Problems with a solicitor

Locornwall

I am currently going through with a house purchase.

I started the process with a solicitor 03/08/2019 to buy a new build property. We wanted to complete by 3rd September, however due to paperwork not being ready we had to postpone this to 23rd September. We were supposed to exchange 13th, the solicitor told me the last part was the local search, which according to their system was applied for 10th August. We received confirmation from the solicitor they finally had this 11th September. We left it with her, however received no update therefore emailed the following day, Thursday 12th to find out what was going on. We didn’t receive a reply and therefore I called on Friday to check we were exchanging. I was told the solicitor had been off sick and nobody had picked up the file. I have now been given a list of other things, which are now outstanding. These should and could have been completed weeks ago.

Any advice. I intend on making a formal complaint, however I’m not sure this will go far. I have had their issues with them.

G_M

1)

3/8/19 to 14/9/19 is really not long at all.

2)

We wanted to complete by 3rd September, however due to paperwork not being ready we had to postpone this to 23rd September. We were supposed to exchange 13th,

What you 'want' and what actually happens is always two different things.

You cannot set a Completion date until the date you Exchange.
You cannot set an Exchange date until all processes are compleed, not just for you but for everyone in the chain.

You have no grounds for complaint.
Be patient

Thrugelmir

Locornwall wrote: »

I started the process with a solicitor 03/08/2019 to buy a new build property. We wanted to complete by 3rd September,

Did you ever consider that this timescale was improbable to achieve?

I have now been given a list of other things, which are now outstanding. These should and could have been completed weeks ago.

Are you in the conveyancing profession yourself?

davidmcn

Locornwall wrote: »

We were supposed to exchange 13th

Was there any particular importance about exchanging on this date?

I was told the solicitor had been off sick and nobody had picked up the file

These things happen. Colleagues will presumably have prioritised what had to be done in their absence - which on a Thursday/Friday are likely to be getting completions over the line for those already in removal vans.

I have now been given a list of other things, which are now outstanding

And what are they?

Locornwall

Yes, we were supposed to exchange as it is a new build and developers insist on this, which I understand is normally 28 days after reservation. Not guaranteed of course, but it’s something solicitors should try and work towards instead of sitting on files.

Please read my post. I stated the things could and should have been done earlier. These were the proof of source of deposit and ID check. Both of these they stated on their online tracker had been accepted 6/08/2019. Now they tell me I need to expand on the source and my ID needs sorting out as I don normally use my middle name. They also told me the last part was the local search, obviously not. By the way they stated on their online tracker the local search had been applied for 10/08/2019 and was only returned this week. Utter cowboys. They are stating one thing and then changing their mind last minute. Please don’t insult my intelligence and tell me to be patient. It’s a service I am paying for and some honesty alone would be appreciated. Do you work in the legal profession? Of course I know I cannot complete until I exchange.


Regarding the comment and people being off sick and prioritising this. It wasn’t until I rung them and asked to speak to an associate director they realised this, otherwise nothing would have been done. Then, another solicitor replied last thing on Friday with these extra tasks that now need doing. They have been aware I need to exchange for some time, approximately 3-4 weeks. I have given them more time to do this, but they are dragging their heels.

csgohan4

was the solicitor recommended by the builders/ Estate agent??


If they were bad choice.


My time from offer to completion took about 12 weeks for an old house with minimal queries and no chain. 1 month to exchange/ Complete is unreasonable expectations

haras_nosirrah

It is possible that your solicitor had signed off your id and deposit but in asking another solicitor to review the file the new solicitor has decided what you have provided wasn't good enough

Locornwall

No, recommended by a mortgage broker, who I’ve known for some time. Needless to say I won’t be using either next time.

I never expected everything to be done in 28 days but it’s dragging on now, and fundamentally unnecessarily due to things being brought up that should have been dealt with some time ago. People go sick for whatever reason, but for a file to be left until I question it several days later, that’s just not good enough regardless of what people say on this forum.

Locornwall

Thanks haras_nosirrah

Exactly what I was thinking.

haras_nosirrah

Why are you saying you won't use the broker again. Did you get your offer in plenty of time? They can't be held accountable for the solicitor. Maybe up to now the solicitor has given them no issues.

People make mistakes and while having things done slightly outside of your very very tight timescale is frustrating for you there has been no loss to you. The builder hasn't withdrawn the property from you.

Getting anything across the line under 6 weeks is very tight mainly because of the local authority search

Locornwall

I am sorry but what you have said shows you are looking at house buying from one side.

I need to book removals, sort out utilities, tradesmen to do work, book temporary interim accommodation, most of my belongings are in storage, which I appreciate is my decision, however some rough timescale would have been nice, I have children who are in school now, I have work commitments (I booked 5 days annual leave as the solicitor told me they were aiming for this date), I have lost money not working overtime during this time.

I know people generally say house buying is a long process, however it’s a new build and the solicitor dealing with it apparently specialises in new builds. I think you are making too many excuses for her and PLS Solicitors. I am interested also to get the local search in my hands so that I can see when the application was made.