Why use 2 Solicitors for sale / purchase?

leap31

This chain saga just goes on and on...Six months on. No one seems to know what is going on at the bottom of the chain with the first time buyer.

Anyway..my EA has been making enquiries all day and has established that my buyer has instructed another Solicitor for his sale from the one he is using to purchase my property.

Does anyone know why you would use 2 Solicitors? The problem being, that no one seems to know who the other Solicitor is and therefore we have no clue at what point his sale is at. The rest of the chain are ready to exchange and have been for months! I popped a note through our buyers door, but he hasn't responded so far. Oh well!

Thanks in advance! x

Emmzi

I had 2, one for scots law, and one for english

DVardysShadow

It is his choice to use 2 solicitors and he may have reasons which are valid to him. I might consider doing it to prevent agents interfering up and down the chain, for example. You have no grounds for complaint over this aspect. But he does need to resolve the communications - you have grounds for complaint on this.

leap31

Thank you for your posts.

It was out of pure curiosity that I wondered why one would use 2 Solicitors, I have absolutely no issues with my purchaser at all. We would like to clear the confusion that it has caused however.

Comyface

Could also be his bank?

I know you need to be on Halifax's conveyancer panel to be able to act on a purchase for which they are providing the mortgage (if you choose one who isn't, they appoint another one to do the work relating to the mortgage and make you pay for it).

He could have chosen a solicitor for the sale who wasn't accepted by his bank (for whatever reason) and then another one who is acceptable for the purchase?

Bananamana

could be he's gone for cheap fees on the sale

leap31

Just found out that he is using 'Countrywide Property Lawyers' for the sale of his house as they were recommended by his EA. I've just done my research...oh joy!

bakerp

we are going through the same at the moment,it does make things a little more difficult though fingers toes crossed we hope to exchange next week.I have never been so stressed out in my life.Never again:eek:

leap31

bakerp wrote: »

we are going through the same at the moment,it does make things a little more difficult though fingers toes crossed we hope to exchange next week.I have never been so stressed out in my life.Never again:eek:

Fingers crossed, I'm so jealous!! Good luck x