Solicitor Delays on House Sale Causing Financial Hardship – Need Advice on Complaints and Compensati

CopperSnap

I’m in a really difficult situation and could use some advice.

I’m selling my house, which I need to complete urgently to pay off debts and bills this month. However, there’s been a major delay because my solicitor failed to ensure that the deed and attached plan were properly signed by the bank before returning the documents.

In fact, I had to chase the bank myself daily to get signatures, even though the solicitor knew the deed had arrived at the bank. The bank also has a portal that allows quick sign-off (within 24 hours), but I don’t know if my solicitor used this or not, as there was no proactive communication.

Now, the other party’s legal team says the plan hasn’t been signed and the deed may need to be sent back to the bank — causing further delays.

This delay is causing me huge stress and financial hardship because I can’t pay my bills without the sale completing.

I’ve made a formal complaint to my solicitor’s firm but I’m not sure what to expect or what else I can do. I’m also wondering if I could claim compensation for the financial and emotional impact caused by this negligence.

Has anyone been through something similar? What are my best next steps? 

user1977

Taking a step back here, it isn't your solicitor's fault that you're in financial distress in the first place, so I doubt the financial/emotional impact is all down to them.

Is the other party actually ready to complete (or using this as a handy excuse not to)? What deed is it? Not sure why your bank would be signing a deed with a plan, or why it's your solicitor's fault that the bank didn't sign it properly.

Jude57

CopperSnap said:

I’m in a really difficult situation and could use some advice.

I’m selling my house, which I need to complete urgently to pay off debts and bills this month. However, there’s been a major delay because my solicitor failed to ensure that the deed and attached plan were properly signed by the bank before returning the documents.

In fact, I had to chase the bank myself daily to get signatures, even though the solicitor knew the deed had arrived at the bank. The bank also has a portal that allows quick sign-off (within 24 hours), but I don’t know if my solicitor used this or not, as there was no proactive communication.

Now, the other party’s legal team says the plan hasn’t been signed and the deed may need to be sent back to the bank — causing further delays.

This delay is causing me huge stress and financial hardship because I can’t pay my bills without the sale completing.

I’ve made a formal complaint to my solicitor’s firm but I’m not sure what to expect or what else I can do. I’m also wondering if I could claim compensation for the financial and emotional impact caused by this negligence.

Has anyone been through something similar? What are my best next steps? 

You could ask your solicitor to write to your creditors giving them an Undertaking that the debt will be cleared in full upon completion of the sale. You will have to pay the solicitor extra for this and of course it assumes that there will be sufficient cash after the sale and any mortgage or other Charge on the property is paid off, for the debts to be cleared in full. Effectively, it's your solicitor promising to pay off the debts before sending you the residue. It should give you a bit of time and, at least temporarily, stop debt recovery action by your creditors.

If you haven't already done so, have a look at the DebtFreeWannabe subforum here for help with budgeting and money management for the future.

sheramber

Is your complaint not to the bank for not signing the documents?