Exchanging on a house.

Harryp_24

I am about to exchange on a house this friday or monday depending on a last query, with a completion date of next thursday the 13th!
This completion date was set my the vendors solicitor whose house im buying, i agreed as it fits quite well with the bank holiday weekend. However, i got a call from the estate agent today saying that the vendor is panicking because she doesnt think she will be fully packed by thursday. They wanted to know if i would allow her to keep some boxes in the house (she is moving 3 doors down to a bungalow) and move them over the next two days.

As a ftb im literally getting the keys and going to do it up while i live at my parents before moving in so it doesnt bother me, however the ea kept telling me not to tell my solicitor that she will have some of her stuff still in the house come completion day.

Should i? is there anything dodgy going on here that could result in negative consequences for me?

I dont mind in the slightest, especially as she is mentally disabled but something about the ea telling me repeatedly not to tell the solicitor seems like maybe it is a problem?

Can anyone with more knowledge advise me please, thanks.

Surrey_EA

The worst that can happen is that you're left with the remainder of her boxes to dispose of, should the vendor decide not to collect them for one reason or another.

The EA is probably only saying not to tell the solicitors as I suspect your solicitor will tell you not to agree, and the property needs to be given as vacant possession on completion.

Doesn't seem in any way dodgy to me, but up to you whether you agree or not.

Make sure you have all sets of keys once completion takes place, and as usual the advice is get the locks changed immediately, as you never know who has had a set of keys in the past.

Hoploz

Maybe you could help her move these boxes out??

Surely the time is packing - moving it 3 doors down doesn't take long.

I think you might be wise to clarify exactly what is going to be left and offer to give her a hand

lika_86

If she won't be fully packed then it won't be a few boxes, it will be stuff left loose I would assume.

Don't do it. She'll have to get a move on and get it all sorted.

elverson

When you exchange there will be a line in the contract about 'vacant possession' - i.e. the property has to be handed over empty. A few boxes isn't really here or there but your solicitor would rightly see it as an issue as they are representing your interests (and the EA isn't!)

AdrianC

Hoploz wrote: »

Surely the time is packing - moving it 3 doors down doesn't take long.

lika_86 wrote: »

If she won't be fully packed then it won't be a few boxes, it will be stuff left loose I would assume.

Couldn't agree more. What you're being told does not make sense, OP.

G_M

I would not agree. It is probably perfectly innocent but what if

* there are drugs/explosives in the boxes?
* the '2 days' becomes '2 weeks/months'
* the 'boxes' become numerous loose items that are not listed anywhere
* she later claims some of the boxes/other items have vanished/been damaged
* she claims ongoing rights to your property because she never 'vacated'
etc

'Vacant possession' means...... vacant possession.

HouseBuyer77

Doesn't sound like you're in a great hurry to get the keys so why not suggest you push completion back a few days to allow her time to pack?