Land registry title problem.

hisroyalginge

Advice needed. I had an offer accepted on a house three months ago, the vendors stipulated a 28 day completion schedule, which I adhered to as the property is vacant. I have had the cash sitting in a current account which is obviously losing money not to mention the fact that there were several things pointed out on the survey which will be getting worse with time.
I've been pushing the vendor's solicitor and selling agent daily with little or no feedback other than that there was a problem with the "land registry title", that was approximately 3 weeks ago. Now they have said that they don't have a copy or record of the Land registry at all and will have to apply for another or apply to get the current one changed somehow.
So really what I'm asking is, is this a legitimate excuse? How can you put a house up for sale without knowing who owns it? How long can land registry problems take to resolve?
Any information would be really appreciated.

booksurr

so the vendors set the 28 days deadline and now cannot deliver against it but you have already exchanged so cannot pull out of the deal?

absolutely nothing you can do but wait and/or make yourself a right pain in the butt by pressuring everyone you can

G_M

Are you doing the conveyancing yourself? If so, you appear out of your depth and I advise you employ a conveyancer.

If you are using a conveyancer, why is he a) not sorting this out and b) keeping you informed?

Have you looked at the Title yourself? If it is registered, £3 will get you an electronic copy here.

As for the timescale, I'm guessing this is a repossession. They often stipulate 30 days. It is just a target to get you to hurry up, not a deadline.

Repssession might also explain the Title issue.

Remember repos usually continue to be marketed up to Exchange, so you could lose the property at any time.....

hisroyalginge

I have a solicitor who says he has done everything he can and any issues lie on the side of the vendor. Presumably he has no further information so has nothing to say.
The sale is being organised by a property management company, Move With Us. I have a copy of the contract but there's no point signing until everything is in place, also, with the timescales so far and further potential delays and the state of the property I want to go back in and have a look before signing anything.
Not only did they stipulate a 28 day turnaround I also had to submit a closed bid by a certain day, prove I had funds available to meet the 28 day deadline and rush through the survey etc.
I don't think it was a repo, I'm fairly sure someone died there but with the lack of information and differing excuses for the lack of progress it's hard to get a true understanding of the scenario.
Correct, there is nothing stopping someone else buying it at any time, another reason for my frustration.
I know the property has had two previous offers accepted which have fallen through, which makes me very suspicious.
I can only think that giving them an ultimatum will force their hand one way or another?
Thanks for your help.

hisroyalginge

Thanks for the link, just checked it and it says they have no record for titles at that property. What does that mean?

booksurr

as you have not exchanged then you are in the driving seat and it is you who should be setting deadlines, not the other way around as it is you who can decide when to cut and run before you spend too much on fees and they ought to know that you are not going to wait in the dark

Mattygroves2

hisroyalginge wrote: »

Thanks for the link, just checked it and it says they have no record for titles at that property. What does that mean?

It needs registering as it was last sold before electronic registration started. This is what will be holding things up - it's not difficult but it takes time.

RAS

This is the process for unregistered property when someone has died http://www.landregistry.gov.uk/public/faqs/i-am-the-personal-representative-of-a-deceased-owner-of-unregistered-land.-do-i-need-to-do-anything

You might want to check that probate has been granted; presumably your solicitor knows that "the estate of Mr/Ms Bloggs" is selling? This should be possible on the Probate Registry.

If not, then what is the relationship between the vendor and the deceased?

cloo

It should be solvable, but expect it to take a few weeks... we had a fortnight's delay when we bought our current place because it turned out that the leasehold extension the vendors had paid for hadn't been registered properly, but it was solved.

hisroyalginge

Thanks, all very useful information however I am beginning to regret asking lol. How difficult can it be I want the house, they want to sell it, I have the money... simples!

My solicitor only really reiterates what he has already said i.e. that the hold up lies with the other party. I am reluctant to ask him to pursue it more aggresively due to potential costs, or would this be considered part of his remit for a house purchase?

I am seriously considering telling the vendor that if it's not sorted in two weeks I'm going to pull out, do these strong arm tactics work? I can't see what I can lose from this, other than a bit of pride if I don't follow through with it?

Thanks again.