Deeds still in previous owner's name!

charleyroo

Hi all

Same as a lot of people, have been lurking for absolutely months and reading all of the great advice while buying a house (and literally only just managing to not panic-post while waiting for the mortgage etc, lol)

I'm basically a bit concerned because I had a funny feeling that my mortgage company (Nationwide) did not store the land registry deeds and hence they would be sent to me in due course.

I completed on 22nd March 2011 (buying the freehold - house was leasehold but previous owners bought the freehold ready to sell to me) but checked the Land Registry site a few days ago, paid £8 to check the leasehold and the freehold and both are still in the previous peoples' names

I was a bit worried at this point and on Thursday rang the Land Registry, spoke to a helpful lady who said that the online copies I bought were correct and the names/charges have not changed. She did also disclose that Nationwide had run a 'search' (?) on the leasehold on 29th June - so although there has been some activity, is it clearly on the wrong deeds?

Of course the simple answer is to call the solicitor - which I did on Thursday afternoon - but she was 'at lunch' and going to return my call. Still waiting! (some things have not changed since the purchase, evidently!)

I thought all the stresses were over in March when we moved in - but should I be worried by all of this

Thanks all

Charl

DVardysShadow

Write a letter to your solicitor, asking for an explanation within 14 days. If there is no response on day 15, raise it as a complaint and take it all the way to the Law Society if need be. While you are phoning and not writing, you are sending a strong [but unjustified] message that you are insignificant enough to be fobbed off and ignored.

You won't need to take it very far before it is sorted.

charleyroo

Thanks for the reply, was going to email but I suppose a letter 'means business' a bit more lol

Is 5 months a long time to wait for the deeds to change names? Is anyone else as sensible/neurotic as me to even check that these things get done? hehe

Charl

G_M

If you bought in March the purchase should have been registered with the LR by now. A slight delay while Stamp Duty is paid is permissable, but as Stamp Duty has to be paid within 30 days you are well past that.

As DVardyS says, get writing!

DVardysShadow

It is high time it was done. Your letter should be short and to the point, but do slip in "As this matter has been outstanding since 22 March and you did not return my telephone call of <date>, this matter cannot be left any longer".

It is not something to worry about - but equally not something to let drift either.