Buyer's solicitor seems to be putting off exchange

SlopingBird

I feel your pain. We have ended up leaving our house empty in the UK because we thought we were in a short chain and our buyers' buyers were insistent that they wanted to complete on November 16 (they told our buyers they were in rented accommodation and had nothing to sell).

November 16 came and went with no house sale; however, a firm completion date was eventually agreed for the end of November. We made arrangements for a family member to drop off the keys to our buyers (who are only moving half a mile). He contacted me around 1pm on day of completion to say he'd heard nothing from our solicitor who had promised to contact him direct. I rang my solicitor and it seemed everything was on hold because our buyers' buyers had lied and did, in fact, have a property to sell, i.e. a leasehold flat.

Since then, we feel like we are involved in a game of smoke and mirrors. Several completion dates have been proposed but each one passes with no good news. I am in touch with our buyers and they are as frustrated as us. Their solicitor tells them nothing at all, mine is better but generally only responds when I contact her direct (nothing pro-active from them).

Our buyers' buyers lied at the outset (presumably to persuade our buyers to reduce the price with the promise of a quick sale ... which they did), carried on lying for two months and are still controlling everyone else's life. To be fair, my solicitor seemed genuinely shocked at the level of duplicity these people have exercised. The latest delay is over ground rent on the leasehold flat.

We have even considered putting our empty house back on the market (it's in a popular area and would sell quickly), but that would only hurt our buyers who are as angry and frustrated about the whole process as us (and love our house).

So yes, there has to be a better way of buying and selling property than the one currently operating in England and Wales. The current process rewards unscrupulous buyers and sellers.

lisyloo

What an excellent idea

Quite often it actually isn't and can be incredibly stressful.
People need to move time off work, removals etc.
If it doesn't happen on the day for some reason (and one solicitor being off sick could do it) then that all needs to be re-arranged which for some people who need to arrange child care or dependent care could be very difficult.
If it's delayed then it can be very stressful with everyone sat in removal vans waiting for a call.


In a perfect world yes.

molenpad

Just a quick update, we told our agent we weren't happy with being in the dark and that they needed to find out from the solicitors in the chain what was going on regarding Friday's supposed completion and why suddenly people aren't ready to exchange.

After a few phone calls, I received a call from own solicitor to say exchange could now take place. The reason for the exchange delay of the past few days remains unclear, but we're now moving on Friday, so I couldn't be happier at the moment!

I still do not know why it should be ok to take one awkward solicitor to cause so much confusion in a chain.

merlotsmum

In a similar boat, fed up of chasing my solicitor (I am the seller) and my EA , who I assume are fed up with me. I have not lost my rag along the way, have maintained a professional and pragmatic approach but now getting a bit fed up!

Buyers solicitor is just not responding to exchange/completion date. It was supposed to be 21st Dec 2018, we were ready to go then suddenly nothing. The buyers are cash buyers and wanted to exchange before Christmas. We are all chain free.

I have such a broad range of "stories" from the buyers solicitor, one story told to my solicitor and another different one to my EA of what is the status. My trust has totally gone.

I was told I would get a date by close of play Friday 4th Jan for completion this week, heard diddly squat!

I have chased my solicitor & EA again this week - still waiting for response.

Not sure if any advice from anyone of anything else I can do, at a total loss Do I go an camp in someone's office until a resolution has happened?

PS Great news on your update

EDIT: I am smiling as out of the blue I got a call to say the buyers are transferring funds today/tomorrow, as soon as the £££ hit the solicitor we then complete the next day, hoping latest end of next week. Think this is the magic thread to get stuff done Crossing fingers & toes