Vendors solicitors gone bust

jonewer

You really couldnt make it up.

On the day we finally get the all clear to exchange, our vendors call up and say their solicitors have gone under.

Anyone know what the implication are? The Law Society has apparently stepped in and they have appointed administrators. Our vendors have appointed new solicitors.

Does anyone know how much strife/delay this is likely to cause us?

Obviously, I gravely offended the conveyancing gods in a previous life.

Bananamana

They'll appoint a firm to act as interveners. In short that firm takes all the files away and writes to all the clients to ask them where they want there file's sending.

Speak to your vendor and get him to appoint a new solicitor ASAP. He'll need to have the file released to them and then they can check it and get things moving.

If he's buying as well there can be some other small delays as the mortgage needs to be reissued to the new solicitor. If the vendor is on the ball it may only delay things by a week or so.

It wasn't a birmingham based firm was it?

jonewer

Bananamana wrote: »

It wasn't a birmingham based firm was it?

Oh yes! :mad:

littlesnuggy

jonewer wrote: »

You really couldnt make it up.

I know the feeling; I've been trying to buy a flat since December (7 months and counting!) and the latest hold-up is someone who needs to sign something (who lives in Dubai, but that wouldn't be a massive deal) has now b*ggered off to a game reserve in Botswana and is 150miles away from any form of email, post or anything else vaguely useful.

Good luck with getting your situation sorted, and take comfort in knowing you're not the only one despairing at things out of your hands.

Jojo1daffy

I was wondering if it's Halliwells......

Bananamana

I heard something earlier in the day (although can't remember the firms name - think they took over some of wosltenholmes staff after they got intervened earlier in the year)

the important thing is just to get the lines of communication open now. If you were on the verge of exchange and its just a sale you should be able to get things still moving. Just remember - the vendor still wants to sell and you still want to buy. As your solicitor will have done their job right checking the title all you need to worry about is the vendor getting a new solicitor/ conveyancer on the job.

I hope that helps

jonewer

Norman Savills, by all accounts.

timmyt

don't panic, it makes 24/48 hours difference. I did it with Wolstehhomes (or whatever they are called).

Don't forget that your lawyer has all the Vendors papers.

So, get your lawyer onto the new lawyers and have them send copies of everything back to the new lawyers and say 'please have the vendor confirm that all remains accurate'.

then also give the new lawyers a copy of the old lawyers contract, which you will already be signed up to and unless these new lawyers must have their own contract, they will simply have their client sign the other lawyers drafted contract.

really no other loss of time.

send me a private essage f you need further advice.

jonewer

Thanks all. Seems like their new solicitors are actually their in-laws so maybe able to hurry things up.