Help or advice is appreciated. Post Completion Issues with solicitors.

mirand

April 2022, I completed the purchase of a leasehold flat and paid the full outstanding fees my solicitors/conveyancer invoiced me i.e., solicitors, conveyancing, landlord & land register fees.  

 The final step was the registration of the flat which I chased the registration several times, the firm stated several times are in the process of completing the paperwork and whatever is required with the landlord / lease management prior to submission.

Months passed with no progress during which I made a formal complaint to the firm, which they upheld stating they will progress things.

 With no further progress I had no option but making a complaint to the legal ombudsman about the poor services received making it clear the only outcome am after is the property registration with the land registry.

 Ombudsman Resolution team attempted an amicable resolution to start with but two months later the Ombudsman decided to have the complaint investigated properly.

 The firm stated that the registration paperwork is missing a document (share certificate in the seller’s name) the seller’s solicitors did not provide and is required by the Freeholder before they can issue another share certificate in my name.

 The Ombudsman investigator said the above should have been addressed and dealt during the retainer.

 The Ombudsman suspended the investigation twice giving them time to resolve this by contacting both the seller’s solicitors and the Freeholder. Likely to make a decision soon.

 correspondence is exchanged between the Ombudsman and the solicitors and the situation is that the seller’s solicitors are not responding and the Freeholder’s agent are insistent on the required share certificate in the seller’s name or an indemnity from him saying he lost that document.

 The ombudsman is likely to upheld my complaint, however, I don’t know what can I do in such a situation?

 Contacted few legal firms seeking advice but had no replies.

 Has anyone been through something similar or aware of a legal firm who can give advice on this? Am based in Berkshire.

 Any help or advice is genuinely appreciated. Feel free to private msg me.

 Thank you.

EssexHebridean

What is the issue with a simple indemnity as said for the lost share certificate, that’s far from uncommon? The bigger question though is why is that getting in the way of the registration? Is there another document that needs to be produced by the freeholder or management Co which they refuse to issue until the share certificate situation is sorted? There is no reason for them to take that stance that I can think of, but some are more awkward than others!