Managing agency stalling sale

tiny_jackal

Hi,
I am currently in the process of buying a small flat in London. The conveyancing process started about three months ago. The mortgage is arranged, surveys done; the vendor's solicitor has agreed to some small rebate to compensate for a failed search, everything is sorted and agreed, except...
... that the managing agency was supposed to supply a list of renovations to be done, last January. It hasn't done that so far, and my solicitor wants the details before proceeding to exchange. The enquiry has been raised two months ago, it has been acknowledged only two weeks ago and obviously there's no trace of an answer yet. The vendor's solicitor is constantly chased by the estate agent and my own solicitor, and they seem pretty responsive anyway -- the stall seems entirely due to the managing agency, and due to the breadth of the answer needed, I fear it might take longer still.

I am really growing impatient, and every month is a month where I am still paying a rent and have stuff upheld by waiting to move in. Is there anything that can be done to speed up things? Also, am I buying myself a problem by buying a flat managed by someone so unresponsive, or is that alas normal and to be expected?

m0bov

Can you speak directly with the vendor? Or at least the EA and tell them you are unable to proceed until you get the answers.

Might also be worth looking around at other properties whilst you wait.

tiny_jackal

The estate agent is well aware and sympathetic to the issue. It's just the managing agent, the only party who hasn't got skin in the game, so to speak, that it's taking its time; I have no criticism to raise against any other party involved. Even the vendor has been reasonably responsive so far, all considered.

The reviews of the managing agency on the web are appalling, by the way. I emailed them direct two weeks ago and obviously didn't get an answer.

I am tempted to restart house-hunting but that property is such a good compromise between what I want and what I can afford, that I'd be gutted if I couldn't buy it...

Jox

The managing agent was the bane of my life too when I was trying to sell my flat, I had to pay £300 for a pack and they would drag their feet liaising with the solicitors so I had to make multiple calls to them but I did sell my flat in the end! Could you try to call them yourself directly and say that you would appreciate their speedy response?

tiny_jackal

Yes, I shall call them -- unlikely to produce results, but what I've got to lose...

m0bov

Its really down to the vendor, they are the leaseholder.

tiny_jackal

I am not sure what they could do, apart from chasing?

Slithery

Yep, that's all they can do. But they are the only people who can do it as no-one else has a contract with the freeholder.

tiny_jackal

As a side note, I wonder what contractual power they have towards the managing agent (interested question, as such contractual power or lack thereof will be transfered to me afterwards...).

NeilCr

Who is the freeholder?

The residents don't own the freehold do they?. If they do, they employ the managing agent so may be able to put some pressure on.

tiny_jackal

It's a share-of-freehold situation. It's a flat, so I guess that the managing agent can be changed if everyone in the estate agrees they are delinquent, but my vendor probably has limited individual power, as the others have as well on their own.