Can I ask estate agents to change locks

nidO

ViolaLass wrote: »

Any reason you can't change them once you've completed? It was the first thing we did.

The OP presumably doesn't want to arrive at completion day and find they can't complete because the ex-tenants have returned to the property and are now squatting in it.

DaftyDuck

nidO wrote: »

The OP presumably doesn't want to arrive at completion day and find they can't complete because the ex-tenants have returned to the property and are now squatting in it.

.. or arrive at completion day and find the ex - tenant has a key to the new lock anyway....

Do it yourself, once you've moved in!

Surrey_EA

stator wrote: »

If you offer to pay the costs and demand that it is done shortly before exchange of contracts then I think your chances are good. I think it's a good idea. You don't want anyone sneaking in between exchange and completion.

I think I'd wait until I'd completed and have them changed myself.

Marktheshark

Years ago people signed in the property itself and handed the keys over.

Surrey_EA

Marktheshark wrote: »

Years ago people signed in the property itself and handed the keys over.

How would you know you'd received all of the keys that exist for the property?

Marktheshark

You dont, but you got to make sure it was empty and not trashed, then you can do what you like with the locks.

eddddy

I think I'd handle this slightly differently. I'd just ask the EA to confirm with the seller that they have changed the locks and ensured that the property is secure following the eviction of their tenant.

If I was really worried, I'd ask my solicitor to confirm it via a pre-contract enquiry.

Hopefully, that would prompt the seller to change the locks, if they haven't already. But if they refuse, there's not much you can do. (You could try offering to pay, to see if that helps.)

Obviously, you can change the locks again after completion, if you want.

stator

Surrey_EA wrote: »

I think I'd wait until I'd completed and have them changed myself.

Why?
Doing it twice is the most sensible option. Changing the locks once you've completed is no help if there's an old tenant refusing to leave.

cloo

You can ask, but if the answer's no then I agree with the poster above who said to drop in before exchange to check nothing untoward has happened. Do you have any reason to believe the former tenant will return?

Surrey_EA

stator wrote: »

Why?
Doing it twice is the most sensible option. Changing the locks once you've completed is no help if there's an old tenant refusing to leave.

Check the property on day of completion to ensure there is no remaining tenant, before authorising solicitor to release funds.

If there is someone remaining at the property on completion day, the vendor has not provided vacant possession and funds for completion should not be transferred.