House purchase complete. Vendor still in situ nightmare

AdrianC

Blowsbubbles said:

AdrianC said:

She's given you two keys.

How many exist?

5 🙄🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️ I was like how many keys do you need!! 

You mean "at least five".

Blowsbubbles said:

I can't change the locks, it's a werid one, with a unique custom door and lock mechanism. She was supposed to be doing it before she left but didn't, found out will actually cost £3k to do so 😳

<sceptical>
Show us a pic of the lock setup...

You could, of course, just add another lock.

Blowsbubbles

getmore4less said:

just seen this in your other thread.
Thirdly we are likely to do this property up and sell to hop-up the ladder.

need a thicker skin if looking to flip a places at a profit, you get them cheap for a reason.

I had to move into rented as my first sale fell through due to her delaying, my second sale I accepted at a lower cost, as thought needed quick sale. Didn't happen thou hence renting. Had to quickly rent so in a very expensive village... Have in many ways lost a lot of money already as we didn't have 'chain' sale. Now fallen for village currently in, hence why hoping to make a profit and move back here eventually (its expensive!) . House wasn't cheap. Got into a bidding war and paying 30k over asking price. It was intended to be my forever home and thought it was worth it. Living in the village have changed mind. Does that make me a bad person? 

Blowsbubbles

I hadn't seen house for long time due to covid/delays. Went back before we exchanged and house was a filthy tip, and garden a jungle.
She told me she was getting professional cleaners in to sort it. (I doubled checked with solicitors we had clauses in for an empty, clean house just in case) 
I was fully expecting, as with every house purchase, to clean myself too. My partner and parents were all booked for today for that purpose!! But not the level of filth that is currently there. 
Wasn't intending to replace carpets, but seeing them yesterday think I'll have to. 
Yesterday I'd estimate there was ~15 skips worth of stuff left.
She's a difficult character, mental health issues and has already changed estate agents 3 times and solicitors twice.
Her family, who I met yesterday, told me she had only asked for help the prior day. They were great and could see they were helping a lot hence why happy to leave them to it to do the work, and offered the weekend extra. Just wanted advice in readiness for Monday depending on what state it is in. 

Irishpearce26

AdrianC said:

Irishpearce26 said:

In terms of claiming for costs I would view the following as claimable;

-Council tax for your new property for that period which will be minimal

Nope, because the OP was always retaining the rental property, so there's no extra liability.

-Utilities from when you completed to when she vacated (you would have needed meter readings for this, the EA may have taken them on completion) again minimal

The readings should be done on move-in anyway, so no difference there.

-Removal of 'junk' perhaps hire a skip and just get rid in one swoop - Anywhere from £100+

A hundred quid for a skip...?!?

Can you put the time machine in it when you're done?

Council tax - The OP is liable from when he completed but someone else is still in the house. Doesn't matter if he has another rental or not.

Utilities - you just said what I said.

Skip - Yes you can get a skip from £100 i did but they are small mind, but the + symbol means and above.

GeordieGeorge

Blowsbubbles said:

Barny1979 said:

AdrianC said:

Barny1979 said:

Has the spare key been returned to you?

Academic, since you have no way of knowing how many keys there may or may not be.

Get the locks changed ASAP.

Yes, but if he''s not there for a while, she could easily pop in and out, less likely if he is living there. As you say usually you'd change locks anyway, but think it's more pressing with this character and her trying to get some free board or summat.

I can't change the locks, it's a werid one, with a unique custom door and lock mechanism. She was supposed to be doing it before she left but didn't, found out will actually cost £3k to do so 😳

This seems very hard to believe. Get the custom lock maker to replace the barrel.

I’m afraid that as you drip feed less and less believable additional facts that you’ll find fewer and fewer people providing help.

getmore4less

Blowsbubbles said:

getmore4less said:

just seen this in your other thread.
Thirdly we are likely to do this property up and sell to hop-up the ladder.

need a thicker skin if looking to flip a places at a profit, you get them cheap for a reason.

I had to move into rented as my first sale fell through due to her delaying, my second sale I accepted at a lower cost, as thought needed quick sale. Didn't happen thou hence renting. Had to quickly rent so in a very expensive village... Have in many ways lost a lot of money already as we didn't have 'chain' sale. Now fallen for village currently in, hence why hoping to make a profit and move back here eventually (its expensive!) . House wasn't cheap. Got into a bidding war and paying 30k over asking price. It was intended to be my forever home and thought it was worth it. Living in the village have changed mind. Does that make me a bad person? 

Over priced for a flip but was going to be forever but now you want to live somewhere so need to flip it

Blowsbubbles said:

I hadn't seen house for long time due to covid/delays. Went back before we exchanged and house was a filthy tip, and garden a jungle.
She told me she was getting professional cleaners in to sort it. (I doubled checked with solicitors we had clauses in for an empty, clean house just in case) 
I was fully expecting, as with every house purchase, to clean myself too. My partner and parents were all booked for today for that purpose!! But not the level of filth that is currently there. 
Wasn't intending to replace carpets, but seeing them yesterday think I'll have to. 
Yesterday I'd estimate there was ~15 skips worth of stuff left.
She's a difficult character, mental health issues and has already changed estate agents 3 times and solicitors twice.
Her family, who I met yesterday, told me she had only asked for help the prior day. They were great and could see they were helping a lot hence why happy to leave them to it to do the work, and offered the weekend extra. Just wanted advice in readiness for Monday depending on what state it is in. 

Should have pulled out or got it back to flip pricing if you had decided you want to live somewhere else.

Justonemorecupoftea

Blowsbubbles said:

Barny1979 said:

AdrianC said:

Barny1979 said:

Has the spare key been returned to you?

Academic, since you have no way of knowing how many keys there may or may not be.

Get the locks changed ASAP.

Yes, but if he''s not there for a while, she could easily pop in and out, less likely if he is living there. As you say usually you'd change locks anyway, but think it's more pressing with this character and her trying to get some free board or summat.

I can't change the locks, it's a werid one, with a unique custom door and lock mechanism. She was supposed to be doing it before she left but didn't, found out will actually cost £3k to do so 😳

If replace the locks was part of the contracts you may be able to claim that cost back.  It as with the other bits I wouldn't hold your breath!

HampshireH

Justonemorecupoftea said:

Blowsbubbles said:

Barny1979 said:

AdrianC said:

Barny1979 said:

Has the spare key been returned to you?

Academic, since you have no way of knowing how many keys there may or may not be.

Get the locks changed ASAP.

Yes, but if he''s not there for a while, she could easily pop in and out, less likely if he is living there. As you say usually you'd change locks anyway, but think it's more pressing with this character and her trying to get some free board or summat.

I can't change the locks, it's a werid one, with a unique custom door and lock mechanism. She was supposed to be doing it before she left but didn't, found out will actually cost £3k to do so 😳

If replace the locks was part of the contracts you may be able to claim that cost back.  It as with the other bits I wouldn't hold your breath!

Not sure why anyone would have replacing locks in their contract prior to completion. Makes no sense for former owner to change locks and hopefully hand over all keys.

This is all sounding more odd to be honest. Never heard of a lock costing £3k, a new door would be a third of the price if going basic and not fancy or specialist.

Blowsbubbles

HampshireH said:

Justonemorecupoftea said:

Blowsbubbles said:

Barny1979 said:

AdrianC said:

Barny1979 said:

Has the spare key been returned to you?

Academic, since you have no way of knowing how many keys there may or may not be.

Get the locks changed ASAP.

Yes, but if he''s not there for a while, she could easily pop in and out, less likely if he is living there. As you say usually you'd change locks anyway, but think it's more pressing with this character and her trying to get some free board or summat.

I can't change the locks, it's a werid one, with a unique custom door and lock mechanism. She was supposed to be doing it before she left but didn't, found out will actually cost £3k to do so 😳

If replace the locks was part of the contracts you may be able to claim that cost back.  It as with the other bits I wouldn't hold your breath!

Not sure why anyone would have replacing locks in their contract prior to completion. Makes no sense for former owner to change locks and hopefully hand over all keys.

This is all sounding more odd to be honest. Never heard of a lock costing £3k, a new door would be a third of the price if going basic and not fancy or specialist.

Locks /doors  is all irrelevant to my question about what to do about junk etc.
But for those confused door is electronic and wired into the house electrics, can be operated remotely, like a car, from anywhere in the house to open/shut. She wanted to take it, and I didn't care about its function so had in contract she was to replace with a normal upvc door. We put a retainer on it in case work not done to  satisfaction. Including providing electrical certificate on house. She mentioned to me that builder had cancelled on her and that it was going to cost 3k. 
I may be able to get cheaper but tbh in the ~15mins I've spent in the house recently wasn't something I studied in detail. Nor got quotes on yet, just something she said to me. I do know it's not a case of unscrewing one door for another... 
I don't need to change the locks as given them permission to be there to finish cleaning and clearing. Once that's done I'll get the last key from them. 
My concern is more about the potential state of it when they finish, if they don't manage to.
Thanks to everyone who has replied constructively, obviously will be chatting to solicitors on Monday and moving forward with their advice. Was just wanting to get ahead of the game over the weekend and pick up any tips from anyone who has gone through similar. Cheers 

CIS

Irishpearce26 said:

AdrianC said:

Irishpearce26 said:

In terms of claiming for costs I would view the following as claimable;

-Council tax for your new property for that period which will be minimal

Nope, because the OP was always retaining the rental property, so there's no extra liability.

-Utilities from when you completed to when she vacated (you would have needed meter readings for this, the EA may have taken them on completion) again minimal

The readings should be done on move-in anyway, so no difference there.

-Removal of 'junk' perhaps hire a skip and just get rid in one swoop - Anywhere from £100+

A hundred quid for a skip...?!?

Can you put the time machine in it when you're done?

Council tax - The OP is liable from when he completed but someone else is still in the house. Doesn't matter if he has another rental or not.

The OP is not liable for the council tax whilst there is a resident. Only once that resident vacates does the OP become liable for the council tax.