Problems with Seller's Solicitor

dpj2006

We are in the process of buying our first house, and our seller's solicitor is being a nightmare, so just want a bit of advice as our solicitor seems a bit reluctant to keep pushing them. Our offer on the house was accepted on 8th February, and we were assured that the sellers wanted to move fairly quickly due to personal circumstances, and we told to expect it to take 3-4 months at most - the house they are buying is chain free, as are we, so only 3 parties in the chain. Their solicitor has been very very slow in answering our solicitor's emails, and at one point got very, very rude when they were being chased. They eventually admitted that the reason it took them weeks to send the draft contract pack to our solicitor was that they "forgot" to send it, but then after that still took absolutely ages to answer our solicitor's initial enquiries, and still haven't answered any questions that arose off the back of these. 

We are now 3 months on from the offer being accepted, and still have absolutely no idea where we are in terms of timescales - everything is done from our side, including all the searches etc, so we are just waiting on them sorting out everything for the other property. We've asked for an update on where they are on that property purchase, but their solicitor says it's none of our business, but surely if it is delaying our purchase it is our business - we're not asking for specific details, just where they are in the process and how long they expect it to take! We're now getting worried that we are going to miss the stamp duty holiday deadline for completion on 30th June. We're also worried that they are suddenly going to pop up and say "ok - all ready to exchange now, we want to complete in 2 weeks", giving us no time to arrange things like removals and time off work. We also have to give 2 months notice on the flat we currently rent, and made sure they were aware of that and that we need as much notice as possible before exchange/completion - we don't mind having a bit of overlap, but don't want to be doubling up on rent and mortgage for two months! 

So 2 real questions here - firstly, do we have the right to get an update on where they are in the process so we can understand where we stand, i.e. are the seller's solicitors just being difficult in refusing to let us know anything about what is going on, or is it really none of our business? Secondly, if they suddenly come back with an exchange/completion date that doesn't work for us, would we be within our rights to push back on this and demand a later date, or could we be jeopardising the whole thing? 

AdrianC

It's not up to your solicitor to push the vendor's solicitor.
It's up to the vendor to push their solicitor.

Pass the kick along via the EA, if you wish.

dpj2006

AdrianC said:

It's not up to your solicitor to push the vendor's solicitor.
It's up to the vendor to push their solicitor.

Pass the kick along via the EA, if you wish.

We’ve already done this - we’ve chased through the EA who has spoken to the sellers & has assured us they are chasing them regularly, but he doesn’t seem to have had much of an update from them either! 

AdrianC

Then the most effective last-resort is for the vendor to change solicitor.

Thrugelmir

What the vendors "personal circumstances" ?  Might provide some background to what's causing the slowness. 

Are the vendors purchasing a property themselves? 

Solicitors work their clients and most importantly on their instructions. 

dpj2006

Thrugelmir said:

What the vendors "personal circumstances" ?  Might provide some background to what's causing the slowness. 

Are the vendors purchasing a property themselves? 

Solicitors work their clients and most importantly on their instructions. 

Their personal circumstances are that one of them has a disability that means they need to move to a property without stairs, no nothing that would hold things up - they are buying another property & the EA has assured us there are no problems with their purchase, which is why we’re so confused as to why their solicitor won’t share progress updates with us. We don’t want to keep bugging the EA when the problem lies with the solicitors! 

steampowered

When you are waiting for enquiries, it is entirely possible that the delay is actually due to the vendor 

Enquiries are for the vendor to answer - the solicitor doesn't know anything about the property - the solicitor just checks that the vendor is not saying anything daft.

All you can really do is get the estate agent to give the vendor a kick to find out what is going on.

Carrot007

Solicitors are slow. Some more than others but all tied to a ridiculously outdated system they will (to be fair cannot) not stop using.

If you have the time and inclination it is possible to speed things up by acting as courier and transporting documnets thay quite frankly should be inastantly emailed these days (which can be signed and verifiable).

However it is what it is. If your seller is not able to then you can. I know many people that have chosen this option rather than deal with the soliciters I'll post it and hoep for something in 14 days nonsence.

So your choices are put up, or offer to speed it along "if possible".

teachfast

Sounds like this is proceeding exactly as the solicitors planned, to me. They are notoriously slow, uncommunicative and often unprofessional. You have very little recourse against this... And they know it.

As you are not the client of the solicitor dragging their heels the most, they can behave how they wish with relative impunity. Don't, for a second, think your solicitor isn't having a good old chuckle with them about your distress either.

As another post pointed out, they are tied to archaic methods and don't want to become more efficient; no fun in that. 

teachfast

(cue a strange individual who usually turns up on these threads talking about records...)

Thrugelmir

dpj2006 said:

Thrugelmir said:

What the vendors "personal circumstances" ?  Might provide some background to what's causing the slowness. 

Are the vendors purchasing a property themselves? 

Solicitors work their clients and most importantly on their instructions. 

Their personal circumstances are that one of them has a disability that means they need to move to a property without stairs, no nothing that would hold things up - they are buying another property & the EA has assured us there are no problems with their purchase, which is why we’re so confused as to why their solicitor won’t share progress updates with us. We don’t want to keep bugging the EA when the problem lies with the solicitors! 

How many parties in the chain?