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...

Richard Kendall Estate Agents have been handling the sale of my property. Mandy has been my main contact. We've been extremely unlucky with buyers due to their personal reasons but throughout it all Mandy has dealt with everything with complete professionalism. She updated me with extreme regularity and I never felt I couldn't contact her. The agency certainly earned their very reasonable fee. Linda 21/10/2025

Karen at Richard Kendall was excellent in helping us through the process of buying a house. Her communication was regular and clear, and she was always on hand to deal with any queries or questions. Johnathan 21/10/2025

Absolute professionalism dealing with my house sale. Such efficiency, care and expertise. I would like to say a special thank you to Amanda Dyson at the Pontefract store who went above and beyond. You made a massive difference to the whole process. Thank you C 21/10/2025

We would like to say a massive thank you to Donna and Suzanne at the Ossett Branch for all their help during our house sale. It was a very difficult and stressful time for us due to a lengthy chain with plenty of complications and without them to reassure and guide us along we wouldn’t have made it through. Also we’d like to thank Karen at the Wakefield branch for her efficiency and help with our purchase. We can highly recommend Richard Kendall Estate Agent for both buying and selling properties. Christine 21/10/2025

A seamless process from start to finish. Everything was taken care of professionally and in a timely fashion. I would highly recommend Richard Kendall Estate Agents and a special thank you to Alison for making selling our property easy.I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Joanne and Richard Kendall Estate Agency. Hazel Holdsworth Greg 21/10/2025

My agent was Sarah she was great . Always kept me well informed , always pleasant and very professional . I like that Richard Kendall always answer the phone, all the agents are easy to talk to and very helpful at all times . I would recommend them to family and friends .Their whole team were nothing but professional excellence from beginning to end with our property being processed from market to completion in a little less than 6 months. Special thanks to Cathrine and Shireen for their care and attention to detail with excellent communication at every stage of the process. THANKYOU ALL Team Wakefield. Consumer 21/10/2025

Couldn’t have asked for a better experience buying a house for the first time, Liz was lovely and kept in touch with us regularly. Thanks so much for all your help. Rebecca 21/10/2025

We have never sold a house before and had heard that it can be a very stressful process. In many ways it was, but the whole experience was made much more bearable and positive due to the great service provided by 2 wonderful ladies - J and D. They provided great service, kept us updated, were both cheerful and up beat and encouraging when viewings were slow, and offered helpful advice and guidance. When a purchaser was eventually found, they were in regular contact with the buyers and solicitors and helped to move things along. Great team work. Claire 21/10/2025

I've sold both my Mothers and Sisters house with Richard Kendall Ossett branch. Excellent company, very professional, polite and friendly staff, nothing too much trouble. All the staff was very helpful and Lucy kept us informed and updated on all stages of our sale. Would definitely recommend this company, and would use again Brian 21/10/2025

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