When to pay solicitor

chutney51

Hi all,
We are currently buying a new build house and the solicitor is asking for his fee to be paid in full before exchange.

I have never paid until completion before (a number of purchases over about 30 years) and there was nothing stating this in the initial letter they sent.
I have already paid £250 towards searches, etc. It seems odd to be paying his fee at this stage.

Does anybody know if there are guidelines on this somewhere?

Thanks.

Dolly123

Say no and go with someone else, never heard of this before you normally get the fees added to your completion statement

davidmcn

Paying at completion would be the norm, but how long until then?

chutney51

The problem is I have already paid £250 for searches and preliminary work. Completion is due for October.

diggingdude

Ask if they are having financial difficulties and will they still be operating at completion.

hazyjo

Guessing you have gone with the developer's choice of solicitor which is never advised!


Did they post or email you any documentation stating this fact before you instructed them?

chutney51

Yes, I used the developers suggested solicitor (live and learn - never done it before).

They posted a letter saying what the fees are but nothing to do with paying in advance.
I assumed it would be on completion as every other purchase has been done like that.

hazyjo

chutney51 wrote: »

Yes, I used the developers suggested solicitor (live and learn - never done it before).

They posted a letter saying what the fees are but nothing to do with paying in advance.
I assumed it would be on completion as every other purchase has been done like that.

Not even anything in the smallprint (or even 'tiny'print!)? A contract? Positive?


I suppose all you can do is query it, or at least ask where it stated you'd have to pay at exchange.

chutney51

Not even anything in the smallprint (or even 'tiny'print!)? A contract? Positive?


I suppose all you can do is query it, or at least ask where it stated you'd have to pay at exchange.

Nothing in the small print at all. Three people have checked it now to see if I had missed it.
And they are not asking for it at exchange but before. The more I search this on the internet it seems after completion is the norm.

hazyjo

chutney51 wrote: »

And they are not asking for it at exchange but before. The more I search this on the internet it seems after completion is the norm.

Bloody hell, that's even worse. When you said 'before exchange', I just presumed you meant that day or something to be with them for exchange.


Sod that. Never heard of that before. What about the stamp duty (presuming it's due)?

chutney51

They are not asking for stamp duty yet. Thats normally at completion I think.
They haven't responded to my last email so I'm still unsure what to do.

Very annoying, but I'm already £250 and 3 weeks into this so will probably have to cough up.
It just feels wrong and an abuse of their position.