Pay solicitor for conveyance by completion day?

Question

I am having some coveyancing work done to buy a flat.

The solicitor has added his fees plus his costs to the purchase price and he wants all the money by the day of completion (next Tuesday).

Is it normal to pay him his fees & costs by completion day?

Thank you for any information

Zak

-------------------------------- By way of background ... I was quoted a fixed price. As I am living in the flat I told him not to bother with local searches nor did he have any mortgage related work as I didn't end up taking out a mortgage.

On the other hand, the solicitor has had to do some unexpected work to vary the lease.

At present his bill is just a single line in a document called "Completion Statement" which he gave me yesterday. On the phone today, he says I will get a breakdown of his fees on completion day. Do I have to wait until then?

Daytona · Accepted Answer

Yes. No pay, no completion. Simple init ? Daytona

Tim · Answer

"Zak" wrote Ask him for the breakdown straightaway - if you think you might want to "discuss" some items with him before payment!

Jon S Green · Answer

Yep. If you're selling, they usually deduct their costs (and the Estate Agent's selling fees) from the proceeds before forwarding the residue.

Not at all; since they've a figure in mind, there's absolutely no reason not to require of them a full breakdown of fees prior to completion, and expect them to provide it. Otherwise, it's a pig-in-a-poke.

Jon

crofter · Answer

x-no-archive: yes i thought fees etc were paid ON completion day?

Richard Miller · Answer

In message , crofter writes

Absolutely not. If the solicitor does not have *cleared funds* on completion day, then in cases where money has to be paid to third parties, completion CANNOT happen because it would be a breach of the solicitors' accounts rules.

Mirumo · Answer

Seems that the law society rules are that you do not need to pay him by completion day and that he cannot refuse to proceed with the conveyance if his feels are the only matter outstanding.

Hope that helps you.

Pay solicitor for conveyance by completion day?

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