Title Deeds Question

pamela1949

Hello

This could be a long story as we have had so many problems.

Dealing with my MILs estate. Sold her house ... exchanged on 15 July completed on 22nd July.

Thing is that our solicitor was suspended from 4 August 2011. for 2 years.

We did get the house money transferred on 22July... very fraught.
Buyer has now moved in


A few weeks later we had a call from the Estate Agent informing us that the Solicitor's cheque had bounced. We were threatened with Court Action so effectively we have paid twice for the Estate Agent's Bill !!!!!

Now latest problem... Assisting solicitor has said title deeds have gone missing. Unfortunately since the house was in the family for over 100 years it has not been registered with the Land Registry.


New buyer installed ... and we have no idea where Deeds are


Any Legal Beagles:( out there ? Please help we have had enough of this.


Regards

evelyn-b_2

I wonder if you might get more replies if you re-posted this question on the 'house buying and selling' board? I believe there are some regular contributors there who might be in a position to advise you.

But what an awful situation. I hope it can be sorted out soon.

John_Pierpoint

Is all the surrounding land registered?
I have recently sold the last building in the street (with obscure 150 year old deeds, when the rest of the road was fields) and of any queries about boundaries; I simply replied "you are buying the unregistered plot".

The Land Registry local office will have some [STRIKE]advice[/STRIKE] comments if you telephone and make an appointment.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/apr/03/how-trace-lost-deeds-parents-house

Of I were the buyer I would be hopping mad and trying to pull out. Has the buyer's solicitor not (yet) had a copy of the paperwork?

I rather fear you are going to have to get sworn statements of truth and buy the buyer an insurance policy, while the progress of time recreates a freehold title.

Let us know how you get on.

If you want to check out others on here take your pick:

1. Advice needed - Lost Title Deeds - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums
2. Lost House Deeds...What can I do - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums
3. Buying a house - lost deeds - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums
4. Sols lost deeds! - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums
   Lost deeds to property - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums
   Buying a House with lost titel deeds - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums
5. Lost deeds noted on charges register, time for an indemnity policy
6. Buying house vendor cant find or has lost deeds ...
7. Title Deeds-a few questions - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums
   Lost Deeds - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums

pamela1949

Thank you for useful replies. So worse case scenerio is that we have to pay some indemnity insurance

This will be claimed back from the Solicitors Regulatory Authority.... We are already trying to get back the Estate Agent's Fees from them. ( We have effectively paid these twice as our solicitor who was suspended issued a cheque which bounced !!!!)