Nothing from purchase solicitor

[LizzieSiddal]

We had an offer accepted 5 weeks ago, we also accepted an offer on our house the day before. Our solicitor has had zero paperwork from the solicitor of the house we are buying.

Our agents and solicitor have chased several times, but nothing! It’s so fuatrationing. Any advise on what we should do?

Also to add, our buyer is a cash buyer and has nothing to sell, we are also cash buyers once ours is sold, and the lady who owns the house we are buying is elderly and has already moved out. So it should be quite straight forward!

Where has the seller gone? Into a home? Does she have control of her property or does someone else hold POA? Who instructed the estate agent to sell?
Not straightforward at all if this is the case.
Last time I had a seller's solicitor go quiet was when he (seller) was taken ill and the sale eventually fell through. I don't know why the solicitor couldn't say he was having his own difficulties reaching his client, it would have saved much frustration on our side.
I think your solicitor needs to press the seller's solicitor (or firm) for some clarity on the situation.

Thanks @mondaytosunday. We’ve been told our seller has moved in with her niece and she has early onset dementia. The niece is dealing with the agents and paperwork etc, but you are right, there may be issues with POA etc.
Will get on to my solicitor today to ask for clarification on this.

I wouid get the EA involved to phone the niece to ask what’s going on.

We had the same.issue but was only picked up 10 weeks into the process. We'd paid for searches, organised a mortgage etc and the EA said everything was with the solicitors when we asked around 4 weeks in.

Turns out our elderly vendor had chosen an online only solicitor but was computer illiterate. They had ignored all emails. When it was put to them they said they'd asked for hafs copies of everything and asked.for every document to be sent via snail mail.

We're back on track now but it's going to be a long long process.

Thanks for the replies.

I think what’s adding to the pressure is that our buyer has sold her house and has moved into an air B&B, she’s really chomping at the bit to move, so we’re worried she’ll find something else if the process is very slow.
I suppose we could sell and move into temp accommodation to ensure we don’t lose her. (there’s a lot of holiday accommodation where we live so some will become vacant at the end of September).

Get onto the agent today and ask them to find out why nothing has been received. If the answer seems a bit wishy washy, then ask them to go back and check that the solicitor can get the paperwork to yours in the next 3-4 days as you're under pressure from others in the chain. Your solicitor can't do any searches, raise enquiries until they have the paperwork.

I work as a Conveyancer, it could be one of a few things. They may need to register the power of attorney if there is one and won't be able to proceed until this is done as no one has the ability to sign the paperwork to start the sale process, they might have to apply to court to appoint someone as administrator with power to sell if there was no power of attorney or finally they may simply have struggled to get the appropriate KYC documentation to the solicitors as lots of elderly people do not have photo ID that is in date. I wouldn't worry too much just yet, but do ask your solicitor to find out the reason for the delay.

it's August ... everyone on hols... I had a week of surveyor, Agent & conveyancer all ignoring my messages. Still haven't had contact from conveyancer 9 days later . <sigh>