Preferred solicitor

[Notmorewashing]

Someone in my chain has been asked to use a reccomended solicitor.

Has anyone had offer accepted when not using preferred solicitor as reccommended by housing company/ estate agent ?

Obviously it’s rediculous to do so therefore I’m unsure if things will go ahead.

I would have been very anti once.

However when buying her first house a dd did use the EA's recommended solicitor - she didn't know of any other and had no personal recommendation.
The purchase went through amazingly quickly - - just 6 weeks from offer accepted to getting the keys.

I was amazed, especially after having told her to expect 3 months. And I have to assume it was at least partly down to using their sol - it was obv. in all their interests to get the sale wrapped up quickly. Whereas Dh and I have used sols who needed a stick of dynamite up their jacksies to get anything done.
I don't think dd paid over the odds, either.

PS - however I don't see that it's at all legal for them to insist. Many people may have their own trusted sol who they'd prefer to use.

Part of the issue of people buying new/build house leaseholds (rather than free Hook D’s) and then getting stung for escalation by ground rent costs is that they used the builder’s recommended solicitors.

In my last chain my buyer used a cheapo conveyancing firm who weren't solicitors, it held the chain up by a month. Next time I'll be trying my best to influence everyone to use a proper solicitor.

Rather than freehold

I've never used an estate agent's recommended solicitor. I'm a lawyer myself and prefer to make my own choice.

Would this deter the offer being accepted as the builders would prefer their solicitor to be used ? If so isn’t this a bit unlawful

They may do things quickly but if the buyer has an issue after we all exchange they won’t be able to do anything as there will be a conflict of interest

They can recommend but cannot insist. Use a solicitor you want to.

Go with your own choice. My sellers estate agent pushed a list at both of us, quite insistent - they picked off the list & I went with a family recommendation.

My solicitor was great & ticked off every detail and actually rang me a few times with updates rather than being chased all the time. Their solicitor was not great on detail, wasted time and at exchange we discovered they'd 'forgotten' to get the contract signed.....nothing important then 🙄

Definitely recommend you make your own choice - the estate agent was a bit narked I didn't pick one of his people but nothing he could do about it and it certainly didn't affect the sale negatively.