How long after receipt of the MOS should solicitor start working

Sootster2021

Hi all

First time buyers so new to the whole house buying process and trying to understand processes / timescales and know when is acceptable to chase people..

The MOS was sent by the EA to our solicitors on Friday.  The solicitor said they would get the case open and let me know when we can collect the initial documents for us to complete to start the case.  We haven't yet heard anything about collect these intial documents and although it's only been a few days, my thought is that these documents are probably just empty templates? Unsure why we are already waiting and no work has even started yet!! 

Am I being unreasonable?  What are other people's experiences and when should I chase for these initial forms? 

Many thanks 

babyblade41

MOS usually happens when the chain is complete.   Once it is then anything from a week to 2 weeks 

housebuyer143

Expect your solicitor to take a week to do anything you ask and you won't be disappointed. 

Zerforax

Probably worth chasing the solicitors. Usually they have an admin team to open new files but maybe your request fell through the cracks.

Is there a particular reason you're using these solicitors? A lot of conveyancing firms/solicitors can be quite slow throughout the process..

Sootster2021

Zerforax said:

Probably worth chasing the solicitors. Usually they have an admin team to open new files but maybe your request fell through the cracks.

Is there a particular reason you're using these solicitors? A lot of conveyancing firms/solicitors can be quite slow throughout the process..

We are using these solicitors as they were a recommendation from a friend.  Already wondering if we've made a mistake 

Zerforax

Sootster2021 said:

Zerforax said:

Probably worth chasing the solicitors. Usually they have an admin team to open new files but maybe your request fell through the cracks.

Is there a particular reason you're using these solicitors? A lot of conveyancing firms/solicitors can be quite slow throughout the process..

We are using these solicitors as they were a recommendation from a friend.  Already wondering if we've made a mistake 

At least you know someone who had enough of a decent experience to recommend them.

Is your purchase in a chain? A quick sale might take 8-12 weeks and often can take much longer with long chains involved.

Sootster2021

Zerforax said:

Sootster2021 said:

Zerforax said:

Probably worth chasing the solicitors. Usually they have an admin team to open new files but maybe your request fell through the cracks.

Is there a particular reason you're using these solicitors? A lot of conveyancing firms/solicitors can be quite slow throughout the process..

We are using these solicitors as they were a recommendation from a friend.  Already wondering if we've made a mistake 

At least you know someone who had enough of a decent experience to recommend them.

Is your purchase in a chain? A quick sale might take 8-12 weeks and often can take much longer with long chains involved.

Thankfully no chain! They are moving into a campervan so in theory it should be quite quick.  Just frustrated at a delay before we've barely even started! 

Ksw3

We had the MOS 5 weeks ago and still not received draft contracts from sellers solicitors. It may not be your solicitor who is holding things up....

Tiglet2

On a purchase, the solicitor would send you a letter confirming instruction and it would probably enclose some papers for you to fill in such as ID requirements and request some monies to be paid for searches.

However, it is up to your seller to complete the Property Information Form, Fixtures & Contents Form, Leasehold Information Form (if leasehold), provide their ID documents and sign the letter of engagement etc.  It's been only 3 working days since Friday, so I doubt that the seller's solicitor has these documents yet.  Once the seller's solicitor has these documents, they will gather all these documents plus Land Registry documents and draft the contract before sending it as a pack to your solicitor.  Only then will your solicitor start the legal work.

SlinkyWeevil

We received MOS 6 weeks ago, and still awaiting draft contracts from the sellers solicitors. Apparently sellers completed and sent the paperwork to the sols yesterday, after only receiving it from the sols to fill out last Thursday… so EA advised we can expect the draft contracts early next week but we shall see.  This is on a no chain purchase, we are tenants buying direct from landlord, so seems that their solicitors have been lazy / disorganised in getting the forms sent out initially, despite the fact we were notified 8 weeks ago of their intention to sell. 

secla

we waited 6 weeks for seller to fill in there required paperwork then another 2 for the sellers solicitors to send over draft contracts, until that point there wasnt anything out solicitors can do.
Granted this was a very long time but you are in the hands of your sellers and there solicitors at the moment