Developers solicitors are so slow - any advice?

Ktboo93

We reserved on a newbuild property back in March and instructed our solicitors shortly thereafter. They've been great, can't really fault them. But, the developers solicitors have been horrendous. We have been waiting weeks and weeks for them to respond to the enquiries raised by our solicitors. We have chased our solicitors numerous times who have then "urgently" chased the developers solicitors and.... nothing. Eventually they found out he was on leave and was returning 2 weeks ago but we still haven't had any progress since he's been back. As it's a local developer they advertised through a local estate agents - we've also been ringing them who just say they're sorry it's taking so long and they'll chase it up. I rang our solicitor this morning only to be told she's now on annual leave for 2 week. I'm literally at my wits end. Our tenancy runs out at the end of this month and we found out yesterday that my mum has breast cancer. I'm so stressed - I don't know what to do! Any advice is appreciated. 

user1977

Ktboo93 said:

Our tenancy runs out at the end of this month 

That doesn't necessarily mean you need to move out then (assuming you haven't given notice).

Ktboo93

user1977 said:

Ktboo93 said:

Our tenancy runs out at the end of this month 

That doesn't necessarily mean you need to move out then (assuming you haven't given notice).

Sorry, I should have been clearer. Regretfully, we handed in our notice last month as we were told that the house would be ready (which it is). We have managed to extend the lease until the 1st September but can't extend beyond that as they've already got another tenant lined up.

Tiglet2

Didn't your solicitor advise you not to give notice until you have exchanged? 

Your solicitor cannot exchange while there are outstanding enquiries, even if the house is ready to move into.  If you ask your solicitor to explain what the outstanding enquiries are, it might give a better idea of how quickly they can be dealt with.  If they are complicated and time consuming, then you may have to consider a rental/airbnb/holiday home because, by giving notice, you have risked making yourself homeless unfortunately.

Other staff should be covering your solicitor's work in their absence.

Sorry to hear about your mum.

martindow

Is another option for the OP to stay on?  They would become liable for double rent and aggravate the agent and the tenant due to move in, but if the overlap is not too long would this be possible?

macman

Too late for you OP, but you should never give notice until exchange, or at least a firm prospect of exchange.

Ktboo93

Tiglet2 said:

Didn't your solicitor advise you not to give notice until you have exchanged? 

Your solicitor cannot exchange while there are outstanding enquiries, even if the house is ready to move into.  If you ask your solicitor to explain what the outstanding enquiries are, it might give a better idea of how quickly they can be dealt with.  If they are complicated and time consuming, then you may have to consider a rental/airbnb/holiday home because, by giving notice, you have risked making yourself homeless unfortunately.

Other staff should be covering your solicitor's work in their absence.

Sorry to hear about your mum.

No - it was our decision. We naively thought it would all happen quickly once the house was ready, but it hasn't. The enquiries are very basic which is even more frustrating as I cant understand why it is taking so long. We are able to move in with parents thankfully, it is just not ideal. They said a locum solicitor was coming in - can we still exchange with a locum?

user1977

Ktboo93 said:

Tiglet2 said:

Didn't your solicitor advise you not to give notice until you have exchanged? 

Your solicitor cannot exchange while there are outstanding enquiries, even if the house is ready to move into.  If you ask your solicitor to explain what the outstanding enquiries are, it might give a better idea of how quickly they can be dealt with.  If they are complicated and time consuming, then you may have to consider a rental/airbnb/holiday home because, by giving notice, you have risked making yourself homeless unfortunately.

Other staff should be covering your solicitor's work in their absence.

Sorry to hear about your mum.

They said a locum solicitor was coming in - can we still exchange with a locum?

The whole point of employing a locum is so that the work carries on, I don't see why they'd have a problem exchanging.

Ktboo93

user1977 said:

Ktboo93 said:

Tiglet2 said:

Didn't your solicitor advise you not to give notice until you have exchanged? 

Your solicitor cannot exchange while there are outstanding enquiries, even if the house is ready to move into.  If you ask your solicitor to explain what the outstanding enquiries are, it might give a better idea of how quickly they can be dealt with.  If they are complicated and time consuming, then you may have to consider a rental/airbnb/holiday home because, by giving notice, you have risked making yourself homeless unfortunately.

Other staff should be covering your solicitor's work in their absence.

Sorry to hear about your mum.

They said a locum solicitor was coming in - can we still exchange with a locum?

The whole point of employing a locum is so that the work carries on, I don't see why they'd have a problem exchanging.

Fingers crossed!

Ktboo93

macman said:

Too late for you OP, but you should never give notice until exchange, or at least a firm prospect of exchange.

We realised this and it was a risk we were willing to take as we are able to move in with our parents in the interim. The frustration is that really, we shouldn't have had to for more than a few days. We're now talking weeks as the developers solicitors are being so slow.