Moving between Exchange and Completion - house swap

BrummieL

Hi
I'm selling my house to the sellers of the flat that I am buying. It all seemed very straightforward at the start last Feb but my solicitor had issues with some of the freehold/leasehold issues on the flat. These have now all been ironed out and we are set to exchange contracts hopefully on Monday but I am not entirely convinced at this stage that completion will be next week and is more likely to be after the Bank Holiday.
The young couple in the flat are really anxious to move asap - she is a teacher and had hoped to be in my house decorating etc all summer. I am all packed up and ready to go and have been since June. It would also suit me to move prior to the Bank Holiday as I have various helpers lined up to assist me and some are on holiday the following week.
We are doing our own removals - the two properties are only 100yds apart - and were always intending to simply shuttle to and fro with a van between the two properties rather than emptying both completely and swapping contents in one fell swoop.
Is there anything to stop us moving furniture into each other's properties and allowing access to start decorating etc prior to the completion date? I am certain my solicitor would advise against it so I haven't asked him but as I have got to know the couple well over the last few months I feel the risks of anything going wrong are minimal. The benefit of moving a few days earlier would simply give us all an opportunity to settle into our new homes a bit less stressfully than if we have to wait yet another week. I'm wondering if anyone has been in a similar position and whether the risks outweigh the benefit?

Judith_W

I wouldn't recommend allowing access to your property without you or someone you trust being there, but I wouldn't see any harm in allowing them in, in principle, after exchange.

hazyjo

As above, I'd definitely not do anything until after exchange.

Are they just running round with a paintbrush or will they be knocking down any walls or drilling? If they drilled into an electrical cable, or water pipe (for example) and were either seriously injured or caused damage to your property, who would be liable? Would you have to lie on insurance forms?

Your completion date will be fixed on exchange - it's not flexible. For the sake of probably a few days, or a week, I'd just hang on.

Jx

Yorkie1

I see no reason to allow furniture to start to be moved, and minor decoration work (nothing structural or risky as others have said) post-exchange. Not before.

Do not actually move out / swap residences before completion, though. You are each obliged to give vacant possession and this will complicate matters.

nomoneytoday

Why not move the completion date forwards, as it suits both of you to move?

Wyndham

In theory you can exchange and complete on the same day - but why not just pick a completion date that suits you both.

BUT, don't do ANYTHING until you've exchanged.