Seller's Solicitor Really Slow, Risking Sale of Property

workbench95

I've been in the process of buying a house now since autumn 2020 - At first all seemed to be going along quite nicely, but then an issue of land registry cropped up and the sale has been stagnating since. 

I'm not at the point where my mortgage offer is due to expire in just under a week (I contacted my mortgage provider a few weeks ago and they didn't want me to request an extension until the last minute). Unsurprisingly, the mortgage provider want to have some sort of time frame for the completion. 

However, upon phoning the EA (the sale has recently switched to a different sale manager) - he has expressed to me serious concerns about the attitude of the Seller's solicitors. Apparently he's having difficulty getting in touch with them and getting the information need and, even the Sellers themselves are having trouble contacting them and trying to track the progression of the sale. It's also come to light that the land registry query was not submitted until weeks after the solicitor claimed it was and, that they've not chased the land registry query since it was submitted a few months ago.  Furthermore, talking to my solicitor today, they are still waiting on responses to questions raised with the sellers solicitor in February. 

As such, I'm really at a loss with what to do. I've done everything I needed to and have everything in order - but I just don't see how much longer this will go on for. The Seller feels it is too far down the line now to switch solicitors, but nothing seems to be getting anywhere. Has anyone else experienced anything similar? 

teachfast

Almost everyone, sadly. The profession needs reform. It is a disgrace. 

firsttimesellerldn

I've been on the seller end of this ie. my solicitor was being really slow and was very hard to contact. I lost my patience and complained. I was allocated a new solicitor at the same firm who is 100 times better and actually responds to queries. 

princeofpounds

At the very least, the seller should consider making a formal complaint to their own solicitor, ideally with a reference that they may look to escalate to the legal ombudsman if things don't improve.

You need to make it very clear to the EA that the transaction is at risk of collapse due to the delays caused by the seller's solicitor. Do it politely, follow up briefly in writing, so that he has something to wave at the sellers to get them to take it seriously.

It isn't really the seller's fault; conveyancing solicitors can be a law unto themselves once they have the instruction. But they are the only ones who can apply the right pressure, so they need to feel the pressure.

workbench95

princeofpounds said:

At the very least, the seller should consider making a formal complaint to their own solicitor, ideally with a reference that they may look to escalate to the legal ombudsman if things don't improve.

You need to make it very clear to the EA that the transaction is at risk of collapse due to the delays caused by the seller's solicitor. Do it politely, follow up briefly in writing, so that he has something to wave at the sellers to get them to take it seriously.

It isn't really the seller's fault; conveyancing solicitors can be a law unto themselves once they have the instruction. But they are the only ones who can apply the right pressure, so they need to feel the pressure.

I've sent various emails and had various phone calls with the EA regarding this - the EA are as frustrated as the seller because they're having difficulty contacting the solicitor to. 

I completely appreciate this isn't the seller's fault, and every communication I've had with the EA I've ensured I've not been blaming the seller for the hold up. The problem now is getting my mortgage extension, assuming that all goes through okay - I can then focus back on pushing the EA on chasing the seller's solicitor. 

It just seems shocking that something like this can even happen. As a FTB this certainly isn't what I was expecting! 

teachfast

It is shocking. It's good that forums like this get it publicised. There are lots of places you can review solicitors online as well. Just remember to keep it to facts you can prove because nothing spurs a lazy solicitor into action as quickly as litigation against people who highlight the truth.