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Due to complete this week - vendor dilly-dallying with access

24

Comments

  • eidand
    eidand Posts: 1,023 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 13 July 2020 at 12:10PM
    If the property is vacant why would health issues stop you inspecting the property. The EA presumably has a set of keys. 
    I have seen EAs say many stupid things to b fair. For example, I am buying a property, had an offer accepted, so stile early in the process. I called the EA to arrange a second viewing, specifically told them I want to look in the loft and check everything. When I got there, they wouldn't let me move the ladder and have a look, on elf and safety reasons. So now I am going to have to go again. My point, which I told them, is that if I am paying close to half a mill, I am going to check the loft, elves or no elves!

    This was also in an empty property ....
  • greatcrested
    greatcrested Posts: 5,925 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    How were previous viewings handled? Dd the EA have keys or was it left to the owner to let you in?
    If the former then this excuse is just that - an excuse. Possibly hiding the flood suggested earlier.
    Pin down the EA as to why he cannot provide access. Even if the EA does not havekeys, a copy could be sent to him easily enough. The property is unoccupied so whatever the owner is suffering from does not prevent viewing.
  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 13 July 2020 at 12:49PM
    If the property is vacant why would health issues stop you inspecting the property. The EA presumably has a set of keys. 
    The EA's exact words on the email were "the vendor cannot guarantee access prior to completion".
    Presumably they can guarantee access on completion though? I would ask them what the problem actually is.

    Have they said the house has been cleared? If so then you're not really running any more risk than buyers usually do (where the house is only being cleared on the morning of the completion date).
  • I know for a fact that the buildings surveyor we engaged picked up the keys from the EA so they must have a copy. We've never met the vendor, it's always been the EA and an empty property.

    Thinking about it, a bit of rubbish left over, missing window keys, etc is not a huge deal but not granting access at all pre-completion just seems a bit worrying, especially when the property is empty. And it's not like we've had any run-ins until now either, it's all been quite pleasant between us and the EA.

    I'll pin the EA down and ask what the exact issue is that's stopping them from arranging a final visit.
  • Marvel1
    Marvel1 Posts: 7,461 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 13 July 2020 at 1:26PM
    I would want a final viewing before exchange, surely the EA can let you in if it's vacant.
    Also how they can guarantee completion on Thursday due to this illness?
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    So the EA comes back and says "Nope, can't get access."

    What are you going to do? Walk away from the purchase?
  • greatcrested
    greatcrested Posts: 5,925 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 13 July 2020 at 1:48PM
  • Marvel1 said:
    I would want a final viewing before exchange, surely the EA can let you in if it's vacant.
    Also how they can guarantee completion on Thursday due to this illness?
    How were previous viewings handled? Dd the EA have keys or was it left to the owner to let you in?
    If the former then this excuse is just that - an excuse. Possibly hiding the flood suggested earlier.
    The property is unoccupied so whatever the owner is suffering from does not prevent viewing.

    Exactly. I've always heard that you should get a final viewing in before exchange as well. Quite reasonable given that we're spending a few hundred thousand pounds on the house.

    Happy to delay proceedings by a week or two if there is a reasonable excuse to not being able to give access this week. But if they absolutely refuse any access before completion, that would set off alarm bells.
  • eidand
    eidand Posts: 1,023 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Marvel1 said:
    I would want a final viewing before exchange, surely the EA can let you in if it's vacant.
    Also how they can guarantee completion on Thursday due to this illness?
    How were previous viewings handled? Dd the EA have keys or was it left to the owner to let you in?
    If the former then this excuse is just that - an excuse. Possibly hiding the flood suggested earlier.
    The property is unoccupied so whatever the owner is suffering from does not prevent viewing.

    Exactly. I've always heard that you should get a final viewing in before exchange as well. Quite reasonable given that we're spending a few hundred thousand pounds on the house.

    Happy to delay proceedings by a week or two if there is a reasonable excuse to not being able to give access this week. But if they absolutely refuse any access before completion, that would set off alarm bells.
    I quite agree with this. I will do the same, make sure the house is as it was when I viewed it, prior to committing to buying it. What if someone took a sledgehammer and broke all the walls ?
  • wilfred30
    wilfred30 Posts: 878 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    I wouldn't exchange/complete on the purchase without a final visit either.  For all you know, there could be squatters in there!!

    IMO, it's definitely suspicious that the EA and vendor are denying you access when they both have keys.
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