Access to inside of the property after exchange before completion?

Running_Horse

You sound like the kind of people who make the whole process even more stressful than it needs be. Seriously, you are not the only ones involved here.

magga2000

Running_Horse wrote: »

You sound like the kind of people who make the whole process even more stressful than it needs be. Seriously, you are not the only ones involved here.

The house is vacant I don't see problem. Who else is involved EA,solicitors ?
We are paying them as well and quite a lot.

Fire_Fox

magga2000 wrote: »

The house is vacant I don't see problem. Who else is involved EA,solicitors ?
We are paying them as well and quite a lot.

If you don't see a problem, why have you started the thread?

magga2000

Fire_Fox wrote: »

If you don't see a problem, why have you started the thread?

Just to make sure this is acceptable and from few people responding here I see this is possible and could happend. Thanks All.

BitterAndTwisted

It all depends upon whether it's acceptable to your vendors as explained in post number 9. I certainly wouldn't countenance it but your vendors might be more amenable/stupid/trusting

Thrugelmir

A legal perspective.

Are you a purchaser requiring acccesss or a seller where your buyer is requesting access ?

Access to the residential property you intend to purchase will ordinarily will not be alowed prior to completion of the conveyancing process. That being said even though accesss may unconventional is it not unheard of, for access to be given to a property, for required works to be carried out in order to ensure release of a mortgage retention (an amount held back by the mortgage lender which could amount to the whole of the mortgage advance until specific works have been carried out) thereby enabling the sale of the property to proceed. In other words it may be the buyer and seller's only option - assuming the seller is not prepared to do the works themselves.
It is highly unlikely that access will be allowed to the property in advance of exchange of contracts ( at least not with the knowledge of the conveyancers ) and only where the seller agrees will access be granted between exchange and completion of the conveyancing contract. In cases where access is required by you between exchange and completion it will be necessary for you to enter into a legal agreement known as a as an access undertaking or key undertaking which will set out the terms of access to the property. Sellers may also insist that in a condition for allowing access to the property the buyer should take over all insurance arrangements as well as liability for council tax and utility services at the property.

Running_Horse

magga2000 wrote: »

The house is vacant I don't see problem. Who else is involved EA,solicitors ?
We are paying them as well and quite a lot.

You are paying your estate agents and solicitors for a professioanl service, not access to a house you don't own yet. But as you have decided it's perfectly reasonable, then feel free to make your demands and threats.

Elsewhere

I suppose in theory if you had the house keys you could simply squat there (as it wouldn't be breaking and entering), and not pay the balance of the money... run up bills... etc. So, legally I assume it's risky from a vendor's solicitor's POV.

A while back my best friend was considering buying a house in which the vendor had allowed someone to start improvements on it before the purchase was complete - they'd half replaced the central heating (incomplete plumbing everywhere), ripped out a couple of internal walls and then simply disappeared. The vendor was left with an expensive mess.

However, I agree house buying takes far too long. Most searches, for instance, are simply done on-line these days - you don't have to write to local councils etc anymore. We've just helped our son buy his first house - made an offer on the 27th October, exchanged and completed (simultaneously) on 1st December (the property was vacant). My husband bugged both lots of solicitors and the vendors continuously to keep them moving - including hand delivering documents, insisting on emails not letters - but I think the whole process could easily be reduced to a week or two.

G_M

Running_Horse wrote: »

You are paying your estate agents and solicitors for a professioanl service, not access to a house you don't own yet. But as you have decided it's perfectly reasonable, then feel free to make your demands and threats.

Incredible! Demands and threats? Where? The OP simply wanted to know if access was ever possible, and as has been explained , it is not normal, but does sometimes happen.

Yes there's a risk (to the vendor), so all the OP can do is ask.

the kind of people who make the whole process even more stressful than it needs be. Seriously, you are not the only ones involved here.

Also wierd! How does it make the process more stressful? The OP asks, the vendor says yes or no. Simple.

In my own case, I considerably improved the property (and hence its value!) between Exchange and Completion by painting, fitting a new kitchen and then installing new windows! So if I'd failed to Complete I'd have been well out of pocket and the vendor would have been laughing!

scooter_chick

magga2000 wrote: »

If we exchange we would be keen to buy the property.

Good job! You won't have a lot of choice if you exchange...