HELP please!

sophiedophiedoo

Hi peeps. I really need some advice.

We are in the process of buying our first house. We have just found out that, unbeknownst to us and without our consent, our solicitor has exchanged contracts and also agreed a completion date of this friday with the seller. We did not agree to this, and as we are in rented accommodation we wanted a longer gap between exchange and completion dates so we could give our landlord the 4 weeks notice required. Now we will only be able to give 4 days notice!

We are shocked, and don't know what our next steps should be. We have already sent over the deposit a few days ago at the solicitors request (even though the exchange and completion date was yet to be agreed). We knew it woud be happening soon but not this soon! I am in shock that they went ahed and did this without our consent!

We have no idea what to do as we have never bought a house before, but surely this is not OK? Advice very much appreciated!

LEJC

But surely you gave your consent when you signed the paperwork....

ognum

I think that you haven't posted enough information regarding your communication with your solicitor.

The fact that you had transferred the deposit to the solicitor indicates that you were ready for exchange but it is very unusual to not agree a completion date that is mutually acceptable.

Maybe you need to review your communications with your solicitor verbal and written to see if there was an indication that this is what you wanted.

If you are sure it was not then discuss this with your solicitor and if you have the proof you have not agree then take it to his/her manager. there is no way it can be changed at this point. I guess you could try to claim out of pocket expenses.

You are required to give your LL a months notice from your rent payment date, I guess this could be the basis of your claim.

Hoploz

Are you sure you haven't got the wrong end of the stick? It is usual for the solicitor to discuss dates with you in advance, but then also they normally phone when they are ready to make the call to exchange, to obtain your formal instruction to go ahead and do so.

Also, the EA normally poke their noses in at this point as well, to congratulate you on achieving them their fee!

Do you have online tracking? Does it say on there exchange has happened? I suggest you phone and check for definite the exact position right now.

sophiedophiedoo

We signed the form with the date of completion left blank (to be agreed). Unfortunately, it was agreed with the seller, just not us! We emailed them a couple of times last week to state that we would not be ready to complete until end of June earliest.

sophiedophiedoo

There is NOTHING in our communication with our solicitor that we agreed to this friday as a completion date. They just went ahead. They also never called us before exchanging to confirm that we wanted to exchange!

sophiedophiedoo

What is online tracking please? I presume because I haven't heard of it we havent got it...

Hoploz

I just meant that often these days conveyances have a service where you can track the progress of your case online with a log in to their website. It would then be in writing that it is true, which would confirm your fears, or if it didn't say it then it'd be likely you have misinterpreted something.

How have you found out they have exchanged?

When did it happen? Seems odd if you were in contact last week regarding unsuitable dates.

King_Slayer

Contract signed and deposit paid, probably interpreted as ready. How were you informed about completion this week?