Sold STC Meaning: Can You Still Make an Offer?

Sold STC means Sold Subject to Contract — an offer has been accepted, but nothing is legally binding yet.

Which means the useful answer: you can still offer on it. Until contracts are exchanged, either side can walk away and the seller is free to accept a better offer. Agents are legally obliged to pass on any offer they receive until exchange.

Roughly a third of agreed sales fall through, so a Sold STC listing is a long way from gone. If you love the house, say so.

At a glance

STC means: Sold Subject to Contract
Legally binding?: No — not until exchange
Can you still offer?: Yes, up to exchange of contracts
Typical time to complete: Around 2–6 months

🏷️ Property listing decoder · what it really signals

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About the price

About the status

What it signals. The sale can still collapse — and in England and Wales, a seller can legally accept a higher offer from someone else right up to exchange.
What to do. You can still register interest. It is not over until contracts exchange.
Full guide to Sold Subject to Contract →

About your offer

Terms as used in England and Wales. Scotland's system differs in important ways — offers are generally binding much earlier, and "offers over" is the norm rather than the exception. The "what it signals" notes are informed judgement about how these phrases are typically used, not rules: any individual agent may mean something slightly different by them, and it is always fair to ask.

Key Takeaways

Sold STC means someone wants to buy a property, but the deal isn't final yet. The seller has accepted an offer, but they haven't signed the official contract.
Even if a property is marked 'Sold STC,' you can still try to buy it by making a good offer. But the current buyer is already in the process of buying it, so your offer needs to be really good.
You can see a property marked 'SSTC' if the seller agrees. But be careful because the current buyers might get upset if they find out.
To finish the sale successfully, everyone involved (buyers, sellers, lawyers, etc.) needs to work together. Sellers should be quick with paperwork, and buyers should use an efficient lawyer and be ready to handle any problems that come up.

What Is The Meaning Of Sold STC?

'Sold STC' stands for 'Sold Subject To Contract'. It means that an offer has been accepted by the seller, and the estate agent has partially removed the property from the open market, but it is not legally binding as exchange of contracts hasn't happened yet.

At this stage of the purchase, there has been no exchange of contracts.

Can You Still Buy a House That Is Sold STC?

Yes, you can make an offer on a house marked "Sold Subject to Contract" (STC). This term indicates that both the seller and buyer intend to proceed with the deal. It's possible to submit an offer during this phase of the transaction.

If the property has not been fully withdrawn from the listing board or site, it could mean that the seller would welcome new offers. However, if you are serious about buying the property you will need to submit a compelling offer.

Can You Still View a House That Is Sold STC?

Yes, you can view homes that are marked as "SSTC" (Sold Subject to Contract) if the seller agrees. However, it can be risky for the seller.

If the current buyers discover that you're still showing the property after accepting their offer and investing in legal fees and surveys, they may become unhappy and back out of the deal. It's important to consider the potential consequences before allowing new viewings.

What Stage Is a Property Sold STC?

Before a property is marked as 'Sold STC' (which means 'Sold Subject to Contract'), the estate agent does several important checks and processes. These include:

Seller's Acceptance

The estate agent makes sure that the seller agrees to the buyer's offer, usually through email.

Conveyancing Solicitors

The names and contact details of the buyer's and seller's solicitors who handle the legal aspects of the sale are confirmed.

Timeline Establishment

An approximate date for exchanging contracts and completing the sale is determined.

Land Registry Number

The estate agent verifies the HM Land Registry number of the property.

Buyer's Position

The estate agent finds out if the buyer is part of a chain (connected to other property sales/purchases) and at what stage those other transactions are in the conveyancing process.

Lender and Mortgage Details

The estate agent checks which lender the buyer is using for their mortgage and ensures they have a valid Decision in Principle or mortgage offer.

Proof of Funds

The agent confirms the deposit amount the buyer is putting down, and it should match the figure mentioned in the mortgage Decision in Principle.

Special Conditions

Any special conditions or potential legal issues related to the sale are communicated to all parties, and everyone agrees to proceed.

Anti Money Laundering (AML) Checks

It's made sure that the buyer's solicitor has performed the necessary AML checks as required by law.

Documentation Forwarding

The estate agent helps the seller send relevant documents to their solicitor for the sale process.

Once these checks are completed, and the sale is in progress, the property is labelled as 'Sold STC' until the sale is fully completed.

What Happens After Sold STC?

After the checks are done, the estate agent or auction house creates a Memorandum of Sale. Then, they take the property off the market, and the actual buying and selling process begins.

Both the buyer and seller hire conveyancers or solicitors to handle the legal aspects of the sale. These professionals communicate with each other and address any questions before preparing the official contracts.

The status of the property is changed to 'Sold Subject to Contract' on websites like Rightmove, Zoopla, and On The Market, as well as on the agent's website. The physical "For Sale" sign outside the property is also updated.

Many buyers also start the process of getting a mortgage. They arrange for a RICS survey and take care of other related tasks, which are managed by the solicitor, estate agent, and mortgage broker.

After usually around 2 to 6 months, both parties sign and witness their respective contracts, and the sale is completed. The estate agent then updates the property status to 'Sold'.

What is The Difference Between Sold STC and Under Offer?

'Sold STC' and 'Under Offer' might sound similar, but they have important differences.

When a property is marked as 'Sold STC,' it means it's not available for purchase anymore, but the seller can still technically consider other offers. However, this rarely happens because usually both the buyer and the seller want the sale to go through as planned.

On the other hand, when a property is marked as 'Under Offer,' it means the seller hasn't officially accepted the offered price yet. Even though many buyers and sellers might think the deal is closed, the agent can still receive other offers during this time.

The property is 'Under Offer' while the seller evaluates the offers. Once all the necessary checks are completed, and the seller is satisfied with the final offer, the property status can be changed to 'Sold STC' to show that the sale is now proceeding.

Do Houses Sold STC Fall Through?

Although both parties usually want things to go smoothly, a series of issues can occur during the transaction that results in either the seller withdrawing completely or the property returning to the market.

These issues can include problems with the conveyancing process, mortgage down valuation, issues with the home survey, issues with the conveyancing searches, and complications arising from the property being in a chain. Our guide on what can go wrong between exchange and completion covers the later-stage risks.

How Do You Move From Sold STC to Complete?

To sell a house successfully, everyone involved needs to work together and be proactive. This includes the buyers, sellers, solicitors, mortgage brokers, and the estate agent. To speed up the sale process, it's crucial to avoid potential problems.

For sellers, they can help by registering with the conveyancer (the legal expert) early on, filling out the required forms quickly, and making sure the estate agent has done all the necessary checks on potential buyers.

For buyers, they can make the process faster by choosing an experienced and efficient conveyancer, instructing them in advance, and being available to address any issues that may come up during the sale. Being responsive and prepared can help move things along smoothly.

Gazumping

If someone makes a higher offer than the agreed price, it's called "gazumping." This is seen as unfair because it can cause the original buyer, who might have already spent money on legal and surveying fees, to lose out on the property. The reverse — where a buyer lowers their offer at the last minute — is known as gazundering.

If the original buyer is not moving forward with the purchase, the seller might consider other offers. Estate agents keep a list of potential buyers who have shown interest in the property as a backup plan in such cases.

Frequently asked questions

What does sold STC mean?

Sold subject to contract. The seller has accepted an offer, but nothing is legally binding yet — contracts have not been exchanged. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland either side can still walk away without penalty until exchange.

Can I still view or offer on a sold STC property?

Yes. The agent must pass on any offer they receive until contracts are exchanged. Whether the seller entertains it is another matter, and some instruct agents to stop marketing once an offer is agreed.

How long does sold STC usually last?

Commonly two to three months from acceptance to completion, though it varies with the length of the chain, the mortgage, and how quickly searches come back. A sale still showing as sold STC after six months usually signals a problem somewhere in the chain.

What is the difference between sold STC and under offer?

In practice very little, and agents use them inconsistently. Under offer sometimes indicates an offer received but not yet formally accepted, while sold STC indicates one accepted. Neither is legally binding, and neither should be read as more certain than the other.

Do sold STC properties fall through?

A meaningful proportion do — commonly cited figures put it around a quarter to a third of agreed sales in England and Wales, mostly from chain collapses, survey findings and mortgage refusals. It is one of the strongest arguments for keeping an eye on the market until you have exchanged.

Is gazumping legal?

Yes, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, because nothing binds either party until exchange. A seller can accept a higher offer at any point before that. Scotland works differently — an accepted offer there creates a binding contract much earlier in the process.

What happens after sold STC?

Solicitors are instructed, the buyer's lender values the property, searches are ordered and a survey is usually carried out. Enquiries pass between the two sides until both are satisfied, then contracts are exchanged — which is the point the sale becomes binding — and completion follows.

Gazumping — how a higher offer can still win before exchange
How long after a viewing should you expect an offer? — what silence usually means
What is a low-ball offer? — where cheeky ends and insulting begins

More estate agent jargon: Let agreed · Under offer · Vacant possession · Offers in excess of · Offers in region of · Offers over