Solicitor trying to get more money?

Courtneyjones08

So at the beginning of November my offer got accpeted for a no chain property. I am a cash buyer and do not require searches/ surveys. My solicitor still hasn't given me any time frame as to when I can move in. The seller has signed their contract however my solicitor is wanting a water bill from them and a boiler service history ? I have emailed my solicitor stating I don't require them and got ignored for a week 🙄 Today she got back to me stating she is waiting for a water bill to be able to finish but understands we don't need the boiler service history. She told us 3 weeks ago the only document she needed to finish the contract pack was the ground rent info which the seller sent straight over. Does the water bill history mean a water and drainage search? And is it a legal requirment? (My reason for none of these details is because it's a very close friend who we are buying off and we know the ins and outs) 
We've turned it down 3 times but our solicitor is doing it anyway and If it is a drain and water search she will be charging us extra even though we told her no. Can someone please clarify if this is a legal document they need please. My solicitor is being so slow and I'm pushing her constant but she doesn't answer the phone or answer her emails. Told her no searches but this to me sounds like she's trying to do a drainage search !

TheJP

A water bill is not connected to searches unless they want to know who your provider/drainage is with. Ensure you put it in writing that you dont want the solicitor to do searches etc.

Courtneyjones08

We have done. We signed a contract with our solicitor at the beginning saying we didn't want them, and told her twice since. She told us she doesn't need a water bill but wants it now? Do you know if that's a legal requirment 

TheJP

No not a legal requirement, some solicitors will do further checking that's just how they do things. I don't think they will try and bill you for work you have specifically requested they not do. If they do you can ask them to amend the bill and show that you made it clear not to carry out the work.

Courtneyjones08

Great thank you, I've emailed her stating again we don't require the water bill we aren't bothered about any of it we just want her to do the stuff that is legally required so hopefully she listens this time, thank you

GoogleMeNow

Solicitors do routinely ask for a copy of a water bill to confirm (beyond any doubt) that the property is connected to mains drainage.  As you are not obtaining searches (i.e. water and drainage search), it is a standard enquiry and nothing whatsoever to do with searches.  I understand you know the property well, but why wouldn't you have a survey done?

GoogleMeNow

Oh and this enquiry does not provide the solicitor with more money.

Courtneyjones08

We can see ourselves what's wrong with it. My husband is a builder and most of the house is being rebuilt anyway. I just don't quite understand if we say we don't require stuff ie the water bill why our solicitor would get it anyway just to add more time. The women's moved 5 hours away from the house now as well so it's not an easy job. If it's not a legal requirment I don't understand why she's blatantly ignoring us. It's our money, our 'risk'

Courtneyjones08

That's good thanks for that. We presumed she was doing a search when we hadn't required them.

Courtneyjones08

She told us she didn't need it but now does, just doesn't really make sense 

Thrugelmir

Courtneyjones08 said:

 (My reason for none of these details is because it's a very close friend who we are buying off and we know the ins and outs) 

I'm sure you'd have no issue in suing the solicitor if they failed in their professional duty while conducting the conveyance.