Land registry delays

[moredogsthansense]

My DD and her fiancé are FTB who had an offer accepted on a house back in February, still not exchanged. No chain, various unavoidable but highly stressful delays, which have gradually been overcome thus far. The current delay is that DD's solicitor has queried the spelling of the vendor's name on the Land Registry records - apparently their name is misspelt by one letter (vendor does not have a mortgage on the property, AFAIK this is a spelling error made by the LR). The buying process has stalled because of delays in resolving this at the LR - I think the request to change the spelling was lodged several weeks ago, and apparently the vendor has chased it last week with little joy.

I just wondered whether anyone knew
a) how long it's currently taking to hear back from the LR
b) whether it's actually essential to have this resolved before proceeding, or whether the solicitor is being unnecessarily pedantic in seeking to resolve it? There is no doubt that the vendor is who they say they are etc - house has been in ownership of this person and their deceased spouse since they bought it as a new build in the 1970s, records were amended on death of spouse last year, which I think is when the error crept in.

Thank you for any input here - the extended family are all exhausted with supporting them through this painful process!

just bumping this please, in case the Sunday evening crowd have any ideas! Thank you!

I think it’s worth sorting out properly - it’s the type of scam thing you read about in the tabloids all the time!

I recently moved house and exchange was held up by 2 months due to Land Registry delays. Mine was due due a non applicable restriction which had been left erroneously on the deeds. I was led to believe that cases could be expedited where there was risk of chains collapsing. I feel for you- it was totally frustrating not having a time frame to work to.

I recall reading a thread like this a while back.

Might be worth trying to search and seeing the outcome. I've tried but on the app and struggling to find it!

Thank you @redfairy - was your two month delay without you trying to expedite it with the LR, then?

I agree with redfairy, The Land Registry can expedite issues where there is risk of chains / sales collapsing.
We have this at present for the same reason and our solicitor asked for it to be prioritised.
Fingers crossed that it seems to be, so I'm sure your solicitor can do the same.

thanks all - daughter's solicitor has asked vendor's solicitor to expedite it, so I guess that's all they can do for now ...

@moredogsthansense I was in the same situation as your daughter as the Land Registry hold up was with our vendor's house so all I could do was ask my solicitor to keep on to theirs. Very frustrating to have to rely on the competance amd expertise of not only your own solicitor but the other solicitors in the chain too. Fingers crossed for your daughter.

Did the matter ever get resolved?
Hopefully it went through OK?
We are still waiting even though it was supposed to be expedited?

@Pogonogo yes, it was resolved within two weeks of the vendor putting in a request to expedite it, just as discussed upthread. Came through the week before last, although DD’s solicitor didn’t bother to tell them for a week or so 🙄. Hoping to exchange next week and complete middle of August, crossing fingers for them! Hopefully yours moves quickly, are you sure they actually did request expedition?

That's good news @moredogsthansense.
Ours was eventually dealt with, but they flagged problems which no one had noticed. Hopefully it will still be prioritised once the third party issues are dealt with.
Good luck with exchange and completion very soon.