Same solicitors

headsashed

In the process of buying a house and have gone with the solicitor recommendation of the estate agent (i know before anyone says anything), thing is my vendor is also buying a house through the estate agent and think they are also using their solicitor, would this be a problem. I am kind of in two minds, firstly is there a problem, secondly would this actually be an advantage is they are working for both the vendor and buye of a property, speed wise?

marleymoo1984

Hi

We have the same situation. We have been advised that as long is it is a different representative at a different office address it isn't a problem. We also had to sign a document to state that we were aware that the vendor was also using the same company. Hope this helps

marleymoo1984

Apologies, didn't read properly! Our situation is slightly different, both us the buyer and the vendor is using the same company

timmyt

first of all do you mean 'solicitor; as so few people get an actual solicitor, yet pay the same fee.

But assuming you do, then the rule is that the same solicitor can never act for both sides, nor would you ever want that rule changed as you simply would not get your best interests looked after.

but the same office can act if both seller and buyer are 'established clients'. that is a matter of fact and degree, but essentially multiple dealing before.

if not, then one party could choose to go to that same firm's other office, as two offices can act.

agents get this wrong all the time.

I understand licenced conveyancers do not have the same rule, but I would never suggest you go to a licensed conveyancer for conveyancing. ever. why forgo a conveyancing solicitor.

good luck

insanebe

Will it be faster ?

Does the fax machine or postal service work faster if both solicitors are from the same firm, no.

G_M

Unlikely to work faster, and there is always a risk, however small, of a conflict of interest. Personally I would advise totally unrelated solicitors/conveyancers. But Timmy correctly describes the 'rules'.

tbs624

Why go on the recommendation of an EA, for anything? Too much back scratching. Source your own solicitor, via word of mouth or check up who's who via the Law Society

agrinnall

When I sold last year my buyer was also an established customer of the firm of solicitors I was using (and had used for the previous 13 years). Despite being a large firm the buyer was told to use a different firm in order to avoid any possibility of conflict of interest. This was in Scotland so there may be different rules in place.

Wyndham

timmyt wrote: »

I understand licenced conveyancers do not have the same rule, but I would never suggest you go to a licensed conveyancer for conveyancing. ever. why forgo a conveyancing solicitor.

Because solicitors often don't specialise to the same extent, and your house sale may well be on their desk with someone else's divorce or court proceedings etc. Licensed conveyancers only do conveyancing, so have much more direct experience. Often a bit cheaper too, for the same service.

tbs624

Wyndham wrote: »

Because solicitors often don't specialise to the same extent, and your house sale may well be on their desk with someone else's divorce or court proceedings etc.

Most reasonable sized legal practices have separate depts, led by different lawyers with specific areas of expertise.

Wyndham wrote: »

Licensed conveyancers only do conveyancing, so have much more direct experience. .

What a daft statement of non-fact.

stormCat99

When we bought and sold, by chance we were using the same solicitor's firm as our vendor.

Were told this was fine provided a different person at the practice acted for each of us. And also helped speed things up a little as there were no delays in sending/receiving documents