Changing solicitor when selling

kevinlad

I just wonder when is the latest time you can change solicitor without incurring any charge from the previous one. What if I have not exchanged contract yet, but only forwarding the contact details of the solicitor to the buyer?

TrickyDicky101

If your current solicitor has done any work for you then he will want paying for that work. Also, he may have incurred fees (eg for searches) on your behalf and will want recompense for these too.

King_Of_Bling

kevinlad wrote: »

I just wonder when is the latest time you can change solicitor without incurring any charge from the previous one. What if I have not exchanged contract yet, but only forwarding the contact details of the solicitor to the buyer?

What's your problem with the first solicitor? Incompetence or charges?

Thefunkygibbons

it will also add time

Having had it done to me, it did add about 2 weeks

geoffky

I did this when buying after finding out about the useless lot a agent had recommended...and believe me it was a good job i did because problems popped up that took months and months.

i changed after two weeks and got full money back because i had not signed a contract with them.

G_M

kevinlad wrote: »

I just wonder when is the latest time you can change solicitor without incurring any charge from the previous one. What if I have not exchanged contract yet, but only forwarding the contact details of the solicitor to the buyer?

Have you signed the solicitor's contract? What does it say?
Has the solicitor done any work? How much?
Has he spent any money on your behalf? How much and what for?

Answer these and we cn give you sensible advice, otherwise we are just p8sh8ng in the wind!

kevinlad

I haven't signed any contract but I did reply to his email requesting him to act on my behalf. I'm not sure he's done any work for me, but I'm sure I haven't requested him to do any work, except forwarding his details to the buyer.

Why I want to change? Long story, maybe for another thread...

G_M

kevinlad wrote: »

I haven't signed any contract but I did reply to his email requesting him to act on my behalf. I'm not sure he's done any work for me, but I'm sure I haven't requested him to do any work, except forwarding his details to the buyer.

Why I want to change? Long story, maybe for another thread...

Those two statement seem to contradict each other!

So what was 'his email'? A quotation for his services? With/without the Terms and Conditions attached?
If so that will form a contract.
If not, then he can't subsequently rely on T&Cs he's never advised you of.

paint

I did this about about 4 weeks into the selling process as my Solicitor's inactivity risked me losing a buyer. The solicitor I had engaged was uncommunicative and incompetent. I emailed them to tell them they had apparently done nothing, that I had engaged another solicitor and I was not prepared to pay any fees. They accepted that their service was unacceptable and left it at that. Best thing I ever did. Good luck.