Problems with the solicitor...Any advice please?

B

======= Date Modified 01 12 2009 01:12:32 =======
I moved to UK for my PhD and bought a flat. The flat has a new extention but has no completion certificate for it. The solicitor informed me about it just a week before finalizing of the purchase. He advised me to keep a retention to complete the extention. The seller, who is also the builder, couldn't get the certificate so I asked an independent builder to finish the work. Now the seller doesn't agree to pay the builder from the retention. My solicitor wants to take a legal action against him. Now I am not sure to whom I should take a legal action: to the seller or to the solicitor for the negligence. I don't have any written evidence for the negligence though.
Besides the independent builder want me to pay the work immediately. Can anyone give me advice regarding the situation? How long does it take legal cases in UK?

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