solicitor failed to register freehold title when we purchased property

Hi and thanks to anyone that will help.

We are about to sell our property and our solicitor has just informed us that the 'share of freehold' flat we bought 5 years ago is only registered to our names as a leasehold.

I checked the titles and the old owner's name is still there as the freeholder.

I also checked the documents and nowhere it says 'share of freehold', aside from the estate agent's documents (the flat was on sale with them as a share of freehold).

In the ex-solicitor itemised bill one item is 'purchase of the freehold reversion for a leasehold property', which, as I understand, means the purchase of the freehold?

The only deeds we have are the leasehold ones.

The firm where the solicitor worked has gone into liquidation, although there's a good chance we can find out where she works now.

Is this a desperate situation? is there a way to re-obtain the freehold in the very unfortunate case that the solcitor hasn't actually completed or has lost the documents?


Thanks, we are rather desperate...