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Original poster

Seller's solicitor is slow and unresponsive

45 replies

needybaby · 09/07/2024 11:38

Hi all,
Just need some general advice about the following.
We are purchasing a house and have had mortgage offer sent through to us, searches ordered and a surveyor in (the surveyor has highlighted a few issues with the property that the seller is unaware of so far). This has cost us quite a bit so far (London surveyors and solicitors cost an arm and leg).

It's been about 5 weeks since offer acceptance, and my solicitors have been fine and they emailed the seller's solicitor the initial enquiries.

Now two weeks later we've found out that we still haven't had the initial enquiries resolved. I called the agent and he has agreed this is a bit too long on the seller's part considering we've done so much on our end already. He spoke to the seller and they've said they haven't heard anything about initial enquiries from their own solicitor.

So obviously, I'm quite f'd off today knowing that the seller's solicitor hasn't relayed the initial enquiries to the seller and that the seller themselves hasn't bothered to think or check where the hell are the initial enquiries!

We got a nonsense email from the estate agent trying to reassure us that the seller is committed to selling to us.

It's been 5 whole weeks and we've done all our parts, but need to get a few specialists in to check and quote for the problems the surveyor rightly mentioned in their report.

I'm starting to go off the house now today and pissed off with my husband who still wants to send in specialists as per the surveyor (I think this is a waste of our time and money right now until the seller takes some action first).

I'm not sure if it's my anger and feeling completely disrespected for my time and money while the seller does fuck all.

OP posts:
saynotoo · 09/07/2024 14:34

I wouldn't say this is particularly slow to be honest.

saynotoo · 09/07/2024 14:35

Is there a chain? If so is it complete?

Original poster
needybaby · 09/07/2024 18:16

saynotoo · 09/07/2024 14:35

Is there a chain? If so is it complete?

hi, no there's no chain. just us and this idiot vendor and their solicitor

OP posts:
Original poster
needybaby · 09/07/2024 18:20

saynotoo · 09/07/2024 14:34

I wouldn't say this is particularly slow to be honest.

thanks for your thoughts but honestly, you don't think the vendors solicitor not telling them that there are initial enquiries for them to resolve is not only slow, but also pathetic? would you be happy as a seller to find out that your solicitor has not passed this on to you for over two weeks, and it's only come to light because your buyer has chased it themselves? i'm sorry but that is ridiculous to me - to be paying a solicitor £thousands and they are that dense to not forward on enquiries.

the vendor is a moron. if i was selling my property i'd be chasing for the initial enquiries otherwise i'd never get my house sold.

but not only is their solicitor a fucking imbecile, the vendor is a total muppet thick shit too.

OP posts:
Original poster
needybaby · 09/07/2024 18:20

does anyone know how i can sue the vendor and their solicitor as their actions are costing me time and money as i am now having to extend my rental. i am so livid i will not less this pass

OP posts:
EmeraldRoulette · 09/07/2024 18:24

I was with you till you mentioned suing

it is crap of both vendor and solicitor and I’d already have got my solicitor to ask, politely, if they were still interested in selling!

but no, you can’t sue

and you need to familiarise yourself with the law IMHO

Original poster
needybaby · 09/07/2024 18:26

EmeraldRoulette · 09/07/2024 18:24

I was with you till you mentioned suing

it is crap of both vendor and solicitor and I’d already have got my solicitor to ask, politely, if they were still interested in selling!

but no, you can’t sue

and you need to familiarise yourself with the law IMHO

I am pretty sure if someone isn't doing their job and it impacts you, then they have broken the law. in this case, it's the vendor's solicitor not doing their job. i'm sure the vendor could sue too if we pulled out because of the solicitors unresponsiveness and causing them to lose the sale.

if the vendor pulls out or we pull out, that's of course different. but their solicitor not doing their job, that i am sure is grounds for me to sue. i am going to find out.

OP posts:
Motheranddaughter · 09/07/2024 18:28

You definitely can’t sue
Maybe calm down a bit
Ask your solicitor to phone the selling solicitor for an update / timescale
If that doesn’t work get the estate agents to contact the seller
The downside of not being in a chain is that the party selling doesn’t care as much as if he had a property to buy

Motheranddaughter · 09/07/2024 18:29

You can waste more time looking into the law but a solicitor of 30 years standing I can tell you you have no title to sue

Feelingstrange2 · 09/07/2024 18:29

You can't. A property transaction is a big ticket purchase and it takes as long as it takes. You can pull out before exchange if its as annoying as it certainly seems to be. You've instructed people to act on your behalf so you will incur some cost.

5 weeks isn't very long. It's unusual for any realatively straightforward transaction to take fewer than 12 weeks.

You shouldn't have given notice on your rental before having a date to move in stone. Or, if the landlord has given you notice, I'm.sorry it's a stressful situation to be in but it's not something you can sue for.

Buying a home is a stressful time. You need to try and focus on not worrying about anything not in your control.

Original poster
needybaby · 09/07/2024 18:30

Motheranddaughter · 09/07/2024 18:28

You definitely can’t sue
Maybe calm down a bit
Ask your solicitor to phone the selling solicitor for an update / timescale
If that doesn’t work get the estate agents to contact the seller
The downside of not being in a chain is that the party selling doesn’t care as much as if he had a property to buy

thanks, i appreciate you messaging. tbh, i've been finding it hard to be calm. in fact, the surveyor has brought up issues about the property and some works that might be unsafe and i am so livid i am thinking of pulling out and reporting the fucking assholes to building control and having an unsafe property so that they get the place ripped to shreds and no one will buy it.

vendors should not be fucking off buyers in this high interest market right now!

OP posts:
Cookerhood · 09/07/2024 18:33

A family member is buying a property & it's taken 6 months (so far), a lot of it due to the vendors' solicitor. It's shit but it happens. They are still paying rent too.

fromtheshires · 09/07/2024 18:34

needybaby · 09/07/2024 18:20

does anyone know how i can sue the vendor and their solicitor as their actions are costing me time and money as i am now having to extend my rental. i am so livid i will not less this pass

You cannot sue anyone until contracts have exchanged and then the seller or buyer fails to complete.

Ip until the day of exchange anyone can walk away without any claim being able to be brought. Welcome to the english house buying process.

My buyers walked away on exchange day. It cost me £2000. Could I anything no.

If this is winding you up to this extent I suggest house purchasing isn't really for you as it's a rollercoaster.

Original poster
needybaby · 09/07/2024 18:34

Motheranddaughter · 09/07/2024 18:29

You can waste more time looking into the law but a solicitor of 30 years standing I can tell you you have no title to sue

if you're a solicitor, and you don't do your job and it impacts someone, you don't think you can't get sued? if a doctor doesn;t do their job and you get sick, you can't sue? if a driver drinks and drives and you get hurt, you can't sue? why do you think solicitors are untouchable? they're nt.

my brother in law is a barrister so i will have the resources to check. i will not let this pass. i feel so disrespected by this vendor and their solicitor., they have no idea who buyers and their resources and connections are. i am certain i have grounds to sue, there will be something. there always is.

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 09/07/2024 18:34

This is completely normal.

The process is very slow.

I bought last year and the average time was twelve weeks then and I doubt it's got quicker.

You don't seem familiar with the process. Maybe talk to someone who has bought before?

testing987654321 · 09/07/2024 18:35

needybaby · 09/07/2024 18:20

does anyone know how i can sue the vendor and their solicitor as their actions are costing me time and money as i am now having to extend my rental. i am so livid i will not less this pass

Oh dear me, no, it doesn't work like that. They aren't obliged to respond at all certain speed.

fromtheshires · 09/07/2024 18:35

@needybaby your username really checks out.

Original poster
needybaby · 09/07/2024 18:36

Cookerhood · 09/07/2024 18:33

A family member is buying a property & it's taken 6 months (so far), a lot of it due to the vendors' solicitor. It's shit but it happens. They are still paying rent too.

sorry to hear that. it's disgusting.
my issue is more about the vendor's solicitor. i will find grounds to sue.

regarding the vendor themselves, their house has issues and i'm happy to report them to building control and that'll teach them for fucking with me and my money.

OP posts:
Freshwater4 · 09/07/2024 18:37

This has to be a wind up...

TheRoseTurtle · 09/07/2024 18:38

You're over-reacting to everything. Not everybody is a muppet failing to do what they are supposed to do. OK, the seller's solicitor perhaps could or should have been a bit more responsive, but probably has a large number of client purchases and sales to deal with. And you're not their client so they owe you nothing. The only muppet I can see here is you, for having given notice on your rental before exchanging contracts - until that point, nothing is certain, and you can't be sure this deal with go through at all. Chill.

fromtheshires · 09/07/2024 18:38

Freshwater4 · 09/07/2024 18:37

This has to be a wind up...

Id like to think so but theres just no telling

Original poster
needybaby · 09/07/2024 18:39

TheRoseTurtle · 09/07/2024 18:38

You're over-reacting to everything. Not everybody is a muppet failing to do what they are supposed to do. OK, the seller's solicitor perhaps could or should have been a bit more responsive, but probably has a large number of client purchases and sales to deal with. And you're not their client so they owe you nothing. The only muppet I can see here is you, for having given notice on your rental before exchanging contracts - until that point, nothing is certain, and you can't be sure this deal with go through at all. Chill.

i haven't given notice on my rental. who said i did? you don't know anything about my rental situation except that i said it's been extended. perhaps i have a lovely landlord who has kindly let me keep extending for awhile. how about not guessing about me and stick to facts.

OP posts:
LittleGreenDragons · 09/07/2024 18:39

and that the seller themselves hasn't bothered to think or check where the hell are the initial enquiries!

To use your language. What the fuck are these?

As someone who last bought/sold thirty years ago I'm being guided by the experts. Maybe your sellers are too.

TheRoseTurtle · 09/07/2024 18:40

"they have no idea who buyers and their resources and connections are" - LOL

Original poster
needybaby · 09/07/2024 18:40

fromtheshires · 09/07/2024 18:38

Id like to think so but theres just no telling

Show quote history

you must be a seller too who thinks it's a seller's market and isn't aware of buyers like me who will report you left right and centre and make your home unsellable.

OP posts: