Bought a house - delays to conveyancers initiating transfer of registration

amj8831

Hi All,

We completed on a house over 6 weeks ago and have been informed today that our solicitors have yet to even start registration the transfer of ownership with HMRC, and expect to do this "this week". 

This is, unfortunately, holding up our remortgage; is anyone able to advise whether the magnitude of delay in commencing registration is typical, or if this has been particularly poor service (and therefore potentially ground for complaint)?

I understand there are delays on the HMRC side but this strikes me as being particularly slow given they haven't even started the process yet. They've told me it can typically be weeks before registration is initiated but that sounds like BS to me! They've been poor throughout and I'm considering a formal complaing.

Thanks very much!

user1977

HMRC deal with tax, not land registration - I hope you don't mean it's a 6 week delay in them submitting your SDLT return? That would result in penalties and interest being payable. But if you mean the Land Registry, your application should have been submitted by now (unless there's a good reason why not).

amj8831

Sorry, yes I meant the Land Registry, thanks for clarifying for me (luckily no stamp duty due at the moment anyway thanks to Mr Sunak). Although I'm minded to ask about the other post-completion activities as well given that I don't trust them at all.
And thanks for your response, any thoughts on what might be a typical/acceptable duration of time after completion for this to have been submitted? Days perhaps?

Tiglet2

After completion takes place, the seller's solicitor has to send the signed Transfer document to your solicitor.  Once your solicitor has this and the seller's solicitor has confirmed that the charge (if there was a mortgage) has been removed, then your solicitor can begin the application to register you as the new owner.  However, I think with the extra demand being placed on solicitors to complete transactions before the stamp duty deadline, registrations are not being dealt with as quickly as they normally are.  Hopefully, that will change once the deadline has passed.  

chalky_white_2

Before completion a priority period would have been given to your solicitor by HMLR of 30 working days. The application must be submitted during this priority period to protect your position.