Land Registry restriction holding up sale

iampetesmith

We're FTB and had the offer accepted on the house we've bought on the 14th of June, and it seems like just as we're ready to exchange there's another hold up. First it was estimated to be the end of September, then the end of October and it's now November and still no end in sight. Our chain is just us, our vendor, his vendor and the one at the end, which is the empty one that's causing the problems.

The first set of hold ups was the usual standard stuff (searches, solicitors enquiries etc.), then there was big hold up waiting for our last enquiry to be answered. This was because our vendor's solicitors either sat on it or didn't pass on the right info about what needed to be answered, so the vendor thought it was answered when it wasn't. I ended up sending the estate agent a bullet pointed list of what to answer to pass on, then it got answered a few days later.

Anyway, after all that we finally thought it was coming to an end. Then we found out there is a restriction on the property at the top of the chain which needs someone's name taking off the deed, and were told that it's quite a simple thing and should take 1 - 2 weeks. This was nearly 4 weeks ago and we're still waiting to hear about it.

Now the whole process is at a standstill, everyone's gone quiet and every time I chase either our solicitor or estate agent I get told the same thing - it's with the Land Registry and is "being done now".

Are these restrictions supposed to only take 1 - 2 weeks, or can it be longer? I get the impression that either someone is holding the process up, or someone's forgotten something and it was only submitted to the Land Registry this week rather than 4 weeks ago.

It's getting to the point now where we're thinking of looking at other houses and pulling out when we find another one we like just as much. I've told the estate agent this (we have found a couple on Zoopla we want to look at, so it's not an empty threat) and they sounded worried and gave me the line about it being with the Land Registry again and that's the only thing we're waiting for.

Does anyone know a realistic amount of time that this takes? Is it weeks, or could it be months?

We've forgotten about the house now and detached ourselves from it, so it will be easier to let it go and find another if we have to. We'll have to start the process again though, but as this one has ground to a halt it feels like we might have to start again anyway.

SusieT

There is probably a backlog with the land registry, I heard from a friend that it took a few (4-5 I think) weeks longer than anticipated to get something done so you may find that its just a holdup thats out of anyones hands. If it were me I would sit tight and be patient for a while longer.

G_M

Depends who is involved in getting the name removed, and whether they consent/sign straigth away, or are away/on holiday, or just don't want to do it.

iampetesmith

Thanks, it sounds like those are a couple of possibilities. We won't be pulling out straight away, as first we'll need to find a new place that ticks all the boxes, put the offer in then get it accepted before we pull out so they have a few more weeks left to sort it.

The thing is, mortgage offers don't last forever and even though ours doesn't expire until January, I think the vendor got his mortgage before we did so his will run out sooner.

It just feels like the whole thing will fall through right at the end when everyone is ready to exchange, all because of some delay with the Land Registry.

It seems like we can either wait it out until the chain collapses, or we can get another house that we want and start again.

SusieT

iampetesmith wrote: »

The thing is, mortgage offers don't last forever and even though ours doesn't expire until January, I think the vendor got his mortgage before we did so his will run out sooner.

If you are close to exchange most mortgage offers can be extended to cover a delay so I would doubt that will be a problem.

iampetesmith

Thanks SusieT, that's useful to know as part of the reason I'd pull out would be if I thought the sale was about to fall through anyway, so if this isn't a problem then I'd be more prepared to wait. I'm just wondering if the Land Registry really is the only thing holding it up, or if someone's not telling me something and there's another issue somewhere.

Slithery

If there is an impending sale of the property involved then usually the solicitors submitting the paperwork to the LR can ask for it to be expedited and jump to the front of the queue (although not shorten the actual processing timescales). Has this happened in your case?

If you're unsure then try posting on the Land Registry thread with the title number and they should be able to update you.

iampetesmith

I'm not sure if this has happened, the property with the Land Registry issue is at the top of the chain and we're at the bottom so we can't really see it. I'm just going on what I've been told by the estate agents and solicitors, the estate agent have said it's just this restriction holding it up.

I was told a different story by our solicitors who said that our vendor's solicitors told them they're waiting for enquiries from the ones above them. This is why I get the impression that all is not well.

Our vendor's solicitors aren't the best though, the estate agent has said everyone in the chain is complaining about them as they're slow and don't know what they're doing, which is why I'm struggling to see an end to it and am seriously thinking about pulling out and going for another house.

I can't chase the Land Registry myself as it's not my transaction so I don't have any title numbers.

Slithery

iampetesmith wrote: »

I can't chase the Land Registry myself as it's not my transaction so I don't have any title numbers.

If you know the address then you can look up the title number on the LR website.

pinkteapot

Tell the EA you’re now viewing other properties and ask if your vendor would consider breaking the chain and completing with you (they would have to move into temp accommodation). Worth a try - depends how easily they think they’ll get another buyer.

iampetesmith

pinkteapot wrote: »

Tell the EA you’re now viewing other properties and ask if your vendor would consider breaking the chain and completing with you (they would have to move into temp accommodation). Worth a try - depends how easily they think they’ll get another buyer.

I'll do this tomorrow because we really are getting fed up with it, we were told September, then October and still nothing. I've been more than patient with them, but my patience has run out now and we've seen a couple we like without a chain.

Tomorrow they'll be told that if it's not sorted by next week, we'll be viewing other houses and if we get an offer accepted on somewhere else then the deal's off.