Property searches query

nemo01

I've been waiting 3-4 weeks for my solicitor to commence property searches but they have said they cannot do them until they receive the title plan from the sellers solicitor. I'm wondering why they need this to commence the searches and whether I can download the Title Plan from the land registry website for £3 and give them a copy to speed up the process?

housebuyer143

I believe it's because they need you to confirm the property they are doing the searches on is the same one as the one listed on the title plan. 
Don't want to do searches for a property that turns out to not be what you are buying.

user1977

It's really not necessary as 99% of the time it's obvious what the property comprises, but seems to be normal practice (in England and Wales at least - in Scotland we just get on with it using the postal address). 

nemo01

I've been waiting at least 3 weeks now for the sellers solicitor to get this to my solicitor so can I simply purchase the document myself from land registry to get the searches started?

housebuyer143

nemo01 said:

I've been waiting at least 3 weeks now for the sellers solicitor to get this to my solicitor so can I simply purchase the document myself from land registry to get the searches started?

I wouldn't. I would probably be more concerned why your sellers solicitor isn't sending it over tbh.
Is there a reason, has the seller instructed them etc? Maybe get the agent to let the seller know the solicitor isn't doing anything asked of them

Tiglet2

nemo01 said:

I've been waiting at least 3 weeks now for the sellers solicitor to get this to my solicitor so can I simply purchase the document myself from land registry to get the searches started?

No, don't bother.  They won't rely on a document supplied by you, it will have to be supplied by the seller's solicitor.

They could order searches without the title plan if you instruct them to go ahead, but you'll have to pay first.  The only reason they prefer to wait is that without having the title number, they may order searches for the wrong property and therefore the cost of the search is wasted.  

However, the searches are just one part of the process.  It won't hold anything up as they will be getting on with other parts of the process while waiting for the searches to come through.

nemo01

Tiglet2 said:

nemo01 said:

I've been waiting at least 3 weeks now for the sellers solicitor to get this to my solicitor so can I simply purchase the document myself from land registry to get the searches started?

No, don't bother.  They won't rely on a document supplied by you, it will have to be supplied by the seller's solicitor.

They could order searches without the title plan if you instruct them to go ahead, but you'll have to pay first.  The only reason they prefer to wait is that without having the title number, they may order searches for the wrong property and therefore the cost of the search is wasted.  

However, the searches are just one part of the process.  It won't hold anything up as they will be getting on with other parts of the process while waiting for the searches to come through.

I would happily do the property searches without the title plan but my solicitor hasn't given me that option. I will query that with them on Monday as I've already paid up front for them.

I'm not sure what my solicitors are doing at the moment without the contract documents as all checks have been done on my end. 

nemo01

housebuyer143 said:

nemo01 said:

I've been waiting at least 3 weeks now for the sellers solicitor to get this to my solicitor so can I simply purchase the document myself from land registry to get the searches started?

I wouldn't. I would probably be more concerned why your sellers solicitor isn't sending it over tbh.
Is there a reason, has the seller instructed them etc? Maybe get the agent to let the seller know the solicitor isn't doing anything asked of them

Yes I do wonder why it's taking so long myself. I will look to give the seller a nudge through the agent because there's only so long I'm prepared to wait to see movement before I move on to other options

propertyhunter

I had this exact problem, albeit it was only 2 weeks wait since the offer made to get the contract documents. I wouldn't care normally since that is no time at all in the grand scheme of things, but it was long enough considering the seller requested a quick sale and 2-month completion. 

3-4 weeks is too long. I would contact the EA and say you want to proceed quickly, but are now being held up by their client not providing the correspondence your solicitor needs to conduct searches. 

nemo01

propertyhunter said:

I had this exact problem, albeit it was only 2 weeks wait since the offer made to get the contract documents. I wouldn't care normally since that is no time at all in the grand scheme of things, but it was long enough considering the seller requested a quick sale and 2-month completion. 

3-4 weeks is too long. I would contact the EA and say you want to proceed quickly, but are now being held up by their client not providing the correspondence your solicitor needs to conduct searches. 

It's been 6 weeks since my offer was accepted, it's been just over 3 weeks since I received my mortgage offer so I will try to make contact with the seller on Monday to find out what's causing the delay

badger09

nemo01 said:

propertyhunter said:

I had this exact problem, albeit it was only 2 weeks wait since the offer made to get the contract documents. I wouldn't care normally since that is no time at all in the grand scheme of things, but it was long enough considering the seller requested a quick sale and 2-month completion. 

3-4 weeks is too long. I would contact the EA and say you want to proceed quickly, but are now being held up by their client not providing the correspondence your solicitor needs to conduct searches. 

It's been 6 weeks since my offer was accepted, it's been just over 3 weeks since I received my mortgage offer so I will try to make contact with the seller on Monday to find out what's causing the delay

Do you know what your vendor's position is? Have they already had an offer accepted on their purchase? Chain above that?