What does the contract say? I am assuming you signed some sort of agreement before handing over your cash. If it allows a window of say 4 weeks then outside that you are probably scuppered. If it is open ended and they remarket the property then they are breaking the agreement. Let your solicitor sort it as that's what you pay them for.

Developers don't give a s**t for their customers. They simply want to chuck up a property as quickly and cheaply as they can flog it and move on.

Buying anywhere in the current climate is a bit of a nightmare. Sorry to hear about the issues you're facing.

Emails are wonderful things. Make sure all correspondence is conducted via email, so you have all your queries (dated) and the developers response.

Good luck with the legal advice

And just for the record, it seems very cntish to keep holding viewings when he has your deposit.

Edited by Forest Hillbilly (30 Aug 2021 8.01am)

"The facts have changed", Rishi Sunak

If this is the way the developer conducts business, then you would have to be concerned about the standard of builders and tradespeople they use.
You would be worrying about loose tiles, water leaks and ill-fitting windows if the sale went through at this stage.
I have worked with some nationally-known and local developers who have made national/local headlines for all the wrong reasons. One built an estate of houses with sub-standard foundations which had houses at risk of sinking. The local developer didn't want to deal with Planning Regs with an existing building, so an attempt at arson was made. And the arson attempt was foiled, which just shows that they couldn't do a proper job of anything.

Maybe you could suggest who a developer might be,...

"The facts have changed", Rishi Sunak

It all depends on the wording within the agreement you signed regarding the deposit (the devil is in the detail).
The developer will have ongoing costs to meet regarding the building which is why he wants to find a buyer asap and not wait (or be prepared to give you more time).
So he could easily lose £2k waiting for you. You could easily lose your £2k if the developer finds a buyer whilst you are waiting for a new buyer.

Or you lose money if you reduce your price in an effort to drum up further interest in your property to find another buyer!
That's how it works I'm afraid.
It's best to this sort of thing when your a cash buyer.

I’m a Sales Director for a national developer so can help you out on this.
At the point you reserved your new home the developer or their appointed selling agent should have completed a reservation form with you, which you both sign, this confirms the structure of the deal, price and any thing you may have negotiated into the deal. It also states the amount of reservation fee you have paid, that you have X days to exchange contracts (normally 28 days) from the date set out on the reservation form. This takes the property off the market for this exclusive period. If you haven’t exchanged by the agreed date or any extended date that should be confirmed in writing to you, then the developer has the right to remarket the property. They have a right to withhold a % of your reservation fee for aborted legal costs whilst you had an exclusive period in which to exchange.
At any point up to exchange you of course can cancel your reservation for no reason but again the developer can withhold a % of the reservation fee.
You are protected by the consumer code for house buyers / builders. If you purchased and used the Governments Help to Buy scheme then you are entitled to all your reservation fee back as part of the scheme rules. Most reputable developers will have signed up to this, you should have been given information at reservation on the code.
If your developer is a one man band, small developer they may of course not have signed up to the consumer code.
As a note most national developers would return your reservation fee in full as a gesture of good will
Hope this helps.