Question from buyer's solicitor

Mutton_Geoff

I recently sold a house for two and a half times what I paid for it 4 years earlier. Nobody, not even the buyer, asked how I arrived at the figure. I bought cheaply, renovated to a high standard and sold into a prime market.

septictank

Thanks for that. I've just checked and I'm covered for up to 60 days. I will be returning for a few days within that so I won't fall foul of the policy. Thanks again.

D_M_E

OP says he is doing the conveyancing himself - this could well be the problem.

Worth paying a solicitor for this, life would be a lot easier and the cost is not that much in comparison to the price of the property.

septictank

Why? There is no legal difficulty or problem with the sale. I merely asked if these questions were unusual as I have not come across them before. I would still have had to answer them whether I had a solicitor or not. However should this not be the case then the codes are quite clear. 11.7 of the SRA Code of Conduct 2011 which says 'taking unfair advantage of an opposing party's lack of legal knowledge where they have not instructed a lawyer'

davidmcn

septictank wrote: »

I would still have had to answer them whether I had a solicitor or not.

Probably, though the buyer's solicitor may be more cautious given you're not represented.

11.7 of the SRA Code of Conduct 2011 which says 'taking unfair advantage of an opposing party's lack of legal knowledge where they have not instructed a lawyer'

The questions are nothing to do with your legal knowledge, but they are exposing your lack of experience in dealing with such enquiries. It doesn't really matter whether the questions are "usual" or not.

septictank

Granted. I understand the caution as I'm not represented. I am not inexperienced in dealing with such questions, please don't assume this is my first diy conveyance.
I was asking if anyone else has experienced such questions. I was not asking for help in resolving them. They are not problems and are easily answered. However to ask for land registry documentation for a totally unconnected house does seem odd. Has anyone else experienced a solicitor asking to see documentation for other houses they may own when they are totally nothing to do with the sale. I am not asking how they dealt with it, just if it becoming common.

Owain_Moneysaver

Doing your own conveyancing is unusual. The other party's solicitor will, legitimately, be wondering if you are doing this because you would fail a solicitor's money laundering and know your client checks.

septictank

I take on board the interesting points people have made but as yet no one has yet said that they have been asked the same question about another house not related. So I would say not.
For such a simple matter as selling a freehold, mortgage free house with no complications.
I am surprised you believe it unusual. Uncommon maybe but not unusual.
Anyway £500 to £800 solicitor v £5.00 ID1 check, a few forms and a bit of postage.
No extra time other than chatting on here, than I would have had to spend sending the same forms and answering the same (mostly) questions through a third party rather than direct.