Unresponsive freeholder. Is there anything I can do?

[LottyLikesWindows]

Evening all. Looking for some help or advice if anyone can offer it. We are so close to exchange of contracts now. The only paperwork left is the LPE1 form, which the freeholder still hasn't returned. Solicitor wrote, I emailed but still no luck. He is notoriously slow and unresponsive which hasn't really been an issue for me before as I've had no dealings with him, but now it's totally holding up the proceeding of the sale!

Does anyone have any bright ideas on how to deal with this?

[specialsubject]

has anybody phoned/visited?

[LottyLikesWindows]

No visits yet and he doesn't ever answer his phone.

[Spickle]

Has the management company supplied the management pack? That answers a lot of questions in the LPE1. The vendor has to pay for it though.

[LottyLikesWindows]

It's a privately owned flat - no management company here, just a sole freeholder who has minimal input into things (he hasn't collected ground rent from me either. I'm settling it all at the conclusion of the sale. You'd think a grand is enough to spurn anyone to tick a few boxes...)

[specialsubject]

nightmare. What does your solicitor suggest?

[LottyLikesWindows]

Total nightmare! I tried calling the landlord today, and it went straight into his answer phone. Lordy a message but not holding my breath.

Solicitor suggested I try to find out the name of his solicitor, and try to go through them. Am so frustrated by this

[jonnypetersen]

Hi Lotty, I know this is an old thread but was wondering what the conclusion was?

We are in the exact same boat. Illusive Freeholder.

Jon

[whataboutbob]

My freeholder was absentee, it turned out he'd left the country 10 years ago (I was looking for him to extend the lease) I had to prove he was absentee, then pay the fee to the court to be held in trust for him.
The English leasehold system is weird!
OPs freeholder may have died? Worth checking at his last known address. It should be in the bundle from the solicitor when the property was purchased.