Solicitor protocol

[INeedABiggerBoat]

Sorry I'm posting on here again, FTB and don't want to take a wrong step!

8 weeks ago we had our (below asking price) offer accepted on a flat in London, and we've made every effort to move really quickly to make sure we get the place. The tenants who are currently in the flat move out very soon but we are still waiting on quite a lot of paperwork from the vendor. We're concerned that now the tenants are moving out the vendor will urge the estate agents to arrange viewings again (tenants were being very difficult - we had trouble arranging our viewing).

We're not too worried about the vendor pulling out as long as we can keep things moving along and exchange/complete quickly, but our and their solicitors seem to have put this to the bottom of their priorities. Things moved really quickly in the first 6 weeks and now they've slowed to a crawl.

Would we be unreasonable to phone the vendor's solicitors directly to ask if there's anything we can do to hasten the process? Or will that really piss off both sets of solicitors? Does anyone have any tips for nudging things on?

It will piss off the vendor's solictor! Our buyers did that and it didn't go down well. Your solicitor's job is to chase these things along with the vendor's solicitor and keep you informed as to exactly where you are in the process. Could it be that the searches are taking longer than expected/hoped?

I don't think you should do it. You can chase the vendor and your solicitor can chase their solicitor.

you can only talk to the agent and your solicitor. The agent generally won't get paid unless the sale goes through so get on to them. If they aren't bothered, next stop is your solicitor.

some vendors are very dozy and need regular kicking, and it is also possible that you are being classed as 'little people' and being made to wait. (we had people in our chain do this). As it is London, ultimatums may backfire, but you may have to risk issuing one rather than wasting much more time.

some solicitors do nothing unless phoned regularly. You are paying yours, so keep nagging and phoning. If they are still bone idle, consider not paying their entire bill. They should turn round paperwork within a day.

Presumably this is a leasehold property? Often the delay is waiting for the leasehold pack from the management company/landlord which can take weeks and weeks to arrive. Could be this that is holding everything up?

it could be the vendor stalling, and even telling their solicitor to slow down. As the tenants aer moving out, they may want to make sure they are getting the best offer they can get, by having some surreptitious viewings. Then they could decide whether to stay with your offer or to make you up your offer, ot move on. Typical in London where prices can grow over a couple of months by 5K in some places.
But if it's clear to then that your offer is all they can get (or near enough) they'll suddenly speed up again.

Thank you for your replies. We'll keep the pressure up on our solicitors and the estate agent. Spickle - I think that is what we're waiting for so it's good to hear that it does usually take a while to come through. Beagles - that's exactly what we're worried about as the property is easily worth at least £10k over what we're paying as property prices are rising so quickly in that area. Our only hope is that the vendor just wants to sell now as she had another buyer fall through last year and we're really far on in the process.