Solicitor for buying property dropped us because of the age of the property

Lexie_M

We instructed a solicitor to start the process of buying a flat. We paid an advance fee which they asked for and they started doing some of the standard checks. A week later we got an email saying the can't represent us due to their company policy because the flat is 5 years old. That's it. Can anyone explain why this age of the property matters so much? Where is this policy coming from? Also no mention whatsoever of the money already paid to them. Are we entitled to a full refund? Sure if this is a policy the first question they would ask before taking our money is how old is the property??

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6669554/solicitor-for-buying-property-dropped-us-because-of-the-age-of-the-property

Have you addressed these questions to the solicitors?

kipsterno1

Have you read the T&C's they supplied?

Section62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6669554/solicitor-for-buying-property-dropped-us-because-of-the-age-of-the-property

A week later we got an email saying the can't represent us due to their company policy because the flat is 5 years old. That's it. Can anyone explain why this age of the property matters so much? Where is this policy coming from?

At a guess, it could be fire safety related. Perhaps they don't have the expertise and/or PI cover to advise on older flats.

But they should really have identified this issue at quotation stage - what questions did they ask you when you asked for a quote?

Worried_fool

Is this a typo?

Five years old is still a new flat.

Lexie_M

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82009528#Comment_82009528

Yes, waiting for their reply

Chief_of_Staffy

It may be because of unknowns associated with new-builds, making them a bigger risk. In any event they should have picked this up immediately, so unless they've done other work for you, you need to demand your money back in full. They sound like idiots, to be fair.

Section62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82010100#Comment_82010100

full refund

That probably depends on exactly what "they started doing some of the standard checks" means, and whether there are results of those checks that a different solicitor/conveyancer will be able to use if the file is passed on to them.

HillStreetBlues

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82010143#Comment_82010143

The first check should be is the flat over 5 years old.

Section62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82010342#Comment_82010342

Perhaps, but that doesn't necessarily mean the OP is entitled to a full refund, nor is it necessarily in their interests to do so. It all depends on the details.

Tiglet2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6669554/solicitor-for-buying-property-dropped-us-because-of-the-age-of-the-property

Just checking to be absolutely sure…..

Are the firm of solicitors refusing to act because the flat is 5 years old OR is it because the flat is situated on the 5th or higher floor of a block?