How long does it take for solicitors to respond to Enquiries?

Asked by: Irma Terry  |  Last update: February 19, 2022
Score: 4.8/5 (2 votes)

How long do solicitors enquiries take? The time scale depends on how responsive the involved parties are to the enquires. However, the process will usually take around 1-4 weeks.

How long do Replies to Enquiries take?

Generally, you'll be looking at around 1-4 weeks. Naturally however, the more enquiries that are raised, the longer it may take. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing – an extra week or two here could save you a big headache long-term if a major issue you were unaware of raises its head.

What does it mean when solicitors raise Enquiries?

During the process of buying a property, your solicitor will raise enquiries with the seller's solicitor. This is a standard part of the buying process and is done in order to ensure that any potential issues are dealt with prior to Contract Exchange. ... We will then order the searches to be undertaken on the property.

Why do solicitors take so long to reply?

But, why do solicitors take so long to exchange contracts? The truth is there can be numerous reasons from them simply being bad at their job or having too many clients to handle, through to instructions from the seller, delays in obtaining searches, and even unresponsive buyers.

How long after Enquiries is exchange?

The time between conveyancing searches and exchange of contracts is typically between 1 and 3 weeks. Although this may seem like quite a long time, you'll be pleased to know that you're on the home straight!

SOLICITOR/CONVEYANCING SEARCHES EXPLAINED (House Buying Process)

43 related questions found

How long are local searches taking at the moment?

How long do local searches take when buying a house in 2021? The government target for returning local searches is a maximum of 10 working days. But in reality, timescales on searches can vary significantly, from 48 hours to ten weeks!

How long do searches and Enquiries take?

Searches usually take around 2 weeks, but some take three weeks and others can be up to six weeks if particularly complicated the local authority in question is particularly busy.

How can I speed up my solicitors?

Speed up conveyancing: Things you can do
  1. Instruct your conveyancer and lender as early as possible. Planning ahead can help you get in your new home quicker. ...
  2. Buy or sell at auction. ...
  3. Sort out all your documentation early. ...
  4. Complete everything quickly and efficiently. ...
  5. Don't delay if issues arise. ...
  6. Communicate well.

Can I contact my buyers solicitor directly?

As far as your second question goes, it's not illegal to contact your vendors' solicitors directly but it is frowned upon, as solicitors generally prefer to communicate with each other rather than with each others' clients.

Why do Enquiries take so long?

There are numerous factors that can cause delays, delays in conducting or obtaining searches, differences in valuations, the size of the chain, unresponsive buyers or sellers, a solicitor having too much to handle or simply being bad at his or her work.

What are replies to Enquiries?

Replies to Enquiries means the replies to the Commercial Property Standard Enquiries and the written replies to any additional enquiries raised by the Buyer or the Buyer's Solicitors which are included in the Disclosure Documents.

What are Enquiries before contract?

Enquiries before contract seek to capture and confirm information over and above that which might be obtained from the other aspects of due diligence such as reviewing documents of title, carrying out searches and making a physical inspection.

What Enquiries do solicitors make?

The types of enquiries that your solicitor might raise in this area include: When was the property rewired last and has it been rewired in line with current industry requirements?
...
House condition and surroundings related enquiries
  • Flooding.
  • Subsidence.
  • Structural defects.
  • Drainage issues.

What happens after searches and Enquiries?

Once satisfactory replies to all enquiries and search results are received, the solicitor will send you the final contract to sign together with a contract report and supporting documents so that you can make an informed choice on whether to proceed. ... Therefore, at this point, the contract becomes legally binding.

How long does it take to buy a house after survey?

From the moment an offer gets accepted, it usually takes between 8-12 weeks for the sale to complete. However, it can take anywhere between six weeks, and eight months, In some cases, it could be even longer. Having a good understanding of the home buying process can give you an advantage and help you speed things up.

How long does it take to complete a survey?

It takes between 2 and 3 weeks for a property survey to be carried out and the survey results received.

What to do if buyers solicitor does not respond?

If your solicitor is not responding to you, you can use your estate agent to your advantage. It's the estate agent's job to keep an eye on the process, to ensure everything goes to plan and so if your solicitor isn't doing as they should, you can get your estate agent to contact them and find out what the problem is.

What can I do if my solicitor is not responding?

If you have complained to your solicitor about poor service and you are not satisfied with their response, you can contact the Legal Ombudsman. The Legal Ombudsman deals with poor service, such as: delayed or unclear communication. problems with your bill.

How can I speed up buying a house?

Tips on speeding up your house purchase
  1. Find a 'contract ready' property to buy.
  2. Avoid being in a chain.
  3. Book your survey early.
  4. Set target dates for exchange and completion.
  5. Get your money ready for exchange.

Can I change my solicitor when buying a house?

Whilst you may incur extra fees if you decide to change your conveyancing solicitor, it is unlikely that you will incur any penalties. ... Other penalties may also be incurred, but it is always best to consult your new solicitor to find out the full details.

Can you fast track local searches?

How do you fast track local authority searches? Unfortunately, not all Local Authorities accept expedition of searches. However, there are still many local authorities that do offer a fast track local authority option for an extra fee.

How long does a draft contract take?

In an ideal world, it should take around 9 weeks from the draft contract stage until the day you exchange. But as we've covered, it's not always that simple. A lot can happen before completion day, and for a taste of what can go wrong, read our blog on why house sales fall through.

What are additional Enquiries?

As such he will ask these further questions and refer to them as "further enquiries" or "additional enquiries". As such you may hear phrases like "I have raised further enquiries" which simply means "I've asked some more questions".

Why is my local authority searches taking so long?

There are currently long delays in obtaining local search results from a number of councils due to closures and business interruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. ... Prior to the coronavirus pandemic the turnaround time was a minimum of 10 weeks, with the Council returning fewer than 10 search results per week.

What are Enquiries when buying a property?

Conveyancing enquiries (or simply enquires) are the questions raised by the Conveyancer acting for the buyer in a property transaction.