problem solicitors

julie8314dave

Hi, can any one tell me how long it could take, or what the procedure is after the solicitors have received searches back from local authority.

The situation is as follows:
My buyer is a freind (no hips involved as there was no marketing of property.

Her solicitor is useless Countrywide property liers) in northampton, she instructed them 2 weeks before christmas they still have not done searches of my property.

My solicitor is top form he is ready to exchange, sent country wide a fax asking to exchange on the 31st jan, they replied timing is to short.

My solicitor suggested her changing solicitors, (he knows of someone) local authority have assured me that if the solicitor mark as urgent they will try and get searches done very quickly.

My freind is living at her parents house at present, having exchanged and completed two weeks ago, money and mortgage offer of £60,000 safely tucked away.

can anyone tell me whether on these basis would it be possible to exchange by the 8th or 11th Feb, if i dont get it done by then, i am sure that the house we are after will be let to someone else as the agents can not hold on for much longer, (to be fair to the landlord) and i really need to get the house as they very rarely come up in the village, and also i need to get my son into the school, and wont be able to unless i get house.

The agents suggested taking on house earlier, my freind desperatly wants my house, (SHE IS ON HER OWN AND PARENTS LIVE OPPOSITE) SO I DO NOT SEE IT FALLING THROUGH) should i take the risk on waiting for exchange dates, or just go ahead and risk, i can not ask solicitor he is away for two days. can not sleep, just wanted your views, or advice on what you would do.

Sorry it is a long post, feel a bit better writing it down, i just can not sleep at present but have to be up in 3 hours time.

Thankyou.
xxx

Debt_Free_Chick

I would suggest changing solicitors, but be careful about any charges they want to make. They may well have done some work and will expect to be paid for it.

Exchange by 8 or 11 is going to be very, very difficult if she appoints a new solicitor now. Her solicitor is duty-bound to act in her best interests and may not be able to do a thorough job and meet that timescale. And, of course, whilst the Local Authority says they will do the searches "very quickly" that might still mean a week rather than several weeks.

If you are absolutely certain she will go ahead, then why not rent the house you're after anyway? Of course, you'll have rent + mortgage to pay, but that should only be for a month or so. But remember, your friend can change her mind or maybe the searches will throw something up she hasn't thought about

It's a risky option .... but I doubt that exchange by the 11 would be feasible, as it's only 5 working days away

Richard_Webster

Her solicitor is useless Countrywide property liers) in northampton, she instructed them 2 weeks before christmas they still have not done searches of my property.

If she has had this problem then she needs to send a private and confidential complaint letter to one of the directors of CPL expressing her concerns and asking for an explanation of why the searches have not been done. It may be something simple like your friend hasn't given them a cheque for the fees or it may be some amazingly awful internal admin foul up. Whatever it is a complaint letter should stir them up and may get a rebate of their fees.