Anyone managed to get permission to do work on a house before completion?

KRB2725

My parents have just had a new boiler installed and new carpets laid throughout between exchange & completion. I told them they'd never be allowed but both vendor and solicitor were okay with it.

Property was empty & it all worked out fine!

amber_man

we are currently doing it: exchanged two weeks ago, half way through replastering, fitting a kitchen and fitting carpets. Will complete next week.

No problem with either side's solicitors and it didn't cost us any more on the conveyancing.

You need to ask them to sort out something called a 'key undertaking' and it's very straightforward.

ajp1309

Thanks everyone will have a word once we are closer to exchange if we can it will hopefully mean we can get in sooner

G_M

dc197 wrote: »

Yes.
To help transport my pond fish, I was given permission to set-up a temporary pool 3 days before and then the day before to bring the fish over.
.

Hmmm... Yes, I remember that.

Didn't you also want to bury your dog under the fishpond before you moved in?

Davesnave

I had a new multipoint boiler installed between exchange and completion, but that was way back in the mists of time. This was arranged via the agent acting for the executor of the estate and the Gas Board, as it was then.

I just happened to call in and borrow the key from the gas guy for half an hour, after which I was able to move some basics in and live there for a few weeks till completion. It was at a time when squatting was all the rage, so I decided if anyone was going to squat in my house, it might as well be me!

dc197

G_M wrote: »

Hmmm... Yes, I remember that.

Didn't you also want to bury your dog under the fishpond before you moved in?

I think the dog thing was a joke from before my time. However, just for fun, here's a photo of my dog in the pond before it was filled with water.

agrinnall

ajp1309 wrote: »

If anyone was to back out it would be us that would be way out of pocket and they would have a house that would probably be worth more lol.

That would surely depend on what stage the work was at, if you'd stripped the walls and taken up the carpets but not started to replace them then you're unlikely to have added much value. It's worth asking the question of the vendor, especially with nobody living there, but don't be surprised if they decide not to allow it.

hazyjo

This thread alone would put me off giving anyone keys before completion https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5497684


Jx

AlexMac

My vendor's estate agent refused to allow a carpet cleaner in to freshen up the (long empty) property prior to completion.

While they were in the right, I was fairly miffed. I responded by insisting on repair to a weeping pipe and a biggish retention for a pothole in the forecourt as that had opened up after exchange, which I might otherwise have sorted myself...