Seller wants access to deposit before completion

AnotherJoe

Ali1305 wrote: »

. If we don't agree they say the will take the house off the market

Makes no sense and would make me believe they might do that anyway. They also are utterly disreputable to have raised this at the point you've presumably incurred costs, given very few buyers would go with this, who knows what else they may do? Up the price a few days before exchange?
Find another place, this was never going to be yours.

kinger101

If they withdraw from the sale, I suspect the estate agent will bill them (you are a willing and able buyer). And then tell them to FRO when it comes to re-marketing.

Bossypants

Ali1305 wrote: »

Not DIY conveyancing the request came from their solicitors. They say it is so one of the sellers can use the money as a deposit on rental property. If we don't agree they say the will take the house off the market

People this hard up for cash don't go to the trouble and expense of marketing their house for a laugh. Either they really are desperate and if you call their bluff they will find some other way that doesn't involve your £6000 before they are entitled to it, or it's a scam and you won't be seeing that £6000 again.

Personally I'd be inclined to politely but firmly tell them no and continue with the process if you still want the house (I am assuming that if you are talking exchange of contracts that surveyor/searches/etc have all been done and paid for anyway?), but also start making appointments to view other places (including one with this EA - you primarily want to view others because it sounds like this one might go south, but at the same time there's no harm in gently reminding this particular EA that their commission is hanging in the balance...).

GobbledyGook

Not a chance.

What happens if something goes wrong between exchange and completion? It might be somewhat unlikely, but if they need the money then what is the chances of you getting it back? (And there's no point in saying 'well if it goes wrong they can be pursued' etc if they are already openly skint)

seongan

Those who do it so ??

AdrianC

And what was YOUR solicitor's advice?

eddddy

You've got some fairly definitive advice here.

You mention...

Ali1305 wrote: »

They say it is so one of the sellers can use the money as a deposit on rental property. If we don't agree they say the will take the house off the market

Are the sellers a divorcing couple or something similar?

If so, they're typically the most volatile types of sellers to deal with. (e.g. 'It's all the other one's fault.' One/both of them doesn't really want to sell their lovely home and move into rented, etc.)

So perhaps you need to deal with this tactfully, to avoid an irrational reaction.

foxy-stoat

Tell them you want to exchange contracts first.....then say no....NOW take your property off the market...FOOLS !!!!

cloo

I have only heard of bad things coming of agreeing to something like this!

bmthmark

No chance, do not even think about handing money over. £6k for rental deposit!!