Northern Irish title deeds lost by building society!

[placemark123]

In NI title deeds aren't electronically registered as in rest of U.K., still paper document. We have a very smooth sale and purchase chain that is supposed to be completing in 4 weeks, thankfully both with same estate agent. We have no mortgage but Halifax has our deeds... vendor has large mortgage also with Halifax (so Halifax has their deeds). Just been casually informed by solicitor that Halifax is moving premises so has no idea where deeds are 😱.

We are on super tight schedule as we are moving back from abroad and can't live in the property we're selling any more (absolutely tiny, can't physically fit everyone in plus have non-family member staying with us). We are so f*ked! Should we pull out of the purchase and just rent somewhere for a year?

Both sets of deeds lost?

I was once sent the original deeds of a property in Scotland. NRAM, who had my details as a former customer of Northern Rock, just sent them over in my name...I had no relationship the property or owners whatsoever. Also, they had just popped 'em in the post with no tracking or security. Unbelievable.

Halifax must replace (no idea how) and compensate for any financial loss as a result of this IMHO. Hope you get it sorted.

Oh my God divided that's crazy! So scary!

Halifax are moving premises, so can't access them - no information on how long this will take, where the f they actually are, and things move so much more slowly over there (in the conveyancing world definitely, and God knows it's not 90 miles an hour here) that solicitors etc are all 'ah well now, you know it's the twelfth fortnight' 'oh well even when we get the deeds, their solicitors like to do things in their own time'

I just don't understand why the vendors of the property we're buying aren't more stressed about this! Everyone seems to be very chill.

I would not be chill. I was not chill about reading someone else's. I sent them back to nram special delivery with a strongly worded message about their responsibility to customers. They didn't bother to acknowledge it or refund my postage costs. Goodness only knows whether the rightful owners received them in the end!

I simply don't see how your solicitor can do the necessary checks without them if land registry has no electronic copy.

They found ours! Hurrah! Not sure about the ones to the house we're buying.

I'm not clear, are both the houses in NI?

I tried to buy a house in NI 3 years ago and the deeds couldn't be found. We pulled out of the sale in the end.

Yes, both.

'Tis so archaic!!!