We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide
Using the seller's solicitor for conveyancing
eloy7
Posts: 116 Forumite
The main time-consuming step of conveyancing is pre-contract preparation by two solicitors for the ultimate exchange of contracts. During this time-consuming process, the seller can receive a higher offer. Then, the buyer remains with the survey and solicitor fees.
When the buyer does not have a special preference for choosing a solicitor, is it a good idea to hire the seller's solicitor or someone from the same office to handle the conveyancing process? In this case, exchange of contracts should be done very quickly.
Is there any disadvantage for this scheme?
When the buyer does not have a special preference for choosing a solicitor, is it a good idea to hire the seller's solicitor or someone from the same office to handle the conveyancing process? In this case, exchange of contracts should be done very quickly.
Is there any disadvantage for this scheme?
0
Comments
-
Aside from conflict of interest and it being against SRA guidlines (AFAIK) ?
Generally if you use the same firm, a separate solicitor has to deal with each client.
Regardless, it would make very little difference to timescales. Delays are caused by searches and queries, not the distance between each solicitors' desks.0 -
Conflict of interest.....
When the buyer does not have a special preference for choosing a solicitor, is it a good idea to hire the seller's solicitor
This is not permitted by the solicitors professional body.
or someone from the same office to handle the conveyancing process?
permitted if there is a 'firewall' between the solicitors - ie they treat each other exactly as if they were in different offices
In this case, exchange of contracts should be done very quickly.
Some people claim quicker. I and others doubt it.
Is there any disadvantage for this scheme?
Have you given up on auctions then?0 -
Delays are caused by searches and queries, not the distance between each solicitors' desks.
My case is a cash purchase, and I do not need optional searches. When I got some quotes from local solicitors, they gave an estimate of 6 weeks for conveyancing. They explained that the seller's solicitor should send us the pre-contract, we review it .... and it takes time to reach an agreeable contract. (Ain't no standard contract for conveyancing?)0 -
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Just no.
You need a solicitor completely at arms length. The potential for conflict is far greater than any time it may save. Just don't do it.Eat vegetables and fear no creditors, rather than eat duck and hide.0 -
6 weeks is fine, that's fast!
The vast majority of sales go through with no gazumping, most sellers have no desire to prolong the process or risk the whole thing falling through once they've had an acceptable offer and its proceeding nicely.
Don't panic!0 -
It just happened to be that the solicitor our purchasers selected was the exact same solicitors office that we had gone with.
The main partner of the office told us that he would be perfectly happy to do the conveyancing for both parties but we were required to sign a document saying we agreed to that. I believe the assigned the other partner of the office to do one party.
Ours was a simple sale and it all went through from offer to moving in day in under 6 weeks.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 354.4K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.4K Spending & Discounts
- 247.3K Work, Benefits & Business
- 604K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.4K Life & Family
- 261.5K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards