How to chivvy things along solicitor wise?

alchemist.1

Or you just tell them that you can't speak to them and to contact their solicitor. Ends the conversation within a minute.

ReadingTim

You can't chivvy the seller's solicitor along as you're not the client - the seller is, and his solicitor answers to him and him alone, as he's the one paying their bills.

Therefore you need to chivvy the seller, either directly or via his agent, the Estate Agent. However, other than chivvy, chase, discuss etc, you have no way of forcing them to do something without some sort of leverage, which is the threat of pulling out. However, like the boy who cried wolf, you can only do this so many times before the threat becomes meaningless; unless of course you are willing to pull out, which it sounds like you're not.

Furthermore, your idea of moving things along might be someone else's idea of nagging. Some people might respond to this positively, and do what you ask to get you off their back. Others, especially those who don't work for you may not take kindly to such "pestering" (your words) and begin to start actively ignoring you, and prioritising others ahead of you.

Finally, the process has only taken a couple of months thus far, which isn't that long. 3 months seems to be the average length of time when there aren't any issues on either side, so I think your timescales (or those suggested by the vendors are a little ambitious and you need to manage your expectations somewhat. I'd be jumpy after month 5, not month 2, and booking leave before it was confirmed when you'd be getting the keys is your error, not that of the vendor's solicitor.

Sorry if this isn't what you want to hear.

laneycakes

Not at all readingtim-that's fine. My biggest issue is that the deadline was given to us by the vendors - so for their solicitor not to respond at all in 6 weeks is, in my opinion, taking the mick. If they hadn't requested we rush things along by giving this deadline I would be a lot more relaxed, but they did, and now they are the ones holding things up.

Our solicitor is also questioning what his problem is, so it's not just me being in a terrible hurry or anything. In fact the first house I bought took from offer in July to completion in Dec so am perfectly aware these things can take time!

In terms of booking leave -sadly we don't have a choice. My other half works for the NHS and has to book leave 8 weeks in advance. As it was we deliberately booked the leave for three weeks after the deadline in case of delay. But it seems the delay is now looking open ended.

Thanks all for the advice. I shall pester the EA again tomorrow. We really don't want to pull out but as we've paid £1500 for mortgage fees and that only stands for 6 months we will have to start rightmove searching again for an alternative.

Wouldn't be so bad if he actually gave a reason for not responding. Hey ho.