How often is it reasonable to ask for updates from my conveyancer?

bekabyx

Hi all,

I'm a FTB who had an offer accepted on a house at the end of August and immediately instructed our solicitor. We've had our mortgage offer since the beginning of October but there's been a snag in the conveyancing process that our solicitor has been working through since the 9th of October. This issue concerns the city council.

So far, the only paperwork I've been sent is the fact finding about the source of funds (plus the money laundering checks) and how myself and my partner wish to split the property. This was returned when the mortgage offer came in and is all apparently satisfactory.

I've taken to emailing my solicitor weekly to ask how he's getting on as I've received almost no correspondence from him that wasn't instigated by me, aside from the correspondence I received when the council issue came to light.

I was wondering whether it's normal to hear almost nothing, and whether it's okay for me to send him a weekly email asking for an update?

I don't want to be pushy. I know that this final issue is in the hands of the local council and it's a bit of a waiting game, but just waiting around in silence is really difficult for me, particularly as I'm starting to be chased by the EA now 2 months into the transaction.

eidand

you should definitely get clear details of what's going on. Conveyancers can sometimes waste a lot of time waiting for something they already have or something that  would require a little push to proceed. Leave the niceties out and go ask what's going on. You are the one paying them after all.
You need to know at what stage you are and what is it they need to proceed. 

ss2020jd

I think in an ideal world this would be preferred but there has been widespread reporting about the delays to conveyancing, local authority searches, surveys etc. The EA should be well aware of this fact. 

Most conveyancers are overwhelmed with the extra work of the increase in pent up demand and are not able to take on new clients and are under extreme pressure to deal with what they already have. 

Whilst it’s good to know how things are progressing, I would say let them get on with what they need to do. Every time you need to contact them and they have to answer will be time taken away from work they need to do. 

Saying that, you should probably have heard a bit more than you have done, it sounds like. Have you had the fixtures and fittings list through, for example? I know the silence is hard but I would say weekly in this climate could be a bit optimistic. It could be the seller’s solicitor is dragging their heels too or is equally busy so everything is on a go slow. 

eve824

My EA sales progressor took on the role of chasing the whole chain + my solicitors on a weekly basis, and updating me. This was pre covid but the whole move was done in 8 weeks without any real pushing from my end (chain of 3)

bekabyx

ss2020jd said:

I think in an ideal world this would be preferred but there has been widespread reporting about the delays to conveyancing, local authority searches, surveys etc. The EA should be well aware of this fact. 

Most conveyancers are overwhelmed with the extra work of the increase in pent up demand and are not able to take on new clients and are under extreme pressure to deal with what they already have. 

Whilst it’s good to know how things are progressing, I would say let them get on with what they need to do. Every time you need to contact them and they have to answer will be time taken away from work they need to do. 

Saying that, you should probably have heard a bit more than you have done, it sounds like. Have you had the fixtures and fittings list through, for example? I know the silence is hard but I would say weekly in this climate could be a bit optimistic. It could be the seller’s solicitor is dragging their heels too or is equally busy so everything is on a go slow. 

I feel the same way, not wishing to use up their time by nagging them to give me updates and such. I know things are incredibly busy right now and that any time spent answering my emails is time not spent on their casework. I've not had F&F through which is something I was feeling a bit iffy about. The only things I've had through were the initial bits of paperwork that I wrote about in the OP. I was told a few weeks ago that when the issue they're currently dealing with is resolved they can look to send out draft contracts so I wonder if they're waiting to send everything through together.

eve824 said:

My EA sales progressor took on the role of chasing the whole chain + my solicitors on a weekly basis, and updating me. This was pre covid but the whole move was done in 8 weeks without any real pushing from my end (chain of 3)

I've been told by the EA (and my MB) that my solicitor isn't answering their emails, which is frustrating but I've stepped in where needed to keep the ball rolling. He is always responsive to me when I do contact him, but at the moment I just have no idea where things stand.

badger09

To be honest, I think messaging every week is too much. Every time they stop to read your email or answer the phone, means they're not working on your file, or on anyone else's. If they don't have anything to report, that is totally wasted time. I also avoid contacting ours on Fridays, which is often a completion day. 

Its really hard, but if I haven't had any update or requests for info etc from her, I've been waiting 2 weeks before I make contact. I've stablished a personal relationship with both our vendor & purchaser, which means we are all updating each other about milestones or delays, so far not been caused by our conveyancer. That communication has enabled us all to 'prod' if absolutely necessary. 

However, if your offer was accepted end of August and you haven't yet received Property Information Form, Fittings & Contents etc by now, I would be concerned. You say EA is chasing you - what has he said about his client's position? Have they found somewhere to move to?