Help to Buy Repayment Blocked – Previous Solicitor Ceased Trading, No One Will Take the Case

Krypter

Hi all,

I’m hoping someone here has been through something similar or can offer advice.

Back in June 2020, my wife and I bought a home with a Help to Buy Equity Loan. We used Conveyancer 1 at the time. I’m now trying to repay the loan in full, I’ve had the RICS valuation done, now expired, funds are ready, and all forms are submitted, but I’ve run into a serious problem. The property was never registered with the Land Registry, and Conveyancer 1 has since ceased trading.

The Land Registry confirmed that the application was cancelled due to multiple unresolved requisitions, including:

• Execution issues involving a power of attorney

• Plans missing or not labelled

• Missing identity verification

• Priority order of charges not clearly confirmed

I’ve tried to get other solicitors involved:

• Conveyancer 2 initially agreed to help but withdrew once they realised the title wasn’t registered

• Conveyancer 3 agreed to contact Conveyancer 1, but they’ve heard nothing back and have since gone quiet

• Conveyancer 4 was contacted, but I haven’t had any response or confirmation they will take on the case

To make things worse:

• Help to Buy interest payments will begin in July

• An Legal Ombudsman case is opened, but say due to backlog they won’t be able to assess my case until 2026

• I’ve contacted both Homes England (HTB) and the Land Registry, both said I need a solicitor to move things forward

• I've contacted HTB and awaiting callback from supervisor teams to see what options are avialalble.

It feels like solicitors are backing away due to the complexity and risk, even though I have all the documents, timelines, and communications.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

• How did you find a conveyancer willing to step in after the original firm ceased trading?

• Can a new solicitor deal with outstanding requisitions even if the original application was cancelled?

• Any practical tips on what I can do next to get this resolved?

Really appreciate any insight or experience you can share, I’m completely stuck right now.

Thanks,
Lee

kingstreet

When a conveyancing firm ceases trading, another firm is usually appointed by the regulator to take over the work of the failed firm. Have you tried the Law Society, or Solicitors Regulation Authority?

MWT

Krypter said:

I’ve tried to get other solicitors involved:

• Conveyancer 2 initially agreed to help but withdrew once they realised the title wasn’t registered

• Conveyancer 3 agreed to contact Conveyancer 1, but they’ve heard nothing back and have since gone quiet

• Conveyancer 4 was contacted, but I haven’t had any response or confirmation they will take on the case

Are these all national chains or have you tried a smaller local solicitor?

They may not be as cheap, but sometimes you will find that the larger chains will actively avoid work that is more complex than the sort of jobs they can process quickly in volume.

penners324

As kingstreet stated, you go to the solicitors who have taken on Conveyancer 1's case load and get them to finish the transaction.