Using the same Law Firm as vendor when buying a house

ManuelG

Facts being facts, I've also had to find another solicitor in the past after mine had already been signed up by the vendor, and refused to work for me as well.

Subjectively meanwhile, I'd feel more comfortable without the link anyway, when dealing with strangers. Sometimes mistakes just... happen or I don't always get what I want, and I'd rather not find myself looking for an easy target to blame if they did.

Loopy28

Most people I have known to use the 'recommended' conveyancer have had bad experiences. I chose my own based on reputation and review.

That said, it turned out that the sellers of the house I am buying are using the same firm but a different branch. It does seem to be speeding things along on that side of things.

CathA

Richard_Webster wrote: »

So same solicitor acting for both - can he really tell the buyer that he should insist seller provides X document and at the same time tell the seller that he should refuse to provide it?

He should suggest a fair compromise, some might say.

What one person would call fair, someone else wouldn't.

It is very difficult to avoid conflicts of interest because simply don't know when they are going to occur. Not giving either side any advice is one way to do it - but that is simply unprofessional and not what we are paid for.

So I can't really see how you can act for both sides and advise either side properly.

Please note it is the same FIRM of solicitors, not the same solicitor doing it. My solicitor said it had to be done 'at arms length', hence the reason why we had the same firm but different partners. The same solicitor can't do it as it would be a conflict of interest, and my solicitor told me that the Law Society wouldn't allow it.

kinger101

CathA wrote: »

Please note it is the same FIRM of solicitors, not the same solicitor doing it. My solicitor said it had to be done 'at arms length', hence the reason why we had the same firm but different partners. The same solicitor can't do it as it would be a conflict of interest, and my solicitor told me that the Law Society wouldn't allow it.

I'm not a solicitor, but I would still not be comfortable with this, particularly where they operated from the same office. If the other solicitor has access to the client file, then my legal privilege may not be protected. If the other solicitor has any influence over the other (e.g. senior v junior partner), then there is also a problem. If a separate office deals with each client, it might be OK. But as a prospective client, my engagement is likely to be with the FIRM, and not an individual SOLICITOR.

keeko

Thanks for everyone who applied.

We decided to go with a completely different solicitor as we felt we valued having someone acting completely on our behalf more than any potential time saving in the conveyancing process.