What is sold subject to contract (STC)?
Sold subject to contract (STC) is a property status indicating an offer has been accepted but the sale remains conditional until contracts are formally exchanged between buyer and seller.
When a property is marked as STC, it means the seller has accepted an offer from a buyer, but the legal sale is not yet binding. During this period, which can last weeks or longer, both parties remain free to pull out without penalty, though doing so may invite dispute or reputational consequences.
This stage sits between the initial offer acceptance and the moment contracts are exchanged (the legal point at which the sale becomes final). Buyers often use the STC window to arrange a mortgage survey, finalise their finances, or carry out additional due diligence on the property and its location. Sellers may continue to receive and consider other offers until exchange takes place, though most reputable agents will advise against this practice.
For Birmingham property transactions, understanding STC is important because the property remains technically on the market and can fall through if the buyer fails to arrange a mortgage, surveys reveal serious problems, or negotiations over fixtures, chattels, or conditions break down. Conveyancers and estate agents work to move STC sales toward exchange as efficiently as possible, but delays are common when mortgage lenders request further information or valuations.
If you are buying or selling in the city, choosing an experienced residential sales agent in Birmingham helps reduce the risk of deals collapsing and speeds the journey from STC to completion.