Conveyancing problem, no tax certificate from previous owners

Hello,

I bought my house 4 years ago and mortgaged with the EBS. At the time everything went through without issue. I am now in the process of moving my mortgage to a different lender and I have a solicitor working on it. Yesterday the solictor called to say that there was a problem as there is no tax clearance certificate. we have that the previous owners have an outstanding inheritance tax demand and so the process is at a standstill until this is issue is sorted out. He said that the old owners solicitor is responsible for this and he has sent letters to him telling him of that fact. We asked how long this could take and he said that technically it could go on for quite a while.

This is obviously very frustrating as we are now losing money on the difference between the new and existing mortgage rates and I can't belive that someone elses tax problem is now my problem and I can do nothing to clear it up.

Has anyone had this issue before? Is there anything I can do to get around this?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

in the pre Lynn days, solicitors simply gave undertakings and all was OK. ask your solicitor to get undertaking from other solicitor to reularise situation and indemnify you.

Ravima said:

in the pre Lynn days, solicitors simply gave undertakings and all was OK. ask your solicitor to get undertaking from other solicitor to reularise situation and indemnify you.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice, would that allow the conveyancing to continue and so keeping that outstanding tax demand the problem of the former owners?

Ravima said:

in the pre Lynn days, solicitors simply gave undertakings and all was OK. ask your solicitor to get undertaking from other solicitor to reularise situation and indemnify you.

Click to expand...

You don't think that perhaps the fact that this has been an issue for 4 years might make a new undertaking somewhat redundant? Given that there probably is already an undertaking from 4 years ago.

It is an issue. If previous solicitor has not dealt with it, then it is "rocket up the bottom" time.

mf