I would have to echo viking's sentiments Andy.  Your solicitor is meant to be working for you and I presume you are paying him plenty for his work.   You say he  handled the 'previous sale of the finca'.  Does this mean that he is working for the vendor too?  If that is the case you could find a serious conflict of interest going on here.

If he cannot answer a straightforward enough question like "Will I be able to legally live in it" he either does not have a good enough knowledge of English and/or the law relating to property.  In either case wouldn't you be better off finding a solictor who can?

Just a thought.

Penny