Buying a Repossesion

Premier_2

RICHARD83 wrote: »

thats easier said than done, we have to complete in two weeks or risk losing the property.

If your solicitor is making this type of fundamental error on such a basic issue, I dread to think what other type of errors will be made!

You can get a new solicitor within about 30 minutes of ringing around, I suspect. Alternatively, if you really want to keep to the practice you are using, is the solicitor the senior guy there? I very much doubt it. Report the matter to that senior person and ensure he investigates and takes personal control over your case if he wants to retain your business.

RICHARD83_3

SouthCoast wrote: »

Is the property in Scotland as the advice is rubbish as far as English law is concerned?

A £3 search at the Land Registry will reveal all the outstanding charges on the property.

The property is in England.

i have called a couple of the utility suppliers and they have also said that they legally cant recover any of the arrears from us. I think i need to have a chat with my soliciter. Thanks for all of your input, you are being a great help.

RHemmings

While I'm no lawyer, I wonder if there has been a misinterpretation here. The quote includes:

The lender accepts no responsibility for any outstanding utility bills up to the date of completion.

This in itself doesn't mean that the buyer has to assume liability for these bills, just that the lender doesn't. Could it be the case that the solicitor has added one and one together and got three? I.e. that the assumption that the buyer will become liable is a mistaken assumption of the buyer's solicitor?

I'm no lawyer blah blah blah...

Edit: I'll never understand "thanks" on this site I've got three "thanks" already for what I thought was fairly empty theorising on what might have happened.

Edit: Hey, I edited my post and the thanks all disappeared. Even more confusing ...

sealady

We nearly bought a reposession well a few days from completition and exchange and there were a number of charges on the property and our solicitor requested that these charges be removed before completion. I would clarify it with the estate agent or even phone any of the utility companies they will tell who the current suppliers are for that property and then take it from there!

Premier_2

Aye, I think you are correct RHemmings. The lender will not pay the arrears, but that doesn't mean the OP will have to (as the OP has now discovered by contacting a couple of suppliers)

RICHARD83_3

I have just spoken to my solicitor, it appears that either she wasn't very clear or i was misunderstanding. She has now said that it isn't in any contract that i will be responsible for the outstanding arrears, just that some companies could recover from me and that she reccomended that i checked with them that i wasn't liable.

Thakyou soo much everyone for all of your help. It is very much appreciated.

bubblesmoney

when u do buy the property on completion day make a note of all the meter readings / also take photos (dated) and inform respective utility companies of the readings ASAP just so that u dont get dumped with old bills. ask EA to send u a letter documenting meter readings etc so that u have proof what the readings were when u bought the property

supersavershal

I bought a repo and I didnt have to pay outstanding utility bills, I rung the utility companies the day I exchanged with meter readings and to inform them I was the new homeowner.The outstanding bills belong to the person named on the bill at the time it was run up.
I bought my house ten years ago, so it might have changed.

Premier_2

supersavershal wrote: »

I bought a repo and I didnt have to pay outstanding utility bills, I rung the utility companies the day I exchanged with meter readings and to inform them I was the new homeowner.The outstanding bills belong to the person named on the bill at the time it was run up.
I bought my house ten years ago, so it might have changed.

No nothings changed.

Premier_2

RICHARD83 wrote: »

... just that some companies could recover from me and that she reccomended that i checked with them that i wasn't liable.

Ask her to explain how that could possibly be possible? I for one would love to know, and if you are being advised by the legal advisor you are paying good money to that it could still be the case, I think you need to fully understand this too.