the start and we'll be honest about whether it's realistic.
Relocating
Moving for work or family and need a fixed date.
Needs a lot of work
Fire damage, structural problems or complete renovation needed.
Difficult to sell
Short lease, unusual construction or hard to mortgage.
Would rather not start again?
Tell us about the property and what happened. We'll explain what we could offer — and if going back to the market looks like the better option, we'll tell you.