Local Searches Delayed

TheTruemans

Hi folks, 
We have been in the latter stages of the conveyancing process for now for over a month, Our solicitors 2 week ago said our searches would be back next week, last week it was Friday then today our solicitors said our local searches will be back on the 14th August! Surely this can’t be right?
I contacted the local search authority (Tamworth) on the 18th June and they said the searches were done that day and with the search company. 

This is going to cause a big delay in our completion as we were hoping to be in by August!

Is there anything we can do to speed the process up? 

Timeline wise we offered on the house on 29th April sorted our mortgage and solicitors were instructed on 13th May.

Thanks for any assistance  

[Deleted User]

@TheTruemans we had the same problem...kept being put back by one week, then another, then another. Ironically we are only in the next local authority to you (about 20 mins from Tamworth). I contacted the local search authority and nicely explained it was holding up completion etc and asked if there was anything to do to expedite it and somehow I had a response within two hours to say that they had just completed it for us and sent to solicitors. I couldn't believe it!

It doesn't sound totally right here. I would either contact them and speak to someone else and explain no sign of it and date being pushed back. Or alternatively could it be a third party search company holding it up? Could you ask the local authority to send it directly to the solicitor instead?

Edit: Also just to say the website is still saying 10 day turnaround for searches in Tamworth so this doesn't sound right to me

TheTruemans

Hey @Deleted_User

Thanks for the reply and advise! Yeah it definitely doesn’t sound right at all!
It is a 3rd party company who’s dealing with it for the solicitors so I went back to them yesterday and asked how we can speed this process up as it’s been over two months since they were instructed. - no reply as yet.

I emailed the very helpful local searches department this morning to advise again on the searches and if they would be able to send them directly to me to forward to our solicitors. 

Just so frustrated as both us and the vendors are chain free so we were hoping to be in by August at the latest!

I’m tempted to find out who the search company is the solicitors use and call them directly myself.

Thanks again 

Tiglet2

TheTruemans said:

Hey @Deleted_User

Thanks for the reply and advise! Yeah it definitely doesn’t sound right at all!
It is a 3rd party company who’s dealing with it for the solicitors so I went back to them yesterday and asked how we can speed this process up as it’s been over two months since they were instructed. - no reply as yet.

I emailed the very helpful local searches department this morning to advise again on the searches and if they would be able to send them directly to me to forward to our solicitors. 

Just so frustrated as both us and the vendors are chain free so we were hoping to be in by August at the latest!

I’m tempted to find out who the search company is the solicitors use and call them directly myself.

Thanks again 

They cannot be speeded up.  The search agent will advise the solicitor of the predicted return date and that is usually accurate, but they do not offer an expedited service.

It is also unlikely that the search agent would speak to you, as you are not their client.

You could ask your solicitor if a no-search indemnity policy would suffice, but if you are obtaining a mortgage, the solicitor will have to check that the lender will also accept the indemnity policy.  They can check this by referring to the CML Handbook, as can you.

https://lendershandbook.ukfinance.org.uk/lenders-handbook/

Irishpearce26

TheTruemans said:

Hi folks, 
We have been in the latter stages of the conveyancing process for now for over a month, Our solicitors 2 week ago said our searches would be back next week, last week it was Friday then today our solicitors said our local searches will be back on the 14th August! Surely this can’t be right?
I contacted the local search authority (Tamworth) on the 18th June and they said the searches were done that day and with the search company. 

This is going to cause a big delay in our completion as we were hoping to be in by August!

Is there anything we can do to speed the process up? 

Timeline wise we offered on the house on 29th April sorted our mortgage and solicitors were instructed on 13th May.

Thanks for any assistance  

Remember LA searches are one of three. You still have the water and environmental searches to factor in.

TheTruemans

Yeah all other searches were back weeks ago, it’s just the LA one left. 

Every week it’s been “we will have them back next week” 
Now it’s “we will have them back in 3 weeks”

[Deleted User]

TheTruemans said:

Yeah all other searches were back weeks ago, it’s just the LA one left. 

Every week it’s been “we will have them back next week” 
Now it’s “we will have them back in 3 weeks”

I really don’t know how we got ours sorted. We must have had a very similar 3rd party involved as we had exactly that situation. First date expected was given for 4 weeks down the line (which was expected as our LA was on long lead times), two weeks in we got told it would be a week later then each week it was moving back a bit.

I don’t know how the lady at the LA sorted it directly but she did?!

Maybe it’s the solicitors you’re going to have to put more pressure on if it’s the only delay.