Solicitor's office closed due to positive Covid result

youth_leader

Hello everyone, I am now six weeks into my purchase.   As I am in rented and have to give two month's notice,  I requested an update from my solicitor a fortnight ago.  He said he is still awaiting the contracts.   I bought a book on house buying on greatcrested's recommendation and see that the 'contract bundle' should be received early in the process as it can trigger lots of enquiries.
I asked my EA to investigate on 20 November, and she phoned me back this morning.  Apparently the vendor hand delivered her documentation to the solicitor's office five weeks ago, and was very surprised to hear it hasn't been actioned.  She rang her solicitor's office and has been told someone in the office tested positive for Covid and the office has been closed down.  She has to phone back on Monday and will then hopefully be able to update my EA.  I'm glad I did ask for an update but a bit shocked to hear they are poorly, I sincerely hope the person or persons make a full recovery. 

dimbo61

With delays all along the chain this could take some time 

GDB2222

People do get very ill from COVID, and some are off work for months. Besides that, if the solicitor is running at least 5 weeks behind, is he ever going to catch up?  Do you have to buy this particular property? Does your vendor have to use this particular solicitor?

Thrugelmir

Is your vendor purchasing another property? If so how far advanced is it.  

lika_86

The office might have closed but I'd have thought that they can all work from home, mine were. Also a week for the estate agent to get back to you is ridiculous. It sounds a bit like they're trying to deal to my mind. Do they have an onward purchase that they're having issues with?

youth_leader

Thank you for all your replies, I do feel a bit fed up about it but feel lucky I have my health, I am very sorry for the staff who have the virus.  I do wonder how long I'd have waited if I hadn't chased this up, I'm surprised the vendor wasn't informed.  At least I am in a nice warm rental and not in the freezing station this winter.  I'll just have to wait to see what is happening when the vendor manages to speak to someone 'in the know'., and see if she does move solicitor.  I don't know whether she has found anywhere to buy - when I met her at the viewing she said she was moving to Scotland to be near her elderly parents.  The part of Scotland she is moving to is Tier 4, I don't know if she'll be allowed over the border to view.  

AskAsk

solicitors are all working from home now, so i don't see the relevance of the office being closed down.  people in isolation can still work or am I wrong?

if they were closed, they should have informed all their clients that the practice is no longer working, but i suspect they are all working from home, or they should do!

youth_leader

We crossed posts lika_86 - what you do mean 'trying to deal'?  I only know that the vendor hopes to buy in Scotland (we are in the UK), and is working out her notice at her job.

ss2020jd

Sorry to hear that. In an ideal world the vendor should have been notified, especially if her visit to the office was recent and could mean she could be at risk. Does the solicitor’s firm have a website where you can perhaps see updates? I take it the searches have not yet been returned. I have been reading about the ongoing delays and backlogs with solicitors, mortgage lenders, surveyors and local authorities, with some searches taking at least two months to return so I would expect delays as the norm. I know some people have had experiences of everything going through within six weeks but that is not usually the norm, and certainly not during this pandemic.

There have been suggestions of a COVID clause to protect everyone in the transaction. 

There is some useful information here about the guidelines and possible impact of coronavirus:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

I hope the person concerned recovers soon and things start moving along again.

Thrugelmir

youth_leader said:

I don't know whether she has found anywhere to buy - when I met her at the viewing she said she was moving to Scotland to be near her elderly parents.  The part of Scotland she is moving to is Tier 4, I don't know if she'll be allowed over the border to view.  

Then your vendor will be in no hurry to commence legal work on the sale. Transactions will only proceed as fast as the slowest party in the chain. 

hazyjo

We had 2 positive tests at work, but was just before we were wfh so we just all just started earlier than planned.

Not all solicitors are wfh AskAsk. There have been a dozen or so going into work still at my place (despite 2 testing positive. Only those in direct contact weren't allowed in). Other firms are still entirely office-based.