co-freeholder refusing to show insurance/sign LPE1 for flat sale

[claresheep]

imminently ready to exchange on sale (as the vendor) except for a very unreasonable co-freeholder who is not responding to any requests to sign the LPE1 form ,or show proof of their insurance. this is a probate property and we are aware the insurance should have been for the whole house(terrace split into two flats up and down stairs). we have offered to pay solicitors costs and emailed all relevant forms to him, saying it is a matter of urgency now(he has delayed any answers for 3 months) and he says he is going on holiday -meanwhile the sale is going to fall through. the solicitor says we would have to take him to a court declaration which could go on for months and the buyer will be long gone by then,-does anyone have any advice?

can you insure the property yourselves? Or if you have to have him sign then either pleading or offering cash would seem to be the way forward. Any idea why he is being so awkward?

We had the same is most likely be awkward so that they can put a cheeky offer and basically be as obstructive as possible so can low ball the OP.

Sorry no advice other then what your solicitor has suggested.

Ask your solicitor to consider maisonette/missing landlord indemnity insurance.

You have to abide by certain criteria so be careful as one is not attempting to contact the landlord for such and such an amount of time...

Your lender should be happy with that.

I would get your solicitor to remind him that should he want to sell in the future, that he will have to go down exactly the same road and it would do him well to remember that when he needs his co freeholder to sign