last hurdle before exchange

[MrsSteptoe]

Wise Mumsnetters

we seem to be at the point of exchange on both our sale and our purchase except for one last hurdle - the superior landlords (it's a three-tier arrangement, with us, the head leaseholders, and the freeholders) have yet to approve the licence to assign, and are majestically ignoring all attempts to get in touch with them. AFAIK, they've had it a couple of weeks, so it's not like it's been going on for months. However, "everything" has been dragging on since early Oct, so it's getting a bit drawn out now (we have first-time buyers waiting to buy our flat, and I think they're getting very frustrated).

Anyone know if there is an obligation on LLs to respond within a timeframe? Any experience of this? What can we do (apart from phone bombing)?

Conveyancing solicitors: how often do you reckon my solicitor is actually chasing him? I get the impression she's pretty busy and I wonder if she's doing more than a phone call every two or three days, which probably isn't going to get the job done.

OK, I'm pacing, and beginning to catastrophise, so perhaps the best question is: is there an obligation on the landlord to get back to us at SOME point, and I can just take a deep breath and wait, or are we all going to die of old age in our current homes?

to all who could even manage to get to the end of the post. Losing all sense of proportion here!

[MrsSteptoe]

Incidentally, I am not criticizing my solicitor (since i hear a lot of moans about conveyancing solicitors). She's great, thorough, friendly, and I have used her many times and like her very much. But I do get the impression she's overworked this time round. Slightly irrelevant, I know.

[lalalonglegs]

I don't think there is any obligation to reply within a certain time but there is nothing to stop you phoning and/or asking the vendor to do the same as it's in both your interests. Basically pester them until they do it (and make sure they aren't waiting for a payment/some piece of paperwork in order to do it at the same time).

[MrsSteptoe]

Thank you, lala...
I think they're getting phone calls from me, my solicitor, and the solicitor who acts for our head leaseholders. Yes, I fear just constant pester power will be the only way to get them to show signs of life!