Nearing completion and I have a few questions

comedyseeker123

The situation is that I want a family member to have somewhere to stay from this Friday night/Saturday morning. The house I’m buying is due to complete on Friday and I would want them to stay at my house.

1) I’m a FTB and currently in a HMO (without bills). I will need to get electricity connected at the new house (gas is secondary). How quickly will it be connected?

2) Is there anywhere or anything I need to do on the day of completion? Workmate has said I just arrange to collect the keys from the estate agent. Do I not check the property to make sure it hasn’t burnt down the night before or they haven’t severely damaged the house? Just asking because it’s all new to me!

2) On Friday afternoon my solicitor has been accused of not responding to four calls from the vendors solicitors with regards to agreeing a completion date. I agreed to the date over two weeks ago so it’s not me* that’s not agreed.

Should I be concerned that my solicitor hasn’t agreed the date? I spoke to him a few weeks ago and he was just waiting for one item to be provided and asked if the 27/9 date was good to exchange (I said yes, no problem).

3) Thursday I was asked to transfer the funds for the deposit and did so. My solicitor messaged me saying s/he will push the completion date to early this week. How does completion work? I’m in a chain of me FTB and the vendor buying a place.

Also worth noting the vendor has still got personal items in the house. I drove past two and I could see stuff inside.

ThemeOne

You say you're completing on Friday 27th, then later say you agreed to exchange on the same day. Which is it?

You don't normally need to do anything other than pick up the keys on completion day.

Robin9

comedyseeker123 wrote: »

............................). I will need to get electricity connected at the new house (gas is secondary). How quickly will it be connected? ............................

The Electricity and Gas will both already be connected. What you have to do on the day the property becomes yours is to read the meters (and take a photo) and ring the suppliers. You will be on a Deemed Contract with the suppliers Standard (ie expensive tariff).
You are then free to switch - you will need to guess your consumption and use a comparison site and choose a supplier.

PasturesNew

Most people pick up the keys when they get the phone call, go to the new house (where you hope the existing people aren't still loading their van), let yourself in, flick on a lightswitch and all the electricity etc is still connected/working. You need to immediately take meter readings as you will need these.

People who are moving out that day don't tend to shut down all the services.

But ... if it's been empty awhile it's possible the mains switch will want flicking on - and the water under the sink might want turning on.

So, there's no one answer that fits all.

If things were uncertain I'd not bust a gut to get in and have somebody stay that first night as you don't know when you'll get in or what will be unexpected.

eddddy

It doesn't sound like you've exchanged contracts.

If not, there is no guarantee whatsoever that you will complete on Friday.

comedyseeker123 wrote: »

Also worth noting the vendor has still got personal items in the house. I drove past two and I could see stuff inside.

Is the vendor currently living in the house? If so, their belongings, furniture etc will be there until they move out on completion day.

Even if they're not living there, if you haven't even exchanged contracts yet, it could be premature to start emptying the property. (As maybe the sale won't happen.)

Robin9

Have you insured the property yet?

Slithery

comedyseeker123 wrote: »

1) I’m a FTB and currently in a HMO (without bills). I will need to get electricity connected at the new house (gas is secondary). How quickly will it be connected?

Has the electricity actually been switched off? This doesn't usually happen unless it's a repossession or has been uninhabited for some time. You'll probably find that it works when you get the keys.

The moment that you own the property and use any energy you will automatically be place on a 'deemed contract' with the current supplier without you doing anything. Just make sure you take meter readings ASAP so you can inform the supplier.

2) Is there anywhere or anything I need to do on the day of completion?

I'd imagine you'd want to pick up the keys - otherwise how is your family member going to access the property?

2) On Friday afternoon my solicitor has been accused of not responding to four calls from the vendors solicitors with regards to agreeing a completion date. I agreed to the date over two weeks ago so it’s not me* that’s not agreed.

Oh dear. You've either exchanged and agreed a completion date, or you haven't actually exhanged. Which is it?

Also worth noting the vendor has still got personal items in the house. I drove past two and I could see stuff inside.

And? They don't have to have the place empty until you actually complete.

comedyseeker123

I can’t quote everyone individually so here goes

@ThemeOne - ah right I’ve re-read the email and my solicitor said exchange contracts early next week. Completion “when I get keys” (what my solicitor said) has always been Friday and still looks like it’s Friday. Ok that makes things easier.

comedyseeker123

@pasturesnew I will have a bit more certainty during the working week. I wish I didn’t have to bust a gut either

Slithery

comedyseeker123 wrote: »

Completion “when I get keys” (what my solicitor said) has always been Friday

No it hasn't.

You still haven't exchanged so there isn't a completion date yet. The date you complete isn't finalised until contracts have actually been exchanged, before then either of you can still pull out of the transaction or suggest a different date.

comedyseeker123

@edddy I’m not sure if they are living in the house, I just drove by.

Is it common/standard for exchange and completion to happen within the week?