How long should it take to buy a flat?

Flats can take longer because there is the lease and management accounts to check.

There is no chain - therein lies the problem I suspect - if there's no chain there isn't the impetus or pressure on the solicitors to get a move on.

Thanks River he actually had the lease at the very beginning so has had 3 month to check it. Is that long enough?

It only once took us that long and that was because the vendor died! Never bought a flat but I really think this is taking too long.

Both estate agents and solicitors often need a rocket. they are dealing with multiple cases and do those first that shout the loudest, never just leave them to get on with it.

As above. Keep phoning the solicitor. Our last house move took from May, when we viewed the house until November when we finally got the keys. The house we moved in to was vacant, as the owners had inherited another house and moved there.

No estate agent involved! Simply vendor to buyer so it should be easy. Solicitor doesn't answer emails, doesn't return calls and is a real pain. Keeps suggesting Exchange is about to happen and then it doesn't. Just written to the Senior Partner to see if that gets something done.

The thing is I recommended this solicitor as it is the same one we used when we moved here and all went smoothly. Took less than 2 months all in and there were several parties involvef. How I regret it now.

Tell the solicitor that if exchange doesn't happen by a certain date, you will have to consider withdrawing the offer. In my experience, this works like dream. We did it once and got exchange within two days.

It takes only a day or two to review a lease but solicitors are notorious for leaving it until the last minute. When DH was selling her flat as soon as the offer was accepted she, and the estate agent, both drew the purchaser's and his solicitor's attention to a slightly problematic clause in the lease. Everything ran smoothly, the date of exchange was agreed, then a few hours before exchange the solicitor rang up to say he had just read the lease and their was a problematic clause in it! The exchange went ahead - after a two week delay, but both DD and estate agent were hopping mad at solicitor's incompetence, but could do nothing about it.

I got a conveyance done in 2 months.
It's usually about 3 months, here in N.Ireland.

Sometimes there are hiccups but you should b kept up to date by your solicitors. Not responding to an email or returning a call is very poor client service - It is to be hoped that the final fees will take into account the poor service and client dissatisfaction.

Thanks MOnica I will suggest that. I never had to push a solicitor and wonder if perhaps the estate agents did so they could get their commission? Maybe this is taking so long as no estate agent is involved.

Nonnie that is the advantage of estate agents, they do chase and chivvy surveyors, solicitors and the like. I have twice made private sales; one went through like a dream; the other we walked away from after the vendor broke all his promises over when he could exchange and complete.

Oh by the way, tell the vendor you will withdraw the offer if the solicitor doesn't get off his a**e and effect the exchange.