Can't get keys after completion

GDB2222

teachfast said:

GDB2222 said:

Tiglet2 said:

justworriedabit said:

Incredible thread just one of the many reasons i do not go for online solicitors - when you are spending hundreds of thousands in the scheme of things another 1k or so on a n established sol is worth it.

When we bought this property we live in we told the EA we would not go ahead with the purchase if the seller was using an online outfit. EA gave us a rolleye look and I told him not to roll his eyes but ensure our request was met - that got us an apology, a denial of rolleyes and ensured a local solicitor was used.

Never forget, EA does not get their money until completion and you are paying your solicitor to work for you and him/her and their long weekends.

Keys are usually released by the Agents!  Solicitors complete a form which details what the arrangements are, i.e. keys could be left with a neighbour if the EA is an online one, but solicitors (unless local) are very unlikely to have the keys - they do not visit the property and are probably not within the locality of the property.  This is a mistake over who has the keys and why they didn't pass them to the new owner.

It does seem likely that the op has sorted himself out by now. 

However, it is an interesting conundrum. The buyer and seller agree the keys should be left with the agent. The sellers did as requested. The agents do this sort of thing as a favour. It’s not part of their contract, and on this occasion the agent has gone off for a holiday or something like that. Clearly that is a thoughtless thing to do, but are they liable to compensate the buyer? Or the sellers? Or nobody is?

It's not a favour. It's one of the very few things agents actually do.  Pathetic. 

It's not in their contract. Even though it's commonplace for them to hold the keys for the buyer, I'm not clear in what way they are liable if they just aren't around when the buyer wants them. Pretty shoddy, nevertheless.

justworriedabit

GDB2222 said:

teachfast said:

GDB2222 said:

Tiglet2 said:

justworriedabit said:

Incredible thread just one of the many reasons i do not go for online solicitors - when you are spending hundreds of thousands in the scheme of things another 1k or so on a n established sol is worth it.

When we bought this property we live in we told the EA we would not go ahead with the purchase if the seller was using an online outfit. EA gave us a rolleye look and I told him not to roll his eyes but ensure our request was met - that got us an apology, a denial of rolleyes and ensured a local solicitor was used.

Never forget, EA does not get their money until completion and you are paying your solicitor to work for you and him/her and their long weekends.

Keys are usually released by the Agents!  Solicitors complete a form which details what the arrangements are, i.e. keys could be left with a neighbour if the EA is an online one, but solicitors (unless local) are very unlikely to have the keys - they do not visit the property and are probably not within the locality of the property.  This is a mistake over who has the keys and why they didn't pass them to the new owner.

It does seem likely that the op has sorted himself out by now. 

However, it is an interesting conundrum. The buyer and seller agree the keys should be left with the agent. The sellers did as requested. The agents do this sort of thing as a favour. It’s not part of their contract, and on this occasion the agent has gone off for a holiday or something like that. Clearly that is a thoughtless thing to do, but are they liable to compensate the buyer? Or the sellers? Or nobody is?

It's not a favour. It's one of the very few things agents actually do.  Pathetic. 

It's not in their contract. Even though it's commonplace for them to hold the keys for the buyer, I'm not clear in what way they are liable if they just aren't around when the buyer wants them. Pretty shoddy, nevertheless.

It is unheard of, We've bought an sold quiet a few times as has our family - we've had the odd hold up when our mortgage for whatever reasonwas delayed this is a good 20 years ago buy a couple of hours.  It is a big part of the parcel in a sale IMO

rik111

Despite being an on line agent he must be fairly local if he us going yo be handing over the keys. For him to avoid you is totally out of order. I would hunt him down and teach him a bit of respect. I would also be going after the seller legally, they have failed to complete on sale , dont let them off the hook, they are also totally to blame...

GDB2222

rik111 said:

Despite being an on line agent he must be fairly local if he us going yo be handing over the keys. For him to avoid you is totally out of order. I would hunt him down and teach him a bit of respect. I would also be going after the seller legally, they have failed to complete on sale , dont let them off the hook, they are also totally to blame...

But the sellers did precisely what the buyer told them to. He asked them to leave the keys with a third party, which they did.