Purchased leasehold flat, solicitor wants all documents back

Apo

Hello,

As the title says, I purchased a flat a month ago and my solicitor wants all the documents back He claims he needs to register the purchase with the landlord. When I asked him which documents I need to send .. He says he requires all the documents back.. Originals not the copies..

It sounds a bit dodgy. Should I be worried?

Thanks,

Apo

TBagpuss

Well, it sounds as though he overlooked the need to do this before sending you all the documents but other than that, no.

If you are worried, then make a list of the documents you are returning and get a signed receipt when you drop them off, confirming receipt of them.

My guess is that he probably odes not need all of them but that experience has taught him that it is much more efficient to ask for them all, and to sort through for the ones he needs, than to ask you* (*generic client, not you personally) for specific ones and then not always get the ones he needs.

alchemist.1

Just sounds like he overlooked an aspect of the purchase and trying to correct it.

moneyistooshorttomention

But, if you do supply him with those documents, then take photocopies of them all in advance (at his expense hopefully).

Also make out a typed list of which documents you are supplying him with and get a signed receipt for them (ie so there's no risk of him subsequently denying he ever had them - because the office has lost them).

I'd be inclined to "accidentally on purpose" give him a photocopy (rather than the original) of the most important documents (eg the Title Plan).

DaftyDuck

Why? Why make his life difficult? The only result is that he may charge you more, may delay, may just not bother. Why photocopy the title plan? It's not the reference copy... there's a highly secret location, near a secret road that nobody knows about where all these vital "original" documents are hidden nowadays. I suppose it might just be ammo to launch a further dispute with a neighbour over a boundary :wall:, or create a barney with the freeholder....

I suppose you could tape his next phonecall.... get him to explicitly state what he's not done then report him!!!! :mad: You could take photos of all the documents being put in an envelope, and video yourself posting them (have a friend as witness) registered delivery, of course. Oh, and bill him for the cost! And Time!!!!!

Bit dodgy? If he'd wanted to do a flit, he'd have done it when he had all that cash, buying the flat, not with the boring paperwork.

No, he needs the originals (not copies) to verify and register the purchase.

Drop them round at his office next time you are passing? Or, stick them in an envelope, take to the local Post Office, and post. I might just ask for the (free) receipt of posting. Comes with the postcode and address the letter is going to. Then, then you can work out how to sue him.... when he maliciously denies having got them, and hides them in his Vault of Awkward Intent And Vindictive Spite®!

Relax, OP. Minor booboo, nice man soon fix.