Length of time from Intruction to Completion

tilamok

Hi

I am in the process of buying a flat (leasehold) and I was wondering how long it normally takes from the date I instruct my solicitor to the date of completion.

The reason I am asking is because I instructed on the 31st of January and when I called my solicitor (19th March) to find out if we can complete at the end of March, she basically said that that was impossible and that her best guess is end of April.

What concerns me is that I received no correspondence from the solicitor until I called her at the end of February. The solicitor is now on a week's holiday. So I asked her secretary to check my file and see if any work was done between the 31st of March and the end of February and she said that there is absolutely nothing in the file.

I am concerned that she just forgot about my case and is now trying to buy time

Cheers

Phirefly

That sounds pretty lame. We instructed our solicitors on the 26th February and we're on target for completion on the 3rd April. Kick some ars*

cattie

In my experience where leasehold property has been concerned it's taken between 12-14 weeks from offer to completion. Anything sooner I'd consider a big fat bonus.

There is a lot more work involved in leasehold property than freehold & often delays occur when solicitors are waiting on queries raised in connection with the lease/property.

shell2001

Yes but it doesnt sound as if the solicitor has raised any queries otherwise her secretary would have found the info in the file. Surely the op should have had the fixtures and fittings list from the vendors etc??

tilamok

All
Thanks for the replies.

I have escalated my concerns to one of the partners who claims that he can catch up on the delay. However I found out today that the request for searches started on the 16th March i.e 6 weeks after instruction and I want to complete on the 29th March

I am now in a big mess coz
1) The vendor wants to put the flat back on the market
2) I have already given notice to my landlord and I am totally uncertain about asking for an extension on my current property

djm1972

My leasehold sale is going nowhere fast. Instructed on 20th Feb, my solicitor received a letter on 9th March from my buyer's solicitor requesting information about the leasehold. My solicitor then wrote to me stating that this information needs to be purchased from the management company (Leasehold Information Pack) and I needed to pay for this. Sent a cheque back, and they then had to wait for it to clear before finally requesting the pack YESTERDAY!

I have no idea how long the management company will take to respond - they always seem very slow in every other aspect of dealing with them (except when there's money due to them of course, in which case they're very fast).

What is frustrating me most is that if this is standard information that a buyer's solicitor requests during a leasehold purchase then whey on earth didn't my solicitor pre-empt this and get on with obtaining the information weeks ago.

That aside, my buyer's solicitor have also asked for a total of 7 planning documents which has left me totally confused, and my solicitor isn't doing a very good job of explaining to me why these have been asked for.

And to top it all, I learnt yesterday that apparently the lease is "defective" - not providing for shelter or something. I looked up and can confirm there is a roof on my flat, so I have no idea what that is about either other than that there is money involved for an indemnity, whatever that is.

I'm just going to pursue this sale to the end, even if it takes so long that I lose my current buyer and have to find another one - and then I am never having anything to do with leasehold property again. Ever.

Bustle

I'm also buying a leasehold flat which is also being repossessed. :rolleyes:

The offer was accepted mid January, got a letter from my solicitors yesterday saying they are waiting for the vendors solicitors who are waiting for the freeholders solicitors to answer enquiries raised by my people.

As people have said the management companies will take forever to answer queries but are superfast when it comes to letters telling tenants to keep corridors tidy, etc. etc.

How does one move solicitors on a bit quicker? Had to ask for my mortgage offer to be extended twice already! :mad:

djm1972

I'm seriously considering starting a pro-active conveyancing firm once all this nonsense has finished! I think there's massive scope for the use of Information Technology to assist this ludicrous process. I know the Land Registry have various initiatives in place but that is mainly to assist the solicitors at their own end.

It will be a conveyancing firm that makes maximum, optimal use of technology to give clients as much visibility of the process as the law will allow. For example, I can envisage a web based portal where all letters and documentation can be viewed securely against a transaction timeline. The portal will include a threaded messaging system (like this forum) to enable communication with clients.

I'll do the tech side of things (i'm self employed, running a number of websites), I just need a Solicitor or two to partner with and we're away... :beer:

A11yson

If the management company is Peveral OM I have just been told that they have a 23 day turnaround!!!! :mad: