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Buyer’s solicitor wants the boundaries redrawn.

22 replies

brainfried2 · 10/01/2018 07:28

NC as this is particularly outing to anyone that knows me or of the situation.

Backstory: We bought the house 3 and a bit years ago. Property and land was registered in 2006, it was a large piece of land split down the middle, driveway down the middle, houses, parking and garden on opposite sides.

We have a copy of a TP1 dated 2006. It’s not drawn with solid red lines as per a title plan, merely someone got busy with different coloured highlighters (blue, light blue, yellow, light yellow) to show ownership of the two separate plots.

There are errors on the TP1. In light of that we are in possession of a letter from Land Registry dated 2007, that explains there are errors in the TP1 and includes a plan which shows the area that was mistakenly shaded, and a title plan outlined in solid red line that clearly shows the boundaries and the buildings in the correct position (TP1 shows our house overhanging the driveway).

Initially buyer’s solicitor asked us to confirm the position of the house and where we park. We did this and heard nothing further. This was before Christmas.

Last week on Tuesday we spoke to our buyer who said she was ready to exchange on Friday (of last week), she paid her deposit and went in Friday morning to sign the paperwork. She signed all documents and then her solicitor told her there was an issue with the TP1 and that it needed rectifying by Land Registry and boundaries redrawn. She was fairly upbeat about it and said she was sure it was “sortable”.

We obviously spoke to our solicitor who was equally as confused as we were. She resent the 2007 paperwork to the buyer’s solicitor. They came back saying that the 2007 documents don’t correct the TP and that it is defective and needs rectifying. Our solicitor contacts the LR, they confirm the 2007 paperwork is the rectification of the 2006 TP1. They go back to the solicitor and their response is that “they are dealing with a mortgage and the issue needs to be rectified”. They then send an ordinance survey mapshot with two coloured lines of crayon on it asking that these boundaries are redrawn as on the TP1 they are not coloured in. It’s literally where the felt tip that was initially used to colour hasn’t gone right up to the line of the boundary.

They then add that on the TP1 the lighter colours aren’t visible on their hard copy, so...you’ve guessed it, it needs rectifying.

Our solicitor is tearing her hair out and fires off another email stating that she’s attached an electronic copy and that if you zoom in it clearly shows the colour difference. This is also what the LR said when it was referred to them.

I’m going out of my mind here, not sleeping well etc. So I rang LR to put my mind at ease, they confirm that the 2007 documents sort out the errors on the TP1 and that the title plan dated 2007 is the rectification of boundaries.

The buyer’s solicitor has asked us to take out Indemnity Insurance and to get the boundaries rectified by LR. That’s the latest from them.

Our solicitor has advised us not to get the insurance as there is no need. The Land Registry have said there will be no rectification as it’s been done.

Feel like we are at stalemate. Buyer tells us she wants to proceed but cannot unless the solicitor supports it for the mortgage company. Do we just pull out and re-market?

I see we have done everything we can do. We actually can’t do what they ask of us as it’s been done. We’ve also already paid £300 for a structural inspection report (that came back absolutely fine) as our buyer only wanted home insurance through a particular company, and that is what they required as parts of the house date back to the 1700s.

To make matters worse we are trying to emigrate and both had to turn down contracts starting after Christmas so that we would be ready to move. I’m confident we will find work. It’s just the ballache of being back at square 1.

Not even sure there is any advice, but feels good to rant about it!

OP posts:
Kerberos · 10/01/2018 07:31

If I eas your buyer I'd want exactly the same to happen - sorry to say but it seems like an unacceptable risk to me.

InfiniteSheldon · 10/01/2018 07:33

Agree get it redone/pay the indemnity ins

Angryosaurus · 10/01/2018 07:42

We are going through similar but are the buyers. Mortgage company won’t lend until boundaries redone at land registry. Just to warn you it takes 3-4 months for this to happen :(

wowfudge · 10/01/2018 07:43

But the LR have said there is nothing to rectify? Can your solicitor write to the other side with this information? What's the point of trying to do something that the LR won't entertain anyway?

I suggest you give the EA the whole story and ask them to speak to the buyer. If you or she will pay for the indemnity then you are home and dry surely? Your solicitor has told you it's pointless but if that is what it takes for the buyer's mortgage then just do it.

Angryosaurus · 10/01/2018 07:44

We are going through similar but are the buyers. Mortgage company won’t lend until boundaries redone at land registry. Just to warn you it takes 3-4 months for this to happen :(

wowfudge · 10/01/2018 07:47

Do you have anything in writing from the LR? If not, ask your solicitor to put everything in writing to the other side if she hasn't already.

Get the EA to tell the buyer the whole story so she knows what is holding things up - sometimes it takes their client to tell them they are being daft to get a solicitor to reconsider. They are they to advise and seem over zealous in this case.

If the indemnity is what it takes for the buyer's mortgage then, pointless as it may be, one of you should pay for it to get the deal done.

wowfudge · 10/01/2018 07:48

Sorry - didn't think I had posted at all the first time; my phone stuck and my first post didn't show at all.

Angryosaurus · 10/01/2018 07:49

But if the issue is the mortgage co won’t lend then it’s not the solicitor being daft?

brainfried2 · 10/01/2018 07:52

I’m not against the insurance, I’m annoyed we’d be paying out again when according to the Land Registry there is nothing to sort.

I suppose that’s my issue. The Land Registry are saying nothing needs to be redrawn, so does their say on things not count?

Solicitor is getting written confirmation from the LR, that is how we have left things with them.

There is nothing wrong with the boundaries. The 2007 paperwork and the Land Registy confirm that. So to have to wait 3-4 months to have something done that isn’t deemed necessary by the institute that would be doing it, seems ludicrous.

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brainfried2 · 10/01/2018 07:55

Sorry should add, we are in direct contact with the buyer. As far as she is aware the mortgage company isn’t involved at this point. I suppose if they won’t lend to her on the basis of what the solicitor is saying then that’s that.

Does the mortgage company not pay any mind to the Land Registry then?

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brainfried2 · 10/01/2018 08:16

Sorry you’re going through it Angryosaurus. I hope it takes the least amount of time for you. Flowers

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InfiniteSheldon · 10/01/2018 08:23

Sorry have re-read that it seems it's the buyers solicitors covering their backs. You could offer to split the indemnity costs with buyers but put in writing that LR have already redone boundaries and so cant/won't do them again. We had similar with our last sale. We took an internal wall down no building regs but buyers solicitors insisted we just said no can't gets something signed off that doesn't need signing off your solicitor is being an arse either proceed or we will remarket. As they have already exchanged its obviously not the mortgage co it's them being idiots very little risk to calling their bluff.

tentative3 · 10/01/2018 08:37

We had an actual boundary problem, a utility room that was clearly on what everyone would expect to be next door's land. It transpires the boundary has been that way for as long as anyone can remember (neighbour been there 50 years). Neighbour agreed to formally transfer land over to us but once the issue had been investigated mortgage company were fine to proceed (our solicitor did get a transfer of part sorted but It was lodged on the day of completion directly from the neighbour to us). My point is though that the mortgage company might be fine with it anyway. We are with Santander. Might be worth telling the buyer to speak to their mortgage company direct. If nothing else they might accept the indemnity alone.

brainfried2 · 11/01/2018 16:57

Boundary issue now resolved, apparently they are now happy with the boundary but want the title amending as the TP1 is defective because the property is drawn as being over the driveway.

Actual title plan and 2007 documents clearly show the property as not being over the driveway. I’ve spoken to LR again today and sent everything across so they can put in writing that they don’t consider an amendment necessary. Fingers crossed that will sort everything.

I actually paid and took it to another solicitor without telling them what had been said, they just basically told us what our solicitor and the Land Registry had. So I do feel like we are in the right.

I’ve told our solicitor to get an Indemnity Insurance quote as to be honest I just want it done with. But that will be our last card so to speak, really hoping that it gets resolved without us paying out.

We should have been emigrating tomorrow. Sad

OP posts:
wowfudge · 11/01/2018 18:08

You'll get there - sounds as though progress has been made at least.

ChristinaParsons · 11/01/2018 21:33

PM me

Allthebestnamesareused · 12/01/2018 09:21

I'd be interested to hear what they quote for the indemnity insurance

brainfried2 · 12/01/2018 14:04

@christinaparsons Will PM you now.

@allthebestnamesareused We’ve been quoted £144.

Indemnity Insurance is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Forwarded the LR written response first though, hoping that will be enough.

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Angryosaurus · 12/01/2018 14:19

Keeping everything crossed for you!

brainfried2 · 12/01/2018 15:34

Thanks @angryosaurus !

Just pacing the kitchen waiting for a response. The Land Registry has confirmed it’s not defective, so I’m not sure they can argue still that it is, but I don’t know who has the final say in the matter.

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brainfried2 · 12/01/2018 17:31

They had the written confirmation at 3pm and have not returned any of my solicitor’s emails or calls. Buyer rang at 3.30pm and was told someone would call her back shortly.

I text the buyer asking if they’d been updated just before 5, as it seems pretty unfair they’d leave the buyer (keen to proceed) and us to wait until Monday!

Buyer has just text asking if I can let them know when we want to move. Taking this as a positive but not sure if she’s had confirmation from them that all is OK.

Going to drive myself nuts over the weekend. Need Wine

I can’t give a completion date until I know when we will exchange, as the European removals company will have to see when they can fit us in. And they won’t secure the booking until we have exchanged. Bleurgh!

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brainfried2 · 12/01/2018 18:00

Buyer has just text, her solicitor has said they are satisfied with the Land Registry response and they will now do the final review of the file and be in touch Monday to talk dates.

Trying not to get too excited!

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