estate agent giving key out to any t.d.h

charlie2309

my mum accepted an offer on her house,then couple wks ago had a tex from ea saying someone would be round to survey, sure enough they turned up with a key a no estate agent,we were not pleased but didnt say anything as seems to be normal practice, then last night had another tex stating someone will be round today to check the warm air heating system,mum is furious that they just seem to be giving key out to anyone that her buyers request.

i called the ea this morning to say would of been nice to have been asked first if we mind and who exactly is coming ie company name etc, only to be told she doesnt know...it's a friend of the buyer and doesnt know if he is corgi registered or anything:mad: , surely this cannot be on! i have told her if he's not registered then he's not welcome and if he is then she needs to be with him and not just give him a key. i also asked if they were likely to do this again her reply was "well yeah if the buyer wants" so i said when you have done today please post key through letter box and in future i will meet who ever there.

the heating works fine mum had it on last night but what if she were to return from work tonight after he's been fiddling about with it and it doesnt,who would be liable ?

cattie

If you leave the key with ea for viewings you run the risk of such things happening. I've heard of surveyors having keys to a property, but this is when property has been unoccupied.

If the house is occupied then the ea should be phonining your mother to make appointments for visits from surveyors & gas specialist etc. If she isn't able to be there & ea can't do accompanied visits then he should let your mother know so that she can ask a neighbour or someone to be there instead.

lynzpower

remind the ea that they work for the SELLER not the buyer!

MissMotivation

This is disgusting, the ONLY person that should be given the key is a Surveyor on the buyers behalf as they have their own insurance covering them if something was to go wrong when they were in the property. Keys should not be given to anyone else. I would ring the EA and remind them that under no circumstances should the key be given out to anyone else and if they have any further people that need to inspect the property that a member of staff accompanies them......that's what you are paying them to do!

Jesus.....no wonder EA's have a bad name

mrsc_4

We left a key with our EA but only because they promised to call in advance before they did a viewing, this worked out fine. They gave the key to the surveyor as well which we didn't have a problem with and they assured me that they have to see ID from them before handing the key over. Our EA did show our buyer around again on friday as he wanted to measure for furniture but this time they forgot to lock the front door properly (was shut but not double locked) they did apolgise when I called them!!

If someone is going to be in though they really shouldn't be giving a key out and they should be calling you in advance anyway!

jobbingmusician

I love it! 'if the buyer wants' - who the flick does the EA think they are working for?

I suspect and hope there is a human rights legal case here for someone to take up - EA is preventing peaceful enjoyment of your property

clutton_2

how dare the EA do this !!!!!!! when he wants paying deduct some money from his bill !!! cheeky sod !!!!

courtjester

Isn't it great the way agents always bang on about the benefits of using them being personal assurance and security, when in reality inadequate and lazy systems to suit the agents actually increases the security risk ... just another reason to sell privately without using an agent.:eek:

MissMotivation

courtjester wrote:

Isn't it great the way agents always bang on about the benefits of using them being personal assurance and security, when in reality inadequate and lazy systems to suit the agents actually increases the security risk ... just another reason to sell privately without using an agent.:eek:

I understand your point with regards to this one particular agent BUT i have to say in 12 years of working as an EA and having worked for a few differant firm I have never released a set of keys to anyone other than a Surveyor and never would!