See below from Revenue.
I'd be having a little chat with the solicitor. It sounds as if you signed Contracts in October but closed ( handed over the balance of funds) in November. Liability lies with whoever was the owner on 1.11.2014. Unless you handed over funds, and closed, prior to 1.11.2014. It is not acceptable for the solicitor to say "s/he could not contact the vendor's solicitor to get details of property ID etc.". Altho' I'm a bit surprised that any solicitor would not have made a big issue of the LPT. Frankly, we are all very concerned with any possible liability for LPT that now attaches to the property.
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3. UNPAID ‘CRYSTALLISED’ LIABILITIES AND REVENUE CLEARANCE
3.1 LPT liabilities unpaid at date of sale
Before the sale of a property is completed, a vendor is required to pay up-front any unpaid
LPT due in respect of a liability date falling before the date of sale, even if, in the
ordinary course of events, such liability would not yet be payable. The liability that has
„crystallised‟ at this stage comprises unpaid LPT, accrued interest and any penalty amount
that has been imposed in relation to a vendor‟s self-assessment or a Revenue assessment.
In addition, all outstanding returns must be submitted. Any outstanding „crystallised‟
liability that is not paid by a vendor before the completion of a sale is a charge on the
property.