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.

Thinking about selling your home? Book your professional valuation today

What Our Customers Say...

Fantastic service Very productive in a market that is difficult and stressful. Helpful and always keeping you up to date with great advice in the process. John 09/06/2025

Wonderful, friendly service from Francesca and the team. Thankyou for making the whole experience from viewing to signing up and getting the keys a 5 Star service. Susan 09/06/2025

Both Donna & Joanne did a wonderful job for me & kept me informed every step of the way. Thank you both. Marilyn 09/06/2025

Roger Hall visited us and gave us a valuation in October, after reviewing other estate agents we agreed to go ahead with Richard Kendall a week later. In the space of just 15 days we had an offer we had accepted on our property. We were buying a new build property with a long lead time (6 months), and Richard Kendall were fantastic in ensuring our prospective buyers (and anyone else in the chain) knew of the situation. I can't fault the speed or communication of the team, particularly Karen Dawson who helped us at every step. Andrew 09/06/2025

Excellent service and very professional. Mandy kept me informed and was very helpful throughout my sale with regular updates , always very happy and honest and it was a pleasure to have Mandy as my negotiator . I will definitely recommend Richard Kendall. David 09/06/2025

We’ve just sold a property with Richard Kendall and couldn’t be happier with the excellent service received from Lucy and the team. Their professionalism and communication throughout was spot on and made the whole process much less stressful. We were also really impressed with their marketing of the property which resulted in lots of viewings, offers and the sale price we wanted. We actually moved to Richard Kendall from another local agent and couldn’t believe the difference in all aspects of the process. Brilliant from start to finish, can’t recommend Lucy and the team highly enough. Lydia 09/06/2025

The entire process of selling my parents' property during a difficult time was handled with exemplary care and professionalism. Amanda and the team at the Wakefield office were fantastic throughout. Their attention to detail, clear communication, and supportive approach made a challenging situation much easier to navigate. Special thanks again to Amanda, Andy and Donna for their invaluable input and assistance. Their expertise and dedication truly stood out. I highly recommend this team for anyone seeking a smooth and supportive property sale experience. Ben 09/06/2025

We sold out flat through Richard Kendall, working mainly with Karen Marijewko and we could not have had a better experience than we did. Karen kept in touch through the full process without any prompting required, she was so supportive and helpful! We really couldn’t have asked for more from the agency in general but especially from Karen. The process wasn’t the smoothest but Karen helped move it along and always kept us in mind to get us the best experience, we are so grateful for everything Karen has done for us! Sarah & Warren 09/06/2025

The support that Liz from the Wakefield office, gave at this time is unmeasurable. Many thanks for going above and beyond and endeavouring to get our sale over the line. Ricahrd 09/06/2025

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