Chain purchase in Scotland - what a nightmare!

Me and my partner put our house on the market in mid August and accepted an offer at a closing date the first week of September. We have since had an offer accepted on a property 8.5 weeks ago, during which it was all agreed we would target an advisory completion date of the first week or two in November.

The couple we’re buying from have now pulled out of their purchase and asked us to delay to allow them to find something else - although the estate agent had initially told me that she got the feeling if they didn’t get the house they had the offer accepted for, they would potentially take their house back off the market, so that’s at the back of my mind.

We agreed to delay and have continued to push for a date to be confirmed as we can’t wait indefinitely, especially having this uncertainty coming up to Christmas when we have a young child.

We asked our lawyer to negotiate a delay with the purchasers of our house and they said that’s fine… but they’re reducing their offer by around 5% due to the delays. We had even proposed to them that we would move out on this date whether we had a new house or not and will move in with family over the Christmas period if required, because it was a good offer we received and we felt bad for the delays!

We have rejected their amended offer and said that we’d be happy to put the property back on the market if required as it’ll actually give us more certainty over the festive period. In the meantime, I have asked my lawyer to continue pressing for an entry date for our purchase, even if it’s a couple of months away, to have something formal to know where we stand, as if our purchase falls through because the sellers pulled out of their purchse, we’re still responsible for the lawyers fees etc that have been accrued up until now. What a system!

Just wondering if anyone’s been in a similar situation and if so, how did it end up? Also if there’s anything we can do to try and speed up the couple at the top of the chain?

Thanks!