Gilson Gray LLP Edinburgh reviews

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

AVOID THIS COMPANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gilson Gray was assigned to us through our estate agent to handle our sale and purchase. As so many others have mentioned, this company is a joke! The communication is horrendous, I literally couldn't get through to my conveyancer even after ringing ten times a day for a week on his direct number. Emails are either not responded to at all or takes weeks to get a response. Tasks are not completed promptly and take weeks to even reply to the other solicitors in the chain. This has been the worst company I've ever had to deal with!God knows why estate agents are referring clients to this firm, as they're risking getting a bad review themselves and the sale/purchase falling apart.If you're seeing this a few weeks into your purchase/sale, then fire them and find someone else as you'll certainly get to completion faster.

Kath · 3 October 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Do not appoint this company what ever…

Do not appoint this company what ever you do Gilson Gray have the poorest communication I’ve ever known from a company. They give you a direct line but they never pick the phone up and never reply to messages, even when I've rung reception and they've passed my message on. You never get an email response, even when you email a manager, the whole experience has been a complete nightmare My solicitor was Afsha Kanwal and her manager is Rachel Jowett.Longest and most painful experience with a conveyancer ever and we have move house several times.. Please avoid this company, they don’t deserve people’s business.

Valerie · 1 October 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I chose Gilson Gray to market my property because of their no-nonsense, professional and busness-like approach. Their valuation was sensible and reasoned and they instructed Home Reports and Schedule photos/videos promptly. Their business-like approach was exactly what I needed and they were all very personable, friendly and responsive and were happy to explain and resolve any issues as they arose. I felt in charge, informed and connected at all times. I felt they were on my side throughout. The Stars of my sale (so far) were Callum, Karen, Abbie and Karin; each had a lovely manner about them and an ability to professionally manage my expectations, natural stress levels and what seemed like endless questions. Having achieved my offer price I can honestly say the marketing process was painless and efficient. I have high confidence that the conveyancing and completion process etc will be equally so. Well done Gilson Gray...

John · 1 October 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Made us homeless

Please, NEVER use this company if you want to keep your sanity. We used these as they were actually recommended by our estate agents. Why, I will never know.Since April we have been in touch with these solicitors or should I say we have been ignored by these solicitors. When you call them and ask for updates they tell you they are too busy right now and they will get back to you. They never do. When you actually get through that is. After ringing 17 times in one day and asking to be changed from Thomas, who was our assigned solicitor, we did in fact not hear back. He quite literally did NOTHING, we had to chase a question for 3 weeks which was so simple we could have called the seller ourselves and asked. We did not get a single email reply or phone call in these 5 months. We had to chase for updates weekly and still got no further. The only time we got an email was to tell us ‘not to worry’ after Thomas took the day off the day we were supposed to exchange. We in fact should have been worried as just 3 days before we were due to complete we got told this could no longer go ahead due to something down the chain. Upon speaking to our estate agents they knew about this the week before and we were not informed. We were just told not to worry. When we mentioned we had booked and paid for moving vans he proceeded to state they do not recommend this. Do they expect us to carry our furniture to our new house? Who doesn’t book moving vans when they have a date? I must also state we got asked when we wanted to move 2/3 weeks prior to the date so we chose a suitable date however this was all done over the phone again no email communication. I now look back and realise that this was all done by phone so we would have no record of this and they couldn’t be held responsible. This then happened again a month later we had a move date and just a couple of days before we hadn’t exchanged so we knew something was off. It then turns out that the land registry wasn’t complete. They had known about this since JULY and failed to fix it knowing full well we would not move on this date. We had to leave our rental due to these stupid solicitors throwing fake dates around and were left HOMELESS. Nobody gave a flying f***. The disregard of this company is absolutely appalling and I would recommend if you don’t want to be sick with stress, homeless or lied to every single day then do not use this company (if you can call it a company) The communication from everyone in this company is appalling. Having to call 17 times to get through every time you ring and being told everyones not in the office or available, being ignored by your solicitor, never having received an email until it’s bad news is simply not good enough when you are paying for a service. I do not know how this company are still open.

Maddy · 29 September 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Failed To Complete On The Day

They failed to complete the sale on the day.Utterly horrendous, and I was not even their client. They nearly lost my buyer her house.My solicitor served a Notice of Completion on them. They have still not (weeks) responded to my conveyancer's submission of costs. My first time buyer is now going to get hit with a significant bill through the Small Claims Court as a result of Gilson Gray being so bad at their job.I doubt Gilson Gray will be financially impacted, or care.The buyer, and my conveyancer, continually found it almost impossible to get a response from the case handler over the course of the months we were dealing with them.I had to tell the case handler they were looking at the wrong house when they sent through plans of my neighbour's house and asked questions about it. Unbelievably incompetent.I get the impression the case is passed around and multiple people process it.They got the wrong completion date. They requested funds tranfer on the wrong day.My poor first time buyer was apparently very stressed. She could not even get in contact with them.You may choose to use them as they may be cheap, but as my first time buyer is about to find out, you may get hit with costs due to them or lose the house you want.Lesson learned: if you are selling/buying check what solicitor other parties are using. If it is GG then bin the chain immediately.

Nigel · 28 September 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Avoid at all costs

Please avoid at all costs if you want to keep any of your sanity. Gilson Gray have the poorest communication I’ve ever known from a company. You never get an email response, even when you email a manager, and even the managers manager! It’s shocking.For reference I’ve had solicitors Afsha and Kisa, contacted their manager Rachel and also her manager Heather. Not once have I had a reply email to any of my complaints.As for calls, they rarely answer their phones and most definitely never return your voicemails or messages you leave with reception. Longest and most painful purchase/sale ever. Please avoid this company, they don’t deserve people’s business.

Emily · 27 September 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Absolutely appalling service ..

Absolutely appalling service ... lucky to get 1 star!! Took 12 days to hear back from my conveyancer after emails and voicemails, who raised their voice at me in our intro call. Said had been off all August and had no response to me asking why I had received a property report with their name on it in 3rd week of August!! No proactive updates to me at all and the seller's solicitor and estate agent are having to contact me for updates. 5 working days with not even an acknowledgement is apparently ok as 'I'm very busy and can't guarantee how quickly I can reply'?!?!? Head of practice and UK head of conveyancing copied in and still no improvement. Sincerely regret going with Gilson Gray, throwing money down the drain and currently at risk of the buyer pulling out ... AVOID, AVOID, AVOID.

NWB83 · 26 September 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Avoid at all costs!

Absolutely shocking service. I’m in the process of trying to purchase a house from a family member, which should’ve been a straightforward sale. I was initially told that a tree preservation order was causing delays with one of the inquiries, only to discover MYSELF that there was no such order in place.Additionally, I was only informed just before exchange that they had not yet received my mortgage offer, despite being five months into this process. This should have been addressed much earlier.Gilson Gray has managed to drag this process on for 6 months, causing my mortgage offer to expire. I’ve tried reaching out to Gilson Gray thousands of time but nobody answers their phones, nor replies to emails.

Otto · 25 September 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

AVOID AT ALL COST

Gilson Gray were our buyers solicitor, firstly they sent me a list of enquiries which were for the wrong property!!!Their communication has been appalling taking days to respond to our agent via phone and email. The buyers mortgage offer sat in their online portal for 3 weeks without being opened. When they finally arranged exchange and completion dates we discovered the solicitor Keisha had gone on holiday.What could have been easier than a 1st time buyer purchasing an empty unmortgaged chain free property!!!I have never written a review before, but I am just astounded how badly our buyers have been treated. After a lot of hard work on my solicitors behalf and my sales progresser it has finally completed. But I wouldn't want anyone else to experience Gilson Grays incompetence.

Mark · 22 September 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Very professional quick easy

Danielle was very attentive and informative throughout the whole process. Made it very easy and reassuring for us and was extremely quick with all enquiries raised will recommended to anyone. Even when on annual leave the other member of staff answered all out questions and worries. Will defiantly be using the company again in future.

Sam · 18 May 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Lazy & Incompetent

If you’re considering using Gilson Gray as your solicitors, run the other way. My experience with them has been nothing short of a complete disaster. Over a month has passed since the offer was accepted, and they have done absolutely nothing to advance the process. They don’t answer the phone, they don’t respond to emails, and they haven’t even managed to approve the draft contract pack. Their sheer incompetence is astonishing. It’s as if they have no regard for their clients or any sense of urgency. This level of negligence is unacceptable and has caused endless frustration and delays.Do yourself a favor and avoid Gilson Gray. Their incompetence will only lead to massive headaches and wasted time.

Charlie · 19 September 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Stay well away from this firm!!!

I am selling a property and Gilson Gray is the buyer's solicitor. The buyer himself has written a review earlier to detail the appaling services (or lack of) provided by Gilson Gray. My own conveyancer is constantly trying to get an update from them but they don't respond! This is a straightforward sale with no chain and a large deposit, and minor issues. It has now been well over 6 months and we are nowhere near exchanging contracts. I have no idea if this sale will ever happen.Stay well away from this firm!!!

Kathleen · 18 September 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Avoid at ALL costs - 0 stars

As so many other recent reviews have put, we would give a 0 if we could. I cannot stress enough that I would avoid Gilson Gray at all costs. The lack of communication was unlike anything we've ever experienced, our solicitor did not answer the phone once throughout our entire process, we were so fortunate to actual be able to complete (3 weeks after our completion date), we could have lost our first home if we'd left it to Gilson Gray, we only managed to complete through persistent chasing to other members of the team who ended up doing our solicitors job! The level of unprofessionalism and at times rudeness was appalling.Raising complaints also falls on deaf ears - we tried numerous times to escalate the incompetence, through which there is no number to call, only emails to contact, and they never responded. We were at a complete loss of what to do - I have never been so stressed. Please do not go with Gilson Gray, even if recommended (as they were to us by our mortgage advisor, who was completely unaware of how down hill the company seems to have gone).

Annabel · 15 September 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

In the progress of a purchase and this…

In the progress of a purchase and this company has been absolutely awful distinct lack of any communication, despite multiple emails no response, similar position with telephone calls. Promised a return call on multiple occasions and still waiting. Have escalated to their senior manager and guess what still no communication!!!I'm now at risk of losing our future house and all because of this. Head of conveyancing profile highlights a family experience, clearly my family views are distintly different.

Mark · 16 October 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Horrified by Gilson Gray’s lack of communication during what is an emotional time for their customers. Everything is very last minute and frankly unprofessional. I would not recommend using Gilson Gray for selling or buying.

Bethany · 27 July 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Utterly awful

Utterly awful. As other people have said, I wouldn't even give a 1. They aren't even my solicitor, but my buyers. We are 10 weeks into a really easy transition of a sitting tenant buying from me with no chain. Zero communication between Gilson Gray and the selling solicitor as well their actual client who is buying.So frustrating. The poor woman taking calls is merely emailing any messages phoned through. You can't actually speak to anybody who is involved in your case. Have no idea what to do next!! Our completion date should be tomorrow. The first one was missed two weeks ago!!

Stuart · 12 September 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Errors and Impossible to Communicate

I would give a zero if I could. We were given incorrect information which was later back tracked on, on the expected day of exchange. The conveyancer said things were not complete in a brief email and then went on annual leave for two weeks. We had no information as to who to contact or what was required to progress, and we are still in limbo, with a good chance of losing out on our purchase. Avoid at all costs, this has been an absolutely appalling experience.

Imogen · 12 September 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Not worth the stress

I would not recommend GG to anyone, I don't have a good word to say.I received absolutely no updates on my house sale, the status portal was never updated (despite the fact you are charged £15 to use this without being given a choice!) and I was unable to contact anyone to discuss this. Phone numbers provided just rang out with no answer or ability to leave voicemails, and emails were ignored constantly. Staff were constantly out of office and when I did receive any sort of communication this was always last minute and by a different person each time. I was provided a completion date when enquiries and issues remained outstanding and was subsequently asked to chase things up myself last minute. Very stressful indeed.I completed yesterday and am yet to receive any sort of financial completion statement containing costs.I received all of my updates from the estate agents! Why my chosen estate agent (who was brilliant) recommends this company is beyond me.

Sarah · 11 September 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Efficient and good communication

Efficient and good communication. House sale went smoothly.

MX · 27 August 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Clowns

These clowns are absolutely shocking in every which way imaginable - by FAR the worst conveyancing experience I have had.All the previous comments should be believed, unanswered phone calls, incorrect paperwork, spelling mistakes, no urgency whatsoever - I could go on.I'm not sure they really knew what they were doing and cannot fathom how such a disorganized process can generate any profit. I feel sorry for the employees, must be brutal going into work everyday knowing every customer is completely fed up with the process - steer well clear.

Max · 9 September 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

We have been very pleased with the service we have received from Gilson Gray in selling our property. From the initial phone call to the valuation and the marketing of the property, everyone at Gilson Gray has acted professionally, promptly, and has been happy to answer our questions. The client portal has been easy to use and great at keeping us completely up to date with viewings and feedback. We would be happy to recommend Gilson Gray.

Helen · 26 October 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

The worst solicitor I have ever dealt…

The worst solicitor I have ever dealt with and I have dealt with scores of them. They ignore clients emails for weeks on end. Say they will do things and don't. I am buying in a new build block and every buyer using this solicitor has been delayed completing by months where as the other solicitors acting for buyers all moved in two months ago. Stay away! I am surprised they have not been closed down by the Law Society.

Alex · 3 September 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

OMG! DO NOT USE GILSON GRAY AT ANY COST!

OMG! Not possible to give below zero so had to reluctantly give 1.DO NOT USE THIS FIRM - STEER WELL CLEAR, BEYOND SHOCKING SERVICE!No words can really describe the extent here but I'll say that I was an estate agent for many years and have experienced numerous 'bad or slow' solicitors in that time, but NONE compare to this firm.I'd agreed (what really should have been) a simple (CASH & NOT DEPENDENT) sale back in March this year (2024). The buyer is an elderly lady and part of the funds were probate, so there was a slight delay to sort that. But at every single turn this firm only give excuses to delay having to actually get on with the work. They don't communicate with solicitors, agent or buyer, and when they do they don't provide any information to actually progress the sale. They simply say they're not in a position to provide dates or move forward - but they should be. We're 6 months on there's still no progress and no useful information from them and so I'm now forced to remarket the property - something I truly didn't want to do to an elderly lady, but this firm has left me no choice. At the rate this firm 'don't' work it could well be 2025 before anything moves forward, so may be quicker to remarket and find another buyer.Hope this review saves you the stress and anguish.

Pauline · 3 September 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

I’ve had the misfortune of being in a…

I’ve had the misfortune of being in a small chain which included Gilsonite Gray, selected by our buyer for conveyancing. Similar to lots of reviews here there response times are non existent, we’ve missed 2 exchange and completion dates because of their inability to communicate and provide timely updates. I’d personally avoid using them at all costs and would also avoid any potential future purchase where a chain included Gilson Gray. Still not resolved at the time of writing this and no indication of what exactly is outstanding and potential timelines for resolution.

Dave · 3 September 2024