AIBU? Or is this really poor?

[Weezypopsy]

Argh. House sale was supposed to be done by today as the buyer wanted it done before the stamp duty increase. Solicitors being totally sloth like.

Today, the buyer’s solicitor said the buyer wanted a tree removed but that if we can’t complete today, she can’t afford the stamp duty as it changes tomorrow. After various back and forths it seems the buyer doesn’t care about the tree and for some reason the solicitor has decided this part herself. The buyer told solicitor this and the solicitor responded"I won't be opening this file again today" - so no sale.

We are now hoping it will still go through but are a little fearful something bigger is going on.

AIBU to think this is at best poor behaviour on the part of the solicitor and at worst malpractice of some kind?

I think anyone who has ever bought a property knows that solicitors only have one speed, and that is slow.

However, from the little information you have given us, it sounds as if the buyer hasn't helped the situation here. If they needed to complete before today, why are they trying to get you to remove trees ?

The buyer has said they don’t care about the tree. It seems it’s just the solicitor who has decided that, knowing that the one thing the buyer wanted was to complete before the stamp duty increase.

and yeah, I know it’s a slow process but it’s been pretty simple - no chain and seemingly everyone ready to go for weeks then this today.

Sounds weird.

Not sure I'd entirely believe the buyer that it's coming from the solicitor, more like they tried it on and are now regretting it and making out it's the solicitor's fault.

Sounds like the buyer is being a pain and is now regretting it.

This did cross my mind but then I don’t know why the buyer wouldn’t just say not to bother. The estate agent seems to think she is genuinely baffled by it.