I hate conyancers

[Bells3032]

So little background. I owned a flat i bought four years ago, couple of months later met now DH and moved to his flat (owned by his parents) after two years - rented mine out.

DH are now wanting to buy a house as the flat isn't really big enough to start a family in. We are literally about to complete tomorrow.

We originally put my flat on the market in June and had it under offer in a week as a tenant in situ. 8 weeks later they admitted they had a residential mortgage and we couldn't go through with the sale. However, they said they had decided to live there and after putting it back on the market as a tenancy and no biters I gave my tenants notice. I cut their rent for the last three months and they moved out November 8th. in august the buyers had their mortgage and survey done so should of just been searches and enquiries. They blamed their previous lawyer and changed lawyer and this one has been useless. She's had the file since 28th September, didn't apply for searches til 9th November and then finally sent enquires today - all of them about the tenant that no longer exists. I am getting so fed up - it's now empty for 2 months when it should of been ready to go from the date tenants moved out.

So we decided to move forward with the purchase as we had enough funds anyway as we aren't living in the flat being sold - money would be a bit tight but hoped it would only be for a few weeks at most. so exchanged in October to complete tomorrow and with hope we'd complete on the flat first. A week before Christmas the lawyer tells us there's a clause in the new mortgage (which we got waaaay back in August) that says my previous mortgage needs to be paid off to take on my new one.

So my in laws offer to pay off my old mortgage and we will repay them when the flat is sold. So they transferred the funds to the lawyer and they requested a redemption statement from my mortgage company. Mortgage company has sent it several times but my lawyers have said they haven't received it. Checked with the bank the email address and its all correct, checked my portal and can see the letter has been sent. But the bank won't email me a copy, the lawyers refuse to do it without a letter addressed directly to them and my head just hurts.

So we may not complete tomorrow cos of an entire cock up and people unable to do their jobs.

So stressed. Just wanted a rant. Thank you.

I understand this is so frustrating, been in a similar position myself, but its not necessarily the lawyers fault. They legally cannot redeem a mortgage without a figure direct from the bank. So they are bound by that. Lenders are taking a long time to process requests for things like redemption figures due to the pandemic and also, some lenders outsource work overseas which have their own local restrictions and complications which can cause delays.

On the sale...it could be the conveyancers fault. But on the flip side, the conveyancer is unable to request searches without instructions from their client, money on account from their client or a plan from the sellers solicitors to confirm with their own client....some searches are also taking a very long to come back, particularly local ones. They are completed by individuals at local authorities so if there are absences/holidays/working from home complications due to the pandemic then this all has an effect.

Yup, the conveyancers could be crap, but they could all just be struggling with things outside of their control and be as frustrated as you are ! Or it could be the parties on the other side of the transactions blaming the conveyancers because that's the easiest thing to do!

Oh goodness! Can you arrange for the bank to print the letter and send it via an express courier? Potentially expensive, but not as expensive as losing your deposit for failing to complete!

So finally at 4pm the lawyers have finally located the statement that was sent to them on the 29th! We got the owner involved and magically it has appeared! Hurrah we can complete

Phew! It's stuff like this that makes house selling and buying one of life's greatest stresses. But it's very frustrating that it doesn't actually NEED to be this stressful!

I feel your pain! Mine sent some time sensitive documents in the normal post 4 days before Christmas! Needless to say documents never arrived and we failed to complete on the 22nd. Everyone was in flap, the lender wouldn’t complete without hard copies of these docs. I was then served notice to complete by the vendor, and I made it clear that I would take legal action for any further fees or in the event I had to forfeit my deposit. Thankfully it all worked out, the vendors were patient and didn’t charge further fees and we completed this afternoon.

@SpaceRaiders how redic. Glad you completed! hope you enjoy your new home

fingers crossed I will be saying the same thing tomorrow. Now gotta finish a load of work I have neglected today due to being on the phone/too stressed out

@Bells3032 It’s an investment purchase. It doesn’t matter how many times I transact each year, it doesn’t make it any less stressful.

All being well, you’re on the last hurdle. Good luck with the move!

@Bells3032 why do I sense premier property lawyers behind it. :)

@mumsy27 nope. Good old fashioned high street lawyers

Yay we completed (on the house at least), moving day tomorrow!!