Exchange if solicitor is on leave

nekr0mantik

Hi 
So after 3.5 month's I'm ready to exchange and contract was posted today.
However my solicitor is away now for 2 weeks and seller getting inpatient so can I still exchange next week if solicitor is away?

user1977

Unless they're a one person firm, yes of course there'll be somebody around to cover for them. 

Megaross

Give your solicitor a ring and ask them?

Zerforax

Should really be able to pass the file with instructions to a colleague..

diystarter7

Any outfit even of a minimum standard does have a sidekick to deal with the most basics and this is one of those situations.

Section62

diystarter7 said:

Any outfit even of a minimum standard does have a sidekick to deal with the most basics and this is one of those situations.

Are you suggesting one-person solicitor firms fail to meet "minimum standard[s]"?

I know a few one-person solicitors who would be deeply offended by such an unfounded suggestion.

Lavendyr

There should be a locum or an alternative. We exchanged and completed on our first house when our conveyancor was away. Call your solicitor and ask them!

diystarter7

Lavendyr said:

There should be a locum or an alternative. We exchanged and completed on our first house when our conveyancor was away. Call your solicitor and ask them!

Exactly that. Go ahead OP as they are serving you and not the other way around. You are paying them to serve you, if they do not meet the expected standards, withdraw your business.

nekr0mantik

thanks all

Section62

diystarter7 said:

Lavendyr said:

There should be a locum or an alternative. We exchanged and completed on our first house when our conveyancor was away. Call your solicitor and ask them!

Exactly that. Go ahead OP as they are serving you and not the other way around. You are paying them to serve you, if they do not meet the expected standards, withdraw your business.

Really poor advice.

The OP is at the point of exchange.  Changing solicitor now would mean finding a new solicitor, and then giving them time to go through the files to satisfy themselves that the OP should proceed.  This could add several weeks* of delay to the process.

If the OP is buying with a mortgage then the solicitor is also working for the mortgage company - they are not just "serving" the OP.

*One of the reasons why is that if the solicitor's practice doesn't have arrangements in place for work to be completed in their absence then nobody will be able to pass the file over to the new solicitor.  No file means the new solicitor would have to start from scratch, or wait for the current solicitor to return from holiday.  So the OP would be no further forward by withdrawing their business and going to a different solicitor.

diystarter7

nekr0mantik said:

thanks all

No problem. I just hope it works out for you and you are very happy in your new property.