Can I do anything about vendors' solicitor not replying?

Jd843

GDB2222 said:

My own experience is that everybody blames the solicitor, but it is never the solicitor at all. The vendor is probably stalling because they are simply not ready to proceed. That may be cold feet, or their purchase may be falling through or being delayed. On one occasion, the sellers got a better offer and sold to them, whilst keeping me in reserve.

Of course, with Covid and solicitors working from home, it's possible that the solicitor genuinely isn't coping ... 

At the very least, you should be looking at every suitable property that you can. It sends a strong signal to the EA, and it means that at least you know that the property is worth waiting for. Or, you'll find another place equally good.

Well, their solicitor's own secretary said that the responses were "in hand" and that she would chase them to get back to our solicitor.  And the EA told me that the vendors responded to their solicitor's queries Tuesday last week (24th).  So it seems in this case it is the solicitor, by their secretary's own admission.

The EA said that the solicitor is slammed because of Covid/stamp-duty holiday etc.  I am sure that is true, but as I said in earlier posts, this doesn't explain why they can't just be honest and say they'll get back to our solicitor as soon as they can, but can't say when that will be, instead of say "by the end of the day" and not doing it. 

GDB2222

I must admit that all my experience is pre-Covid. I think that I'd still look round at other properties.

Tiglet2

Jd843 said:

GDB2222 said:

My own experience is that everybody blames the solicitor, but it is never the solicitor at all. The vendor is probably stalling because they are simply not ready to proceed. That may be cold feet, or their purchase may be falling through or being delayed. On one occasion, the sellers got a better offer and sold to them, whilst keeping me in reserve.

Of course, with Covid and solicitors working from home, it's possible that the solicitor genuinely isn't coping ... 

At the very least, you should be looking at every suitable property that you can. It sends a strong signal to the EA, and it means that at least you know that the property is worth waiting for. Or, you'll find another place equally good.

Well, their solicitor's own secretary said that the responses were "in hand" and that she would chase them to get back to our solicitor.  And the EA told me that the vendors responded to their solicitor's queries Tuesday last week (24th).  So it seems in this case it is the solicitor, by their secretary's own admission.

The EA said that the solicitor is slammed because of Covid/stamp-duty holiday etc.  I am sure that is true, but as I said in earlier posts, this doesn't explain why they can't just be honest and say they'll get back to our solicitor as soon as they can, but can't say when that will be, instead of say "by the end of the day" and not doing it. 

Perhaps some of the enquiries were sent to third parties, along with the ones sent to the vendor.  The solicitor may well be waiting for some of the other responses to come in before responding to your solicitor, rather than send it piecemeal.  

amandacat

Sometimes it all seems to happen at once. I’m selling and my solicitor sent the draft contract and property info form to buyers solicitor. It went on for weeks without me hearing a word and I worried the buyers would be pulling out. Then all of a sudden like buses, loads of documents and queries came at once. Some of the pre contract queries from the buyers solicitor were complex and some require my solicitor to gain documents mentioned on the land title from years ago which will take time so it might now look like pre contract enquires aren’t being answered promptly as it will take my solicitor time to get the answers. I know my buyer is getting anxious (polite way of putting it) and has threatened to pull out if we don’t complete by end of March. It seems they think we’re digging our heels but in truth we want to be out in Jan/Feb as my new job starts in that area. But we’ve been worried the whole time they’re not committed.
I’m giving this background really to explain that we make assumptions sometimes about the other party not being committed when it isn’t always the case. I think what’s lacking in your situation is transparency from the seller’s solicitor about exactly what they’re doing and why there’s a delay in responding,