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The Legal Ombudsman has published new guidance for first time buyers




The Legal Ombudsman  has published new guidance for first time buyers as a result of conveyancing problems with the highest frequency  of legal complaints.

Conveyancing is the most dissatisfaction area of law in England and Wales – accounting for twenty three per cent of all complaints to the Legal Ombudsman, which resolves around 7,500 complaints each year [ref 2012 legal obudsman 2012 report] . 




Here to help - BSL



Most of the complaints concern alleged failures to advise clients appropriately, delays, or poor information about charges. 

The Legal obudsman publish this data to maintain transparency around our decision making and to encourage and support improved complaints handling by service providers.


In one of the many published decisions 

A first time buyer was asked to spend £20,000 on outstanding repairs in a newly bought flat. The conveyancing firm handling the sale had known about the costs before the buyer - Hajnalka Semsei from London - signed the contract. But the firm failed to inform her.

When the buyer complained to the firm, it accepted that it had made a mistake – having received a letter about the costs before she completed the sale – but offered just an £800 refund of its fees. 

The Legal Ombudsman has recommended that the conveyancing company should pay the full £20,000 plus compensation. The firm has agreed.

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