Leasehold sale solicitor money retention

teessidelass

I sold a leasehold apartment in December 2014. A part of the agreement of the sale was that my solicitor would retain £500 in case there was any outstanding money I owed on the ground rent etc. I was told I would get this back once the end of year accounts had been received which should have been around June time. I have emailed my solicitors and received no reply. I have also phoned them and they say they will email me back but haven't.

So today I phoned the management company in charge of the apartment block today who say they have already sent out the end of year accounts to my solicitor in June and that there was a credit on the account also. How can I go about getting this money back if my solicitor doesn't answer my emails or do anything when I phone? Does anyone else have any experience of this?

Thanks!

Guest101

Same way you do when someone owes you money, you go to court.


However, have you popped in to their offices and spoken to someone face to face?

teessidelass

No, I've just phoned and emailed them. They have a very poor track record in my experience at replying to queries. At least I know not to use them again!

Guest101

teessidelass wrote: »

No, I've just phoned and emailed them. They have a very poor track record in my experience at replying to queries. At least I know not to use them again!

Time for a letter before action:


Dear Sir/Madam/<name>,


You currently hold £x in my name to honour any outstanding ground rents / maintenance fees/ whatever for which I am liable in relation to 14 A Road.


The accounts have since been finalised and my liability has ended, please return the amount with-in 10 days. Please note that there will be no further requests for payments and if the amount remains outstanding I will seek recovery via other legal routes.


Kind regards,

libf

Ask for a copy of their complaints procedure, and send a letter of complaint. If they don't satisfy that complaint within 8 weeks or fail to respond within that time then you can ask the legal ombudsman to look into the problem.

Guest101

libf wrote: »

Ask for a copy of their complaints procedure, and send a letter of complaint. If they don't satisfy that complaint within 8 weeks or fail to respond within that time then you can ask the legal ombudsman to look into the problem.

MCOL would be quicker

davidmcn

Guest101 wrote: »

MCOL would be quicker

You need at the very least a letter before action though, it's not clear that the OP has actually demanded their money back.

Guest101

davidmcn wrote: »

You need at the very least a letter before action though, it's not clear that the OP has actually demanded their money back.

See post #4

teessidelass

What do you mean by OP? I will definitely try writing a formal letter next, thank you everyone for your replies.

Guest101

teessidelass wrote: »

What do you mean by OP? I will definitely try writing a formal letter next, thank you everyone for your replies.

OP - Original Poster i.e. you

teessidelass

Ahhhhh!!! Sorry. No I wouldn't say I have 'demanded' the money back, I have just emailed and phoned to enquire what is happening with it.

I have just received an email from the management company and they are going to send me a cheque directly for the credit on the account. So now there's just the money the solicitors have that I am waiting for. It's just annoying that they have had my money sat in their coffers for 4 months when they have been informed I can have it back!

Thanks again everyone