Door keys will have to wait as couples put dreams on hold

Lydia Moir and Kane McLaughlan, pictured, are first-time buyers in Dundee. Before the lockdown came into place the couple had an offer accepted on a semi-detached house on Garry Terrace.

Guide Dog trainer Lydia, 26, said: “The couple we’re buying from were tied into their mortgage until the end of June so luckily we have a bit of time.

“Because we’re first-time buyers we’re not stuck in a chain.

“We’ve never done this before though and have no experience so it is a worrying time.

“We’ve no idea if we’ll be able to get a removal company or if the lockdown will even be over when we want to move.

“I’m lucky in that my job is safe but there won’t be any pay rises this year, which is a blow. Because of that I think I’ll change from a two-year to a fiveyear fixed mortgage so I know what my payments are going to be.”

Richard Wallace’s dad passed away in September 2017 and his mum the following August. Their house on Hyndford Street in Dundee went on the market in October and a sale was agreed in January.

Speaking on Tuesday, Richard, 34, said: “The missives were due to be concluded last week and the family were meant to move in today. Our solicitor phoned us at the end of last week and said there was no way we could complete the sale at the moment so we’ve postponed it until the end of April.

“We’re selling it to a lovely family who we get on really well with. I feel very sorry for them.

“Their current home doesn’t have much outdoor space and my parents’ house has a lovely big garden that would be perfect for their kids to play in during the lockdown.

“We were all poised to complete so I would imagine they had started packing and were ready to move.

“My three siblings and I don’t need the money for our own house deposits so we’ll be okay financially but we’re a bit gutted as we expected it to go through today.”