What does SSTC mean? - Richard Kendall Estate Agents

Having your offer accepted on a home is an achievement worth celebrating; but the hard work isn’t over yet. In fact, it’s just begun. As soon as a home is sold, it will be listed as ‘SSTC’, so let’s take a look at what this means and what comes next.

What does SSTC stand for?

‘SSTC’ means that the home has been ‘sold subject to contract’. The seller has accepted the offer, but the agreement is not yet legally binding. While a home is listed as SSTC, the buyer and seller are in the conveyancing process and this label will remain unchanged until the deal becomes legally binding. Until the point of exchange of contracts, both the seller and buyer can pull out of the sale without any legal repercussions.

What does SSTC mean for buyers?

SSTC means that the seller has accepted your offer and the conveyancing process can be started. Though it is only one of many obstacles to overcome before you arrive at the exchange of contracts, this is nevertheless a major step in the right direction.

What does SSTC mean for sellers?

Once the buyer's proof of funds has been confirmed, SSTC will show up next to your post on property portals, unless the buyer asks for it to be taken down and you agree. The ‘For Sale’ sign outside your house will also be changed to a ‘Sold STC’ sign.

Can someone view a house that is SSTC?

A home that has been sold subject to contract can still be viewed if the seller agrees to it. However, this could be a risk on the seller’s part as some buyers might choose to withdraw their offer if they find out that the seller is still accepting viewings.

Can I make an offer on a home listed as SSTC?

If the home you are interested in is marked as SSTC, you still have the opportunity to submit an offer. The estate agent has a legal obligation to forward all offers that the seller receives - unless the seller specifically asks them not to. The SSTC stage can be challenging for buyers, as it might result in 'gazumping'.

What is gazumping?

Gazumping is when a higher offer is accepted on the home you are buying, leading to the sale falling through. Timing also plays a big role in gazumping. The seller may accept an offer from a buyer whose schedule fits their needs more closely. Therefore, as a buyer, it’s important to have all your documents at the ready. A mortgage agreement in principle will also speed up the process for both parties.

How to avoid gazumping another buyer

You can register your interest in the property with the agent in case the sale falls through while it is SSTC, even if you do not intend to gazump another buyer. You will be informed and able to make your offer as soon as the property returns on the market.

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What Our Customers Say...

I recently sold a property with Elizabeth Cooke as the property consultant and the service has been nothing short of exceptional. Great feedback during the listing phase to keep interest in the property, through to weekly updates and A+ chasing of the chain to keep everything on track in the sale phase. Highly recommend, you're in safe hands here. Stephen 03/02/2026

Alice has been so helpful and friendly with my rental application - no question is ever too much! Karen 03/02/2026

Karen Marijewko was excellent and provided us with weekly updates during a difficult sale due to changes in deeds. Thanks for all your help Michael 03/02/2026

Sarah and the team at Normanton has been great with our sale, kept us up to date with proceedings both up and down the chain. Thanks for all the effort Sarah. Lodewikus 03/02/2026

Leah was absolutely amazing throughout my whole house buying process. From start to finish she chased things up and updated me, always had good communication and answered any questions/queries I had promptly. Can’t fault the service at all from Leah, thank you again! Would definitely recommend. Elise 03/02/2026

Liz constantly provided an exceptional service. We had good communication with prompt follow up with all our queries related to the house we were buying. Liz was friendly and helpful throughout the whole process. Thank you Liz. AM 03/02/2026

Quick sale (did we price too low?) but everything went through within weeks. Mandy kept us updated throughout the process. We are now living the life by the coast. Happy retirement to us. Edward 03/02/2026

Alison has been fantastic throughout our home buying journey. As first time buyers, we had plenty of questions, and she supported us every step of the way. She chased things up promptly, kept us updated without us ever needing to ask, and made the whole process feel much less stressful. We’d definitely recommend Richard Kendall and especially Alison to anyone looking for a reliable and supportive estate agent. Hayden 03/02/2026

I cannot recommend Richard Kendall enough, I would urge anyone who is looking to sell their home to use this estate agents. We had previously used 2 estate agents prior to using Richard Kendall, I wish we had gone with Kendalls from the start. Friendly, approachable, will help advise you in all matters. Other estate agents need to benchmark themselves against Richard Kendalls. Jo 03/02/2026

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