Solicitor has lost our deeds

Rob_192

OK, here's the situation. In 2004, we paid off our mortgage and received from the BS our deeds. We decided to deposit these for safe keeping with a local solicitor, together with various other associated papers - Planning consent and Building Reg certificate for an extension.

Two weeks ago I requested retrieval of said documents and have just received a letter saying they have lost them. I've been to see them and been assured that this is not the end of the world as title deeds are all held electronically by the Land registry and the solicitors are going to provide us with a certified copy etc. At the point I went to see them, I had forgotten about the Planning Consent and B Regs compltion certificate. I've just checked and the planning is available on-line, but not the B Regs. Presumably I can obtain a copy?

Question is, what to do about solicitor - I'm not out to make trouble and provided everything can be overcome I have no real concerns, but have I missed anything? Is it as simple as they're suggesting?

R

Richard_Webster

When did you buy the property and which local authority district is it in?

If the Building Regulation Documents were with the deeds pack then it is scarcely worth a solicitor arguing about paying out £20 or so to get copies if he admits he has lost the deeds.

bobthedambuilder

Just tell your solicitor that you had forgotten that the extra documents were also stored by them and presumably have also been lost. They should also obtain and provide certified copies of these at no cost to you.

GDB2222

I am a bit surprised that a solicitor agreed to hold these docs for you.

Rob_192

Update - I've spoken to the LA and they have agreed to provide a copy of the B Regs Certificate and Planning I already have on-line, so it's just the deeds issue - I guess if they've lost them, they've lost them and no amount of shouting is going to help, so is the certified copy OK?

GDB2222 - why? the solicitor is a large regional practice with multiple branches, who have a document storage facility, why wouldn't they hold such documents?

GDB2222

They wouldn't hold them because of the risk of something going wrong, as happened. It also costs to run a department like that, although the marginal extra cost of adding one set of documents is of course small. How much did they charge you?

Richard_Webster

so it's just the deeds issue

If the title is registered then there isn't a deeds issue because the buyer's solicitors will want to see up to date official copies from the Land Registry and the physical deeds are only usually of historic/interest value.

Rob_192

GDB2222 wrote: »

They wouldn't hold them because of the risk of something going wrong, as happened. It also costs to run a department like that, although the marginal extra cost of adding one set of documents is of course small. How much did they charge you?

They make an admin charge only for document retrieval, which is waved if you agree to use them for any conveyancing - obviously there won't be a charge in this case (bloody well better not be!!) so I don't know how reasonable that cost would have been.

I think it's their way of retaining/drumming up business, but in this case it has backfired.

Rob_192

Richard_Webster wrote: »

If the title is registered then there isn't a deeds issue because the buyer's solicitors will want to see up to date official copies from the Land Registry and the physical deeds are only usually of historic/interest value.

Richard, yes it's registered - thanks for the reassurance.

vax2002

GDB2222 wrote: »

I am a bit surprised that a solicitor agreed to hold these docs for you.

They are not held, they are "deposited" so they can be loaned against and converted in to bonds.
Best place for your deeds is in your own hands.

terryw

Rob_192 wrote: »

I think it's their way of retaining/drumming up business, but in this case it has backfired.

You have hit the nail on the head on the head there Rob!