No keys to my new house.. where do I stand?

savingbee

thanks all.


I may be acting dumb here, but when people are saying send them the bill.. does that mean me pay then send a request for them to pay me back? surely the locksmith wouldn't accept me saying go to EA for the money?


checked the opening times for tomorrow and its 10-2 will be getting an emergency locksmith out if they don't give me some answers!! Thing is I can see me just giving in and paying and I know I shouldn't have to. x

duchy

Yes if the EA refuse to send their locksmith at their expense. You employ one -pay them and then reclaim the money from the estate agent-via small claims court if they are stubborn.

savingbee

Ahh ok. Thanks for your help x

SantaKlaus

savingbee wrote: »

thanks all.


I may be acting dumb here, but when people are saying send them the bill.. does that mean me pay then send a request for them to pay me back?

yes you'll have to pay, but keep the receipt and send the EA a copy of it asking for it back, keep the original receipt though, incase you have to get it back via the small claims court.

savingbee

well I've just looked at my fixture and fittings list with regards to keys. it says as a question 'keys to all windows and doors will be left at the property or with the estate agents' and it's ticked yes. as there's no window keys left.. I assume the seller has breached this? I know it's quite easy to get replacement keys for windows but it's an expense that I shouldn't be paying.. surely the EA should have made sure all these were in place?

thanks

slickric1234

its odd if the estate agent had only sets of keys a couple of months back

what about the seller

id get lock smith in and send estate agent the bill

if they refuse to pay id be tempted to money claim online them

at this point id expect them to accept its their fault fighting it may well be more expensive than locksmiths bill

debrag

savingbee wrote: »

hi all,
I was wondering if I can pick some brains, I am new to this house buying lark but understand the following isn't acceptable.


basically I completed on a house yesterday, I went to the estate agents to collect the keys and they couldn't be found. in the checking out book they were last handled in November but apparently they cant remember that far back but they have no record (apparently) of having them back.


Now, I had a homebuyers report done in October and apparently the surveyor posted them through the estate agents door once finished, however EA say they were not returned, although there is proof of them being handled in November. they are obviously passing the buck and I only managed to get into my house last night as the vendors sister had a spare key although.... no key at all for the back door!! she gave me her number and said she would ask her family about a back door key. I text her today and she said the only other keys spare were the ones EA had.




I understand this is a fire hazard and I have phoned EA after to say whats going on, he is looking into it for me but who should be responsible for paying for a locksmith? would it be me?


also there are no keys for the windows either.. I feel at a loss of what to do and its just added stress that I don't need


sorry for the long post


thanks in advance

what do you mean spare? you own the house the sellers don't need them why don't you have theirs?

Debt_Free_Chick

I'd be cautious about making a claim against the EA, as I'm not sure if they have any legal obligation in relation to the keys. Best to check the contract and/or ask your solicitor if the EA has any liability towards you for not providing the keys.

Remember that the sales/purchase contract is between buyer & seller and the EA was/is the seller's agent. You may have a case against the seller - and they, in turn, against the EA - but buyer may not have a case directly against the seller's EA

Norman_Castle

I went to the estate agents to collect the keys and they couldn't be found. in the checking out book they were last handled in November but apparently they cant remember that far back but they have no record (apparently) of having them back.


Now, I had a homebuyers report done in October and apparently the surveyor posted them through the estate agents door once finished, however EA say they were not returned, although there is proof of them being handled in November.

If the estate agents were given the responsibility of managing the keys, they should be pursuing the surveyor if the keys haven't been returned.

What lock is on the back door. Some can be very easy for a locksmith to replace even without keys. Phone for quotes. Non emergency replacement should be cheaper. Ask.

savingbee

debrag wrote: »

what do you mean spare? you own the house the sellers don't need them why don't you have theirs?

the only set of keys the seller had was given to the ea which are now lost. I only managed to get in because the vendors sister had a spare to the back