Help, due to complete in the morning seller saying may be delay

JGB1955

My daughter bought a repossession house... it was fairly comprehensively trashed by the ex-owner just before they moved in.  They couldn't move in for 4 months because it had been made uninhabitable.  5 years later it's a family home, with huge kitchen/diner extension and landscaped garden.  Just look forwards and treat today as the first day of the rest of your house-owning life.

cybele2003

Thank you all, we have fixed the radiator which was leaking and re fitted a radiator which had been knocked off the wall and stood on a plastic box. We are now mentally and physically exhausted.

It will all be worth it and our kids love the house. So thankful for you all letting me vent on here so I didn't lose my temper with the seller and make things worse.

m0bov

OP did you not change the locks? Just call the Police next time they show up, its your property and its theft. However, by completing without vacant possession you are in breach of your mortgage, so best not mention it to your solicitor. If someone had a key, or they had not "vacated", you should not have completed.

elsien

What is theft? There is no suggestion that the previous owners plan to take anything from the OP from here on in, just retrieve their own stuff. There is no crime for the police to turn up for unless someone starts kicking off.

Cancelling completion because someone left some belongings behind would be a complete overreaction. It is vacant possession in the sense that they have moved out, which is the important bit. Everything else can be sorted now that the OP is in situ. 
My parent got left with a skip full of stuff - the owners had actually moved more rubbish and broken furniture in before they left. They paid for the privilege of having it removed. 

m0bov

elsien said:

What is theft? There is no suggestion that the previous owners plan to take anything from the OP from here on in, just retrieve their own stuff. There is no crime for the police to turn up for unless someone starts kicking off.

Cancelling completion because someone left some belongings behind would be a complete overreaction. It is vacant possession in the sense that they have moved out, which is the important bit. Everything else can be sorted now that the OP is in situ. 
My parent got left with a skip full of stuff - the owners had actually moved more rubbish and broken furniture in before they left. They paid for the privilege of having it removed. 

I don't think you've read the whole thread.....

elsien

I have indeed read the whole thread. And seen the damage that has been caused. However your post advises that the OP call the police next time they show up. And I fail to see any reason why that would be necessary unless there is some level of harassment or aggression. And I still don't see why you were advocating non-completion on the basis of the information given. 

cybele2003

m0bov said:

OP did you not change the locks? Just call the Police next time they show up, its your property and its theft. However, by completing without vacant possession you are in breach of your mortgage, so best not mention it to your solicitor. If someone had a key, or they had not "vacated", you should not have completed.

Yes changed the locks and contacted the solicitor straight away. We are ftb so were unaware of what to do when we turned up to only one key it's been a very sharp learning curve unfortunately. We have had no contact since other than solicitors trying to retrieve fixtures back but it's a civil matter unfortunately so may not happen. 

babyblade41

Now locks have been changed, just notify them via your solicitor that the remainder of their belongings will be held for 14 days then disposed of .

After they either collect or it's thrown away you can forget about the experience, pretty pointless trying to get back what they took as you will never get it back .

Time to move on and enjoy your new home , this happens sometimes and not worth losing sleep over 

warby68

This has been horrible but its pretty obvious the war is between the former couple and not with you although a few untruths have been told.
You already have the best advice which is to forget it and move on - there are ALWAYS some unforeseen expenses and inconveniences when buying a house. You got difficult ex-owner, others get broken boiler, leaks and previously covered up bodges.
Not much fun at the time but something that really does fade quite quickly. Enjoy your new home

[Deleted User]

Well done for persisting.  The worst has been pretty bad but its over now.  Now the house is YOURS. 

As has been said, stories will be told with laughter about this in a year or so.  Honestly, it will.  I'm afraid we all have disasters while moving house (mine was only a small removal van, and sharing it with people we were swapping houses with although we didn't realise this initially - social housing rental situation).  The removal people disappeared for hours because of problems with the other party, as did my ex partner, hallways blocked with stuff just tossed there and a fridge defrosting at the old place.  And the place was absolutely filthy.  Now its a wry story and gives me confidence because however hard it was we did move and sort it all out.

Well done.  Now it starts getting better and will be your home.