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Original poster

Should you use solicitors who don't have a "no sale no legal fee" policy

28 replies

Lunapuf5 · 27/02/2023 13:34

We've spoke to a solicitor and they told us that they don't have a no sale no legal fee guarantee- is that a red flag? The property we are selling is leasehold so in case something happens and the sale falls through we would like that guarantee. Should we keep looking and is it a red flag when solicitors don't have this policy?

OP posts:
AngelDelightUK · 27/02/2023 13:35

I think that’s normal for most. They’ve done the work so need paying. It’s not their fault that the sale doesn’t go through.

HermioneWeasley · 27/02/2023 13:36

It’s been many years since I’ve bought a house, but I’ve never heard of this. I would expect to pay the solicitor for the time spent on my work, regardless of whether the sale goes through or not. I would expect any solicitor who’s any good to expect the same and I’d be dubious of anyone offering that “guarantee”.

good legal advice is worth the cost IME

Mammajay · 27/02/2023 13:38

It is normal to have to pay whether a sale completes or not but our conveyancer offered an insurance option

Twinklenoseblows · 27/02/2023 13:39

A good solicitor doesn't need to offer "no sale no fee". People are prepared to pay for quality legal advice. And why should they take the risk? It's rarely legal issues within their control which tank a sale. More likely someone changes their mind, gets made redundant, their mortgage falls through etc.

Drizzlepeacefully · 27/02/2023 13:40

No sale no fee is the red flag . If your solicitor advises you against a purchase and you pull out then you surely would expect to pay them ?

Conveyancing is not just managing a process , you are paying for Property Law advice and expertise.

CharlotteStreetW1 · 27/02/2023 13:45

I'd be more concerned about a firm that did offer it. I've worked for solicitors for 40 years and have never come across this (apart from ambulance chasing no win no fee cowboy firms.

HamstersAreMyLife · 27/02/2023 13:46

Drizzlepeacefully · 27/02/2023 13:40

No sale no fee is the red flag . If your solicitor advises you against a purchase and you pull out then you surely would expect to pay them ?

Conveyancing is not just managing a process , you are paying for Property Law advice and expertise.

This

FunnysInLaJardin · 27/02/2023 13:47

I haven't worked in the UK for nearly 25 years, and when I saw this thread title I thought, god is that what conveyancing has come to in the UK now.

I am very pleased to see that it isn't the norm!

OnMyWayToSenility · 27/02/2023 13:49

Go to good solicitors and take out insurance.. we did and it fell through. So we didn't have to pay their fees

mrscotton · 27/02/2023 13:51

I have just moved (literally 4 days ago) our solicitor had a policy that if you don’t get to exchange, they dont charge. You would have to pay for any searches etc but thats all you would lose if it didnt go through.

WiltingLobelia · 27/02/2023 13:52

I work in a law firm and briefly did a stint in conveyancing when training and have never heard of this before!

AmandaClare · 27/02/2023 13:53

Never heard of no sale no fee. Why would they offer that?

Original poster
Lunapuf5 · 27/02/2023 13:55

AngelDelightUK · 27/02/2023 13:35

I think that’s normal for most. They’ve done the work so need paying. It’s not their fault that the sale doesn’t go through.

It wouldn't be my fault either though- could very well be the buyer's fault

OP posts:
senua · 27/02/2023 13:56

There's no such thing as a free lunch. They can only offer 'no sale / no fee' if they increase fees to all vendors.

Drizzlepeacefully · 27/02/2023 14:14

Lunapuf5 · 27/02/2023 13:55

It wouldn't be my fault either though- could very well be the buyer's fault

Show quote history

OP .. there could be a title defect with the property you want to buy or it might have a bad structural survey .. then one of your solutions might be to withdraw from the purchase . Some things are insurable , or negotiable .. but somethings could really put you off

Ladyofthelake53 · 01/03/2023 15:03

I used a no sale no fee solicitor for house conveyancing, buying and selling. Good job i did because i sold 4 times and lost all 4 buyers

Ladyofthelake53 · 01/03/2023 15:05

Though no fault of my own i may add

CattySam · 01/03/2023 15:07

We used a no sale, no fee one and they were bloody awful. They were a big national conveyancing firm.

Used a local solicitor for our next sale and they were so much better! No sale no fee = shit quality IME.

WiltingLobelia · 01/03/2023 15:15

I would have to wonder if you would use any other regulated professional and think not paying them for their years of study; of practice - and more importantly- their indemnity insurance- would be worth it.

It's simply not worth it.

Conveyancers cost a fraction of real estate agents for a very great deal more work- yet no-one seems to quibble on REA fees in my experience. It's bizarre.

Malbab · 01/03/2023 15:15

We used as no sale no fee solicitor, yes they needed a lot of chasing also it didn't help they were based in Wales and we are in SE, but eventually got the job done. Our sellers used a renowned local solicitor and they were no better, looking at from our end. We went through monrysuper market to find them, I think overall i wouldn't have wanted to pay for a sale that never went through... So don't regret it

cstaff · 01/03/2023 15:19

If a sale does not go ahead generally it is a last minute decision and the only thing that hasn't happened is the exchange of funds. Up until that point most of the work has been completed I.e. drafting documents, reviewing title, contact with bank architect solicitors etc so if the work has been put in why should they not be paid.

Malbab · 01/03/2023 15:55

That is just the playing field solicitors are in, same as no win no fee solicitors, tough competition I guess

CampervanKween · 01/03/2023 15:58

WiltingLobelia · 01/03/2023 15:15

I would have to wonder if you would use any other regulated professional and think not paying them for their years of study; of practice - and more importantly- their indemnity insurance- would be worth it.

It's simply not worth it.

Conveyancers cost a fraction of real estate agents for a very great deal more work- yet no-one seems to quibble on REA fees in my experience. It's bizarre.

This with bells on. Thank you 😊

A decent solicitor should be adequately compensated. As you say, their fee compared to the estate agents is peanuts. And the work involved is crazy nowadays

NoSquirrels · 01/03/2023 16:00

Never heard of ‘no sale no fee’ , I’d think that was unusual. It’s a risk in the house buying process but it is what it is.

Cb1987 · 01/03/2023 16:02

I have bought and sold and used the same solicitors firm over the years and they did have this but it was more of an insurance you took out. I think maybe £50 possibly more I can’t remember exactly but our sale did fall through and we only paid for the searches not the solicitors time and this was right towards the end so plenty of hours had gone in to it. This was an insurance the solicitors offered when instructing them. But it wasn’t phrased No sell No legal fees but actually I suppose that’s what it was.

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