Right to obtain a copy of all paperwork held by the solicitor after a purchase?

AlexMac

And if all else fails look at what the Law Sociatey website says-

"Question
How do I make a complaint about the way my solicitor handled my case?

Answer
In the first instance you should complain directly to your solicitor about the poor service you have received. All solicitors have a procedure for handling complaints.

Each solicitors firm will have a designated complaints handler whose details may be obtained from the Solicitors Regulation Authority Contact Centre. Tel: 0870 606 2555 or email: contactcentre@sra.org.uk

If you've complained to your solicitor about poor service or about their bill, and you aren't satisfied with your solicitor's response, you should contact the Legal Ombudsman on 0300 555 0333, who can help to resolve your complaint for you."

In other words- express your complaint to your solicitor (poor communication, no copies received of vendors replies to standard enquiries, no copy entry Land Registry map or title, no copies of the Council's reply to the Local Authority search or copies of any other optional searches commissioned on your behalf such as Environmental Reports or Chancel liability check, no written summary report by the soilicitor on these title and searches as is usual - just an oral report.
Say this the remedy you require is that they now copy these papers and other items on their file to you.

Say that unless they do give you a written reply to this written complaint you'll escalate it to the next step of the complaint process.
Maybe this is being picky- after all, the landregistry info is all on line for when you next sell, but whay let 'em off if you feel aggrieved? The service you got falls far short of the norm (For example, I got all these items from my solicitor when I bought last year- usually receiving letters or emails two or three times a week, promptly after they got 'em, often with questions about any further action I required? So on each of my recent house purchases I have a file a few inches thick! )

Land_Registry

square.peg wrote: »

I believe all the details are held at Land Registry these days, not the acting solicitor (although a better-informed bod may shoot me down!). So even if you don't get it, it will be a matter of public record and available to you via LR direct.

Do note that the Land Registry will only receive and process a very small number of documents when dealing with a routine sale/purchase of a registered property.

A routine application will include the application form AP1, the Transfer form TR1 and any new legal charge (mortgage) only and will nnot include details of contracts or paperwork completed by the solicitors/conveyancers involved.

Square peg is quite right that the lodged documents will generally become a matter of public record but it is likely that the 'other' paperwork is really what you are after. Other posters have advised on this and it may be that different solicitors/conveyancers vary in their approach on this.