What are the 'rules' with solicitors and moving house?

[lavenderfields]

Supposed to exchange last Friday and complete this Friday. However none of this has happened yet as solicitor says he is waiting for a document from other solicitors about something to do with the land.

This is apparently a 'standard' document for the new build site and I know others who have it and have moved in and they started the whole process after us!

Have been waiting for this document for 3 weeks. Ive been patient. I've rung once a week for an update.

I rung yesterday. No news. My solicitor says that they are waiting for it still. Said he'd ring me if it came through.

I want to ring today and find out exactly what's going on but I don't know what to say and would appreciate some help. Call usually
Goes like this:

Me: just ringing for update on X
Him: no sorry no update still waiting for document. I'm waiting to hear back and will ring as soon as I hear something.
Me: ok, thanks , bye

I want to know why it hasn't come and exactly what he is doing to get it.

What do I say in phone call to get my point across without being rude?!

For Monday I would write something like:

I refer to our conversations last week regarding the documents which you have requested from the seller's solicitors, and which I understand you are waiting to receive in order to progress our purchase to exchange. I would be grateful if you would contact me to confirm whether the relevant documents have arrived with you today. If they have not, please would you contact the seller's solicitor by telephone to chase this up further and let me know the outcome.

I would be grateful to hear from you on the above before [4pm] today. As you are aware, the purchase has been dragging on and we are now anxious to matters as quickly as possible.

anxious to progress matters

Thank you I will copy and paste that for Monday. I feel like I am pestering them ringing every day but it's just hard when things are static as they've been for weeks

I have been told I will get a phone call before 5pm today so am waiting anxiously by the phone!

I was involved in a conveyancing thing (just as part of our local residents) and the new buyer was being held up. The seller's solicitor was busy and not efficient. The buyer's solicitor short circuited it all by calling me direct as they needed a document from me. The seller's solicitor said he would draw it up but did not do so so the buyer's one did it - then one also came in from the seller who had been shamed into producing it and it had about 15 mistakes I had to point out so he agreed to use the other side's one.. There was a massive difference between speed and level of service between the two sides. Buyer was proactive and doing thingso n receipt. Seller's one was waiting for ages, getting his secretary to do things and not very well and causing all the delays. The solution was to find out what is needed. Sometimes you can offer to obtainthe document and not leave it ot the lawyer to do. in the past I have sent couriers to get things. In fact when we moved here I said the cost did not matter but we would exchange in 7 days whatever and we achieved that.

Not ringing today, hoping he'll ring me! If not, I shall harass ring him tomorrow!

"I feel like I am pestering them ringing every day"
In the circumstances, you SHOULD be pestering them!

Nothing today so I am hopeful for tomorrow!