FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Will I be compensated for the delay?
We are not able to compensate for the delay. Unlike some private developers, as a social housing charity, we do not have a compensation contingency budget. These delays are unforeseen and have additional financial cost to us in order to complete these homes.
Do I still need to exchange now?
We still expect buyers to exchange on notice as agreed during your reservation. Exchanging on notice is a legal commitment from both seller & buyer.
My mortgage offer will expire, what should I do?
Please speak to your mortgage advisor.
I’m currently in a rental property and need to notice, when should I hand in my notice?
Please refrain from handing in your notice until we can be confident with a move in date.
When is my next update?
Our next update to you will be when we have taken handover (this is also known as practical completion) from the contractors. We will not be able to provide you with interim updates.
Will Southern Housing cover the stamp duty increase if the project is delayed past April 2025?
The Government has announced that as of April 2025, the stamp duty land tax thresholds will change. The thresholds will vary based on individual circumstances. There will also be differences in the way buyers have elected to pay stamp duty that will determine whether any stamp duty is paid at the point of purchase. We will not cover any increased costs relating to stamp duty for this reason.
We advise you to consult with your solicitor for advice on whether your stamp duty cost will increase if there is a delay into April. The advice will depend on your individual circumstances and on how you have elected to pay.
Lock & leave
This is a date when the property is locked up and left secure as it is practically complete but requires building registration before it can be occupied.
Why do they have to check fire doors, when you can’t get planning permission with stating what doors are fire doors? Why if the IFI have been there since August then has it taken 6 months for someone to think to look at doors?
Our fire consultant (IFI) will not sign off the Fire Risk Assessment without the doors being checked. Our Clerk of Works had already undertaken this, but this is an extra set of eyes and allows the sign off to be complete – no major issues have been found through that process. The doors are fire doors throughout, but it is more about checking the installation and any movement.
Given all the fire checks, the Fire Risk Assessment is undertaken at the end of that process for an overall check (this is the second one we’ve had undertaken) and the doors are part of that process.
It also hasn’t caused any further delay as has coincided with the final fire stopping checks.