Solicitor wants proof we can pay them the fees

class2ldn

Is this normal?
We understand they ask about the deposit for money laundering regs but I'm a bit peeved as to them asking for proof of our ability to pay them.
As it goes we are a bit short as paid out for some other bits and because we were told we didn't have to pay it all in one anyway.
We've been refusing to pay the search fees as we've been waiting for our mortgage offer which finally came today.
Just wondered if this is normal?

Jon_B_2

They obviously have very astute members of staff if they have been able to tell from your demeanour that you may not be able to actually pay them for the work.

With-holding search fees presumably "on account" have sent alarm bells ringing.

[Deleted User]

If you are struggling to pay solicitor fees, surprise costs, things that can easily occur.., maybe now is not the time to buy a house. Its always more expensive buying a house than you think initially.

Kynthia

Most people give the solicitor the search fees at the start of the process and they hold on to it until it's needed once the mortgage offer in. You've set some alarm bells ringing and they are reluctant to do your conveyancing without reassurance that you can pay them for it at the end. Unfortunately too many ftb overstretch themselves when buying.

AdrianC

class2ldn wrote: »

Is this normal?
We understand they ask about the deposit for money laundering regs but I'm a bit peeved as to them asking for proof of our ability to pay them.
As it goes we are a bit short as paid out for some other bits and because we were told we didn't have to pay it all in one anyway.
We've been refusing to pay the search fees as we've been waiting for our mortgage offer which finally came today.
Just wondered if this is normal?

So - even at a very early stage - you're behind on your solicitor's bill, which you're justifying with some unrelated spurious reason (if your mortgage is refused, you still have to pay for the searches), and you wonder why the solicitor is asking you for proof of ability to pay?

pinkshoes

You are buying a house, so need cash for the deposit, solicitor fees etc...

If you have refused to pay the search fees, then quite rightly they will have concerns about your finances, so they would wisely want evidence you can afford to pay them for the work they are doing.

What is the issue of showing them proof??

LandyAndy

pinkshoes wrote: »

You are buying a house, so need cash for the deposit, solicitor fees etc...

If you have refused to pay the search fees, then quite rightly they will have concerns about your finances, so they would wisely want evidence you can afford to pay them for the work they are doing.

What is the issue of showing them proof??

That they can't?

class2ldn

Well I say we can't but really we didn't want to have to have that much in there at once as it's easier if we spread the cost. We have the money available just not all in the account it will be coming from.I explained to them that we were waiting for our mortgage offer first as to not waste money if we were refused the mortgage but now we've been approved it's not an issue. I just wondered if this was normal practice but you may be right that because we haven't paid them yet they are a bit concerned even though I've explained why.

class2ldn

We are not behind on our solicitor fees as they haven't done anything yet which is why I'm not just going to pay out and lose it of the mortgage didn't come through. They employ a different firm to collect payment and when I explained we were still waiting he seemed fine with it but obviously hasn't passed on why we were waiting.

kinger101

class2ldn wrote: »

Well I say we can't but really we didn't want to have to have that much in there at once as it's easier if we spread the cost. We have the money available just not all in the account it will be coming from.I explained to them that we were waiting for our mortgage offer first as to not waste money if we were refused the mortgage but now we've been approved it's not an issue. I just wondered if this was normal practice but you may be right that because we haven't paid them yet they are a bit concerned even though I've explained why.

The short answer is you should have paid the upfront fees and then ask them to postpone searches until you received the mortgage offer. If you're buying a house, you should already have ALL the money you need for deposit and conveyancing costs already. There should be no need to "spread the cost".

AdrianC

class2ldn wrote: »

Well I say we can't but really we didn't want to have to have that much in there at once as it's easier if we spread the cost. We have the money available just not all in the account it will be coming from.I explained to them that we were waiting for our mortgage offer first as to not waste money if we were refused the mortgage but now we've been approved it's not an issue. I just wondered if this was normal practice but you may be right that because we haven't paid them yet they are a bit concerned even though I've explained why.

So, just to clarify, you CAN pay the bill, but you just don't want to pay it when it's due - you'd rather wait until it's more convenient for you?

Whether your mortgage was approved or not doesn't affect whether you owe the solicitor for the work they undertake in the interim.