Solicitors bill

[thesoundofthepolice]

We moved house 6 weeks ago; our solicitor was awful and we had to chase every single thing to ensure the sale went through. DH was basically his secretary during the final week making sure everything was in place (it wasn't which was the most stressful experience)
Anyway, when should we expect to receive the bill? We've had absolutely no communication from him since the day of completion.

The last we spoke to him we were due £2k from the sale so even taking that into account he's still due a large sum from us, around £6k. DH thinks we should chase for the bill whereas I'm quite happy keeping hold of the money.

Mostly the fees are collected in prior to completion and the invoice prepared and paid on the day of completion. The only exceptions tend to be where the matter has been particularly complex and consequently being time costed where the full bill should be supplied as soon as possible following completion.

There definitely wasn't enough funds with the sale of our house to finalise the bill and we've had no confirmation anything has been settled/paid off etc

We accepted a lower offer meaning the
Solicitor fees were going to be paid out of savings rather than equity from the old place and had asked for confirmation of money he needed forwarded on to him and that's when he told us we were due £2k but haven't heard anything since then.

Are you saying he is due £6k for conveyancing fees? That seems like a lot.

We used him for selling and buying that includes all fees associated with both.

I would chase for the invoice so you can see that everything has been finalised property

That's is far too much for selling and buying. You should be closer to 2k than 6k. I would seriously be challenging this. I've loved several times and never paid anywhere near 6k

Apologies that includes LBTT payment also which was just over £5k

The total we were quoted £7200 all included. Paying the fees isn't an issue the money is sitting there earning me minimal interest but I'm loath to chase the useless solicitor yet again. He caused me the most stressful week of my life so far and that isn't even an exaggeration I was making my self ill worrying about it all

Sorry if I have misunderstood but if you have still to pay the Stamp duty then I don't think the solicitor will have paid it for you
Certainly nowhere I have ever worked would
Without the stamp duty having been paid your title won't have been registered
And penalties will be incurred if the stamp duty is not paid within the prescribed period

LBTT is Scottish stamp duty if I remember correctly? They should have ensured that they were in funds from you to pay this prior to completion. I would be very concerned if they hadn’t and would be chasing by this. You are personally liable to make sure the correct tax is paid so it is absolutely in your interest to make sure this has been done.

when we last bought we had 2 lists of monies

1. deposit, purchase price, mortgage
2. solicitor's fee, stamp duty, fees (searches, bank)

all was settled with completion.

The Registers of Scotland will not register your title until the LBTT is paid

If LBTT not paid within 30 days 5% of tax is due as a penalty plus interest

Only a very poor solicitor would complete a purchase without being in funds to pay stamp duty/lbbt. It is one of the golden rules of conveyancing. As they were so rubbish throughout the transactions, unfortunately, you will have to check and ensure that your lbbt payment is made and return submitted. Get an update, get the final amount due, get written confirmation of lbbt payment/submission and finally that your purchase has been registered etc. Incompetent solicitors should always be complained about to the firm and, if necessary, to the Law Society. You can negotiate a reduction in the solicitor's fee along the way.

Wait till he sends the bill then pay , it up to him to send a bill not for you to go chasing him for it!! This apparently happened to my dh years ago when he sold his first flat. 30 years later still not paid the solicitors bill because they never sent one.

But the LBTT is usually paid on settlement day, I would phone and ask the cash office at the solicitors and ask if the LBTT has been paid directly from the funds from the sale of house? If it has that’s good if not then get it paid ASAP . As for the actual solicitor bill just wait till he sends it.

DH caved today and emailed the solicitor. We might get a reply by the end of November. His admin is appalling but at least we will have confirmation one way or another.

That's good
So important for you to find out if the LBTT has been paid in time and your title registered