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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Property purchase annoyance

61 replies

Charltonstrek · 25/02/2026 15:56

Hi
Posted before about this it's been a long drawn out purchase that I feel could have been completed within 8 weeks if all involved had thier act together.
Solicitor hasn't been the best not giving updates been dismissive etc etc so now I am getting near the end my solicitor doesn't have the capacity to deal with my file at the moment due to dealing with other clients completions.
Do you think this acceptable or do I need to calm down

OP posts:
itsthetea · 25/02/2026 15:59

It’s not acceptable but there is nothing you can do but scream into a pillow to help you calm down

Ilikewinter · 25/02/2026 16:01

Calm down. 8 weeks is nothing.

adlitem · 25/02/2026 16:02

This is how it is.

Generally fixed price conveyancing is done way below a solicitor would normally work and therefore they make efficiency saving such as using support staff, taking on too much wok or checking files on a scheduled intervals. It's incredibly frustrating but it's the way conveyancing works now.

Trevordidit · 25/02/2026 16:04

You have to really manage your expectations and expect hiccups, otherwise you'll shave years off your life and gain grey hairs from frustration!

Lmnop22 · 25/02/2026 16:09

I would be a bit pissed off that he’s prioritising other files when I was keen to complete! But you won’t get anywhere complaining so just keep pushing and be annoying enough that he decides to rush your completion to get you out of his hair….

Original poster
Charltonstrek · 25/02/2026 16:11

Ilikewinter · 25/02/2026 16:01

Calm down. 8 weeks is nothing.

Its been 18 weeks on a no chain 😫

OP posts:
Original poster
Charltonstrek · 25/02/2026 16:13

Lmnop22 · 25/02/2026 16:09

I would be a bit pissed off that he’s prioritising other files when I was keen to complete! But you won’t get anywhere complaining so just keep pushing and be annoying enough that he decides to rush your completion to get you out of his hair….

He threatened me with extra charges for emails

OP posts:
ErlingHaalandsManBun · 25/02/2026 16:17

Honestly 8 weeks is nothing. Try 8 months because that is where we are.

But I totally agree that conveyancing is SLOW and very very annoying. The problem is they take on so much work now that they have literally so many case files to work on. Every one of those case files, the people involved want things done immediately or quickly. But due to the case load of the solicitor they just don't have the capacity to put the work in on your case at the speed you want it doing.

Honestly its the most frustrating and stressful experience needing and wanting stuff done quickly and getting no replies or updates from the Solicitor. I get you. We have been doing this since last bloody May.

Our Solicitor told us that realistically he can work on our case once a week. So he will review it, check emails that have come in, and reply to those or do work on our case and then move onto the next one. Any replies that come back or come in just get pushed aside until he can look again next week. And Fridays are a no go, as its completion day.

We were even told at the beginning of December that nothing would be done on our sale/purchase now until January as he was busy with completions before Christmas.

I mean, at least he is honest, but its majorly frustrating when you have put enquiries and questions forward then have to wait until the Solicitor has time to look at your file again to get any answers back.

My DH and I have both been SO stressed by it all that we made a pact at Christmas to just think FUCK IT. There is no point constantly chasing and getting wound up as it gets you no-where. Both buyers and sellers are fully committed and it seems we have no choice but to sit in and wait for them to sort it all out.

We have no bloody idea if we will move or not, or if someone will get fed up waiting and will pull the plug on the whole thing. If they do, it will be down to how long we have had to wait for Solicitors to get their act together.

But it seems there is nothing we can do. Despite trying, calling, emailing and chasing, it doesn't move things along quicker. We have limited our chasing to one email a week on a Monday morning. There is literally no point doing any more.

Maybe we have a shit solicitor, who knows? But our buyers and sellers solicitors both seem to work as slowly and are just as unresponsive as ours is so I am not sure.

Anyway, pull up a chair and wait it out for it to be 'your turn' and try and lower your expectations.

This seems fairly normal from everyone I have spoken to who has sold and purchased a property in the last year.

Lmnop22 · 25/02/2026 16:20

Charltonstrek · 25/02/2026 16:13

He threatened me with extra charges for emails

Show quote history

Really? That’s mad! How many were you sending?

Original poster
Charltonstrek · 25/02/2026 16:24

Lmnop22 · 25/02/2026 16:20

Really? That’s mad! How many were you sending?

Show quote history

I had a couple of days where I sent 2 or 3

OP posts:
Original poster
Charltonstrek · 25/02/2026 16:27

ErlingHaalandsManBun · 25/02/2026 16:17

Honestly 8 weeks is nothing. Try 8 months because that is where we are.

But I totally agree that conveyancing is SLOW and very very annoying. The problem is they take on so much work now that they have literally so many case files to work on. Every one of those case files, the people involved want things done immediately or quickly. But due to the case load of the solicitor they just don't have the capacity to put the work in on your case at the speed you want it doing.

Honestly its the most frustrating and stressful experience needing and wanting stuff done quickly and getting no replies or updates from the Solicitor. I get you. We have been doing this since last bloody May.

Our Solicitor told us that realistically he can work on our case once a week. So he will review it, check emails that have come in, and reply to those or do work on our case and then move onto the next one. Any replies that come back or come in just get pushed aside until he can look again next week. And Fridays are a no go, as its completion day.

We were even told at the beginning of December that nothing would be done on our sale/purchase now until January as he was busy with completions before Christmas.

I mean, at least he is honest, but its majorly frustrating when you have put enquiries and questions forward then have to wait until the Solicitor has time to look at your file again to get any answers back.

My DH and I have both been SO stressed by it all that we made a pact at Christmas to just think FUCK IT. There is no point constantly chasing and getting wound up as it gets you no-where. Both buyers and sellers are fully committed and it seems we have no choice but to sit in and wait for them to sort it all out.

We have no bloody idea if we will move or not, or if someone will get fed up waiting and will pull the plug on the whole thing. If they do, it will be down to how long we have had to wait for Solicitors to get their act together.

But it seems there is nothing we can do. Despite trying, calling, emailing and chasing, it doesn't move things along quicker. We have limited our chasing to one email a week on a Monday morning. There is literally no point doing any more.

Maybe we have a shit solicitor, who knows? But our buyers and sellers solicitors both seem to work as slowly and are just as unresponsive as ours is so I am not sure.

Anyway, pull up a chair and wait it out for it to be 'your turn' and try and lower your expectations.

This seems fairly normal from everyone I have spoken to who has sold and purchased a property in the last year.

Sounds horrific it's been 18 weeks I meant I feel that it could have been done in 8 if all concerned had thier act together but now on week 18 and solicitor has buggered off to work on other customers completion dates

OP posts:
Ophy83 · 25/02/2026 16:38

Is he a one man band or has he got a manager? I would escalate it if the latter as that isn't acceptable, if he can't manage his case load he shouldn't take on so many cases

adlitem · 25/02/2026 16:40

The solution is to pay on a time basis rather than fixed fee. Then you get the time/ attention you want for your sale. It is almost always more expensive though.

Helpmefindmysoul · 25/02/2026 16:43

Firstly is it a freehold or leasehold?

Secondly more than 1 email a day is unnecessary. Email tennis takes time away from actually doing work. You’re an individual with your case, the conveyancer has 100 cases so minimum of 100 clients so if he dealt with an email per file that’s a lot of time sending updates.

Lovelynames123 · 25/02/2026 16:44

My solicitor was recommended by my mortgage broker so when I wasnt very happy with progress I let my broker know that I didn't rate his recommendation. Presumably he puts a lot of business their way as after contact from the broker things moved very swiftly and I completed within about 10 weeks, also no chain

Original poster
Charltonstrek · 25/02/2026 16:50

The thing is that if he was at least giving a weekly update I wouldn't have sent those emails.

OP posts:
Original poster
Charltonstrek · 25/02/2026 16:51

Does anybody know how long im expected to wait for them to cease dealing with completions for other clients as they gave this excuse last Wednesday and still nothing

OP posts:
Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 25/02/2026 16:51

8 weeks is an easy smooth transaction. In real life it often takes 2-3 months. Don’t forget the solicitor has other cases too.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 25/02/2026 16:52

Charltonstrek · 25/02/2026 16:51

Does anybody know how long im expected to wait for them to cease dealing with completions for other clients as they gave this excuse last Wednesday and still nothing

How long is a piece of string?

Original poster
Charltonstrek · 25/02/2026 16:54

Helpmefindmysoul · 25/02/2026 16:43

Firstly is it a freehold or leasehold?

Secondly more than 1 email a day is unnecessary. Email tennis takes time away from actually doing work. You’re an individual with your case, the conveyancer has 100 cases so minimum of 100 clients so if he dealt with an email per file that’s a lot of time sending updates.

Its a leasehold and I found out that the management pack is meant to be requested as soon as my offer was accepted however it wasnt requested by sellers solicitor until 3 months into the process

OP posts:
Original poster
Charltonstrek · 25/02/2026 16:56

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 25/02/2026 16:52

How long is a piece of string?

Show quote history

Do they do alot of completions at end of a month only over several days that what I meant

OP posts:
Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 25/02/2026 16:56

Charltonstrek · 25/02/2026 16:54

Its a leasehold and I found out that the management pack is meant to be requested as soon as my offer was accepted however it wasnt requested by sellers solicitor until 3 months into the process

Show quote history

That’s slow re the management pack. Bear in mind the legal secs often deal with management packs and they’re usually overworked too. A leasehold property normally takes longer than 8 weeks. Are there any issues with it?

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 25/02/2026 16:57

Charltonstrek · 25/02/2026 16:56

Do they do alot of completions at end of a month only over several days that what I meant

Show quote history

Yes they do.

Original poster
Charltonstrek · 25/02/2026 16:57

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 25/02/2026 16:51

8 weeks is an easy smooth transaction. In real life it often takes 2-3 months. Don’t forget the solicitor has other cases too.

Its been 18 weeks

OP posts:
mondaytosunday · 25/02/2026 16:58

Once you find a good one they are worth they’re right in gold. I used to buy and sell quite a bit, so my solicitor knew I was going to be using get about once a year. When it came to Covid and the madness of the property market then, well she exceeded expectations. Tw fslse starts (seller decided she wanted to wait til she found a place after stating she’d move into rental, second seller pulled out; my DD and I plus two dogs were living in airbnbs first weeks when I finally found another house which was fortunately chain free. Deal done in six weeks - she checked the land registry for any access issues and drain plans before the surveyor did his bit so any queries/issues were ready to be addressed.
I hate the process in this country though, and I don’t know what has changed because back in the 1980s I saw a flat, got survey, mortgage and all searches back (they would send a runner to go get them in person) ready to exchange six DAYS later!