Should i have paid my deposit already?

[Jenjen9000]

Help please!
I signed the paperwork for my house purchase in November. Just over 2 weeks ago i was asked to pay the deposit and did. I have chased the solicitors up today to find out if they are ready to exchange contracts, but was told the seller hasn’t signed his paperwork yet. Should i have been asked to pay my deposit?
Am i able to ask for it to be returned to me until they are absolutely ready?

It’s quite normal for your solicitors to hold your deposit - they need to be sure you have the money for them to be able to confirm you’re ready to exchange.

Why do you want it back?

Perfectly appropriate that deposit is with solicitor well ahead in good time - but worried that you have signed everything for exchange but the seller hasn't done so yet unless you are all in a chain and the upward chain isnt ready yet?

There’s not a chain. I have been asking solicitor to contact the others to see when it is likely for them to sign and I haven’t had any response at all.
I would ask for the deposit back because they are accumulating interest on it and it wasnt ready to go ahead yet.

Any interest accrued whilst deposit is with solicitor is yours, not the solicitor's

I don't understand how you were in a position to sign in Nov and they, as the sellers, are not yet if there is no chain. When you signed did yo agree a completion date?

Sounds like they might be looking to buy something or dragging their feet for some other reason?

Interest is pence - would cost you more in a single bank transfer fee - so find what they are up to first. If there is no response you need to put in a deadline.