House Completion - Sellers left house in terrible condition

bethan11

Hi all,

I’m looking for some advice. I am a first time buyer and I’ve just completed on a house today and had the keys. I’ve not been able to view the property since I first viewed it in January. When I viewed it then it was lovely with no issues.

I opened the door today and I couldn’t believe the state that the seller has left the property in. There is rubbish left everywhere (including a blood stained pillow) every single surface (walls, floors) are stained with god knows what, there has been a leak that has ruined the bathroom ceiling, kitchen cupboards have been damaged, windows have been damaged and the list goes on. 

I spoke to the estate agent who merely said ‘we thought the previous tenant would do that’, and the solicitor said it’s unlikely they’d be able to do anything than possibly contact the sellers solicitor about the rubbish that has been left in the property.

I’m just wondering where I stand. The house is now mine and I will obviously have to clear everything up but it’s a total wreck compared to the first viewing so I’m very disappointed  

UnderOffer

Oh no how disappointing for you. So it was tenanted and you bought from a Landlord? They really should have checked the property and cleaned it out ready for you. Can you contact your solicitor and seek advice from them, they may contact the vendors solicitor and suggest a resolution (cleaning costs etc). 

anselld

The contract requires the completion state to be the same as the exchange state so you should have inspected just prior to exchange, particularly if you new it had been let.  

You cannot claim for cleaning and it is not worth the hassle to claim for waste disposal so I am afraid you just have to get the gloves on.

bethan11

Unfortunately it has been quite a complex situation - the seller was renting the house to her ex husband who she is not on speaking terms with. The tenant was also shielding (covid) until yesterday when he left and my solicitor completed early this morning so I wasn’t given an option to inspect the house before collecting the keys. On my key collection I also was missing two keys that apparently the seller still has which I also don’t think is supposed to happen? 

davidmcn

bethan11 said:

On my key collection I also was missing two keys that apparently the seller still has which I also don’t think is supposed to happen? 

Doesn't matter if you'll be changing the locks anyway.

bethan11

davidmcn said:

bethan11 said:

On my key collection I also was missing two keys that apparently the seller still has which I also don’t think is supposed to happen? 

Doesn't matter if you'll be changing the locks anyway.

I can’t check that the patio doors are working properly without the key which is pretty annoying lol 

HampshireH

bethan11 said:

davidmcn said:

bethan11 said:

On my key collection I also was missing two keys that apparently the seller still has which I also don’t think is supposed to happen? 

Doesn't matter if you'll be changing the locks anyway.

I can’t check that the patio doors are working properly without the key which is pretty annoying lol 

But you can get the locks changed and you should. 

Did you exchange back in January?

AdrianC

anselld said:

The contract requires the completion state to be the same as the exchange state so you should have inspected just prior to exchange, particularly if you new it had been let.  

You cannot claim for cleaning and it is not worth the hassle to claim for waste disposal so I am afraid you just have to get the gloves on.

^ This.

Yes, the rubbish should have been gone. You can claim for reasonable disposal costs - but if they don't agree to pay, then you're heading for small claim. Squeemishness is not claimable.

RelievedSheff

Try not to let it get you down. Give the place a good clean top to bottom and get rid of any rubbish. To be fair we have given every property we have moved into a good once over first anyway, even the new build we are in now!

Get the locks changed ASAP.

Then sit back and relax in your new home.

These things shouldn't happen but they do. You just have to try and put them behind you and look forward to the future in your new home.

dimbo61

You really need to change the locks.
People have Been known to use spare keys to break in and steal items.
So change all the door locks ASAP