Seller solicitor taking too long to respond

dipesh010

Hello,
The seller solicitor is taking too long to respond to queries. First of all he sent half of the property paperwork and my solicitor took too long to check the paperwork so i've complain and my file got pushed forward. 
My solicitor requested remaining paperwork to be sent over and raised preliminary enquires on whatever paperwork she had.
Seller solicitor already took 3weeks and he has not come back (apparently his been away for a while). I've spoke to the estate agent who is saying his chasing the lawyer and speaking to the seller but not sure if thats even true. Seller is trying to call him but not sure what is happening exactly as estate agent email does not say much. Weeks are passing by and we are not moving forward. Its been month and a half since my mortgage offer came by and we have not done the basics which is for my solicitor to have full property paperwork to make enquiries.

As a buyer I dont know what can I do to move this process forward as my solicitor talks directly to the seller solicitor and estate agent talks directly to lawyers. I have no visibility and I am not sure if seller have the visibility too
Hope someone can help here ?

Also once my search results comes through does my lawyer informs me or i need to chase? 

dipesh010

I forgot to also mention the seller solicitor is a partner so he should know most of this stuff inside. Not sure how his being negligent at basics  

greatcrested

You have two choices:

1) be patient. Accept that property purchases always take longer than seems necessary and longer than you want

2) start looking for a new property

Thrugelmir

What position is your vendor in, i.e. the chain above?  Not just about you and them. 

dipesh010

greatcrested said:

You have two choices:

1) be patient. Accept that property purchases always take longer than seems necessary and longer than you want

2) start looking for a new property

I am concern that the seller might pull out and want to put this house on market again. If I engage with the seller solicitor is thats okay? I cant go with 2nd option I already spent money paying my lawyer and wasted my time here. If things dont go according to the plan then can i claim back my money for searches, lawyer and my time as its lawyers fault not my

dipesh010

Thrugelmir said:

What position is your vendor in, i.e. the chain above?  Not just about you and them. 

Sorry i forgot to mention there is no chain, property has been empty for months and I am happy to move quickly as possible 

greatcrested

dipesh010 said:

greatcrested said:

You have two choices:

1) be patient. Accept that property purchases always take longer than seems necessary and longer than you want

2) start looking for a new property

I am concern that the seller might pull out and want to put this house on market again.

That's always a possibility whatever speed the process goes at

If I engage with the seller solicitor is thats okay?

No. You are not his client. He will not respond to you.

I cant go with 2nd option I already spent money paying my lawyer and wasted my time here.

Then that leaves option 1

If things dont go according to the plan then can i claim back my money for searches, lawyer and my time as its lawyers fault not my

No. Until Exchange of Contracts there is no contract so neither side can claim anything from the other. That's the whole point of Exchanging the Contract.

davidmcn

It's not clear exactly what "paperwork" you're talking about (and maybe you don't know), but bear in mind that the sellers' solicitor isn't necessarily going to have instant access to everything your solicitor wants to see - if they need to order copies from other parties, that takes time, and nobody is working any faster than normal at the moment.

dipesh010

greatcrested said:

dipesh010 said:

greatcrested said:

You have two choices:

1) be patient. Accept that property purchases always take longer than seems necessary and longer than you want

2) start looking for a new property

I am concern that the seller might pull out and want to put this house on market again.

That's always a possibility whatever speed the process goes at

If I engage with the seller solicitor is thats okay?

No. You are not his client. He will not respond to you.

I cant go with 2nd option I already spent money paying my lawyer and wasted my time here.

Then that leaves option 1

If things dont go according to the plan then can i claim back my money for searches, lawyer and my time as its lawyers fault not my

No. Until Exchange of Contracts there is no contract so neither side can claim anything from the other. That's the whole point of Exchanging the Contract.

If seller pulls our or layer is taking long time hence seller pulled out then why should I be penalized? I should get my money back? what if i have not paid my lawyer and before the contract exchange the seller pulls out do i still pay my lawyer? 

No. You are not his client. He will not respond to you.

You are correct but my lawyer cannot move forward because his being negligent. He responds to estate agent who is not his client so he should be able to respond to a buyer too if I cc my lawyer to as they usually talk?  

davidmcn

dipesh010 said:

greatcrested said:

dipesh010 said:

greatcrested said:

You have two choices:

1) be patient. Accept that property purchases always take longer than seems necessary and longer than you want

2) start looking for a new property

I am concern that the seller might pull out and want to put this house on market again.

That's always a possibility whatever speed the process goes at

If I engage with the seller solicitor is thats okay?

No. You are not his client. He will not respond to you.

I cant go with 2nd option I already spent money paying my lawyer and wasted my time here.

Then that leaves option 1

If things dont go according to the plan then can i claim back my money for searches, lawyer and my time as its lawyers fault not my

No. Until Exchange of Contracts there is no contract so neither side can claim anything from the other. That's the whole point of Exchanging the Contract.

No. You are not his client. He will not respond to you.

You are correct but my lawyer cannot move forward because his being negligent. He responds to estate agent who is not his client so he should be able to respond to a buyer too if I cc my lawyer to as they usually talk?  

No, solicitors are not allowed to talk directly to other solicitors' clients. The estate agent is not another solicitors' client, they're another professional engaged by the seller.

Slithery

dipesh010 said:

greatcrested said:

dipesh010 said:

greatcrested said:

You have two choices:

1) be patient. Accept that property purchases always take longer than seems necessary and longer than you want

2) start looking for a new property

I am concern that the seller might pull out and want to put this house on market again.

That's always a possibility whatever speed the process goes at

If I engage with the seller solicitor is thats okay?

No. You are not his client. He will not respond to you.

I cant go with 2nd option I already spent money paying my lawyer and wasted my time here.

Then that leaves option 1

If things dont go according to the plan then can i claim back my money for searches, lawyer and my time as its lawyers fault not my

No. Until Exchange of Contracts there is no contract so neither side can claim anything from the other. That's the whole point of Exchanging the Contract.

I should get my money back? what if i have not paid my lawyer and before the contract exchange the seller pulls out do i still pay my lawyer? 

You won't get your money back. Yes, you do still have to pay your solicitor.