Advice - Who to shout at?

coullj

Hello,

Just got the keys to my new house that my girlfriend and I have bought. We had assurances from the Estate agent and the Solicitors that the house would be cleaned and tidied for when we moved in...it hasn't been!

And we have only been given the front door keys the old owners still have the other keys, which I find ludicrous, who's fault is it that this has happened so I know what direction to vent my anger...

Grrrrrr

Sambucus_Nigra

Your solicitor needs to speak to theirs - don't waste time on here, get on the blower.....

RAS

calm down.

As a start, you would be absolutely stupid to keep the same locks as the previous owner had; they could have lent one to a friend etc, etc.

However, you are entitled to the keys needed to unlock everything. Just ring up your solicitor and or estate agent and calmly explain that you need the rest of the keys.

Have not got a clue why you expected the house to be cleaned though?

ILW

Doubt of you get hold of a solicitor at past 4 on a friday.

Catatonia

I wouldn't bother shouting at someone that the house isn't clean and tidy, as you can't do anything about this (presuming you have bought and not rented?).

BitterAndTwisted

If you know where they have moved to, after you've got all of the keys, I'd be tempted to send them parcels of dog-poo. Anonymously, of course.

Tiddlywinks

Get a locksmith in to change the locks - you should really want to do this anyway as you never know who has a set of keys (ex boyfriends, kids, housesitters ets)

Regarding the cleaning - it's 'nice' to have but I've never seen it as a stipulation of a sale before now - renting yes, buying no.

Sambucus_Nigra

I'd presumed he meant that they had left loads of carp in the house - not that it had been cleaned.....as you can't tidy when there is nothing there....

Catatonia

I guess it depends how much stuff was left. When I last bought, the seller left loads of rubbish (like toilet brushes etc) but it really wasn't worth getting worked up about.

hazyjo

I'm betting the house was a right tip when viewing and something was said about wanting it tidy and clean before completion. Can't see why else it would have been mentioned... People say anything to get a sale. Was it put in writing that this would be the case, presuming it was a complete tip?

Absolutely change the locks (or at least just the barrel). Yes, they should give you all the keys on completion, but so many times people say 'I only had one set' or just give the couple they use themselves and don't bother getting the sets back from neighbours, relatives, friends, etc.

Jx

theartfullodger

Have you considered enrolling on an anger management course or were you thrown off the last one?? Your experiences really aren't that terrible compared to those one reads of hereabouts and in the papers. Shouting at anyone may often result in making matters worse: If anyone shouts at me I determine in a steely and persistent manner to ensure he (mainly he's, or she, there's a few shouty women out there also..- dunno what your gender is..) regrets their actions.

Indeed, many would consider you extraordinarily privileged in being able to afford to buy a place anyway.

Stone me, any property I buy or take back from a tenant I ALWAYS immediately change ALL the keyed-from-outside locks anyway. Even if you got the keys from the vendors you'd never know who else had a key.

As regards cleaning & tidying - well, most people are capable of doing that so might one suggest - get on with it??

Anyone who believes anything an Estate Agent tells them needs help - not sure if prescriptions or talking therapy (or both) would be best, perhaps an expert will be along later.

Best wishes for the festive season!

Artful

PS If you really want to get back at someone then the polite, calm, never-let-go and keep prodding approach is usually more effective and may be much more satisfying.