Completion Date - What time do I get the keys?

dander

I'm fairly sure that if completion is set for a certain day, you have to have access to the place that day - as soon as they have your money, they are effectively trespassing on your property. Make sure you keep in lots of contact with the EA on the day - they'll have dealt with this sort of stuff loads of times, so will be able to make sure you get your keys.

However, it's weird how long all those transactions take to go through the banks in this world of computer processing! Don't expect to be in before mid-afternoon!

amz84uk

I'd be happy to have the keys by 2pm, as my Solicitor and lender have advised me that they will transfer the monies first thing in the morning.

The EA is a bit unco-operative really, but we'll see on the day how things go. I may be paranoid but I feel as though they will be leaving things behind such as the sofa and expect to collect them on the weekend. Or the opposite may happen - that they take the F&F. I do have the Sellers list and we agreed that they leave some of the Kitchen appliances behind.

bylromarha

Whatever you do, don't hassle the sellers. Our buyers came to our house 2 days before completion. We established that they couldn't have the keys at the very least until money transferred and probably around 2pm.

They banged on our door at 9.30am, knowing when they could move their stuff in, and camped out, banging on the door 3 more times before we gave in the keys to the EA.

Made a 39 wk pregnant woman go even slower.

amz84uk

UPDATE: Completion was set for today. I phoned the EA who said that the Seller hasn't vacated the Property as they will be renting it from me.

I haven't had no discussion regarding rent. Have phoned my Solicitor and they are dealing with it.

Seller phoned me directly a while ago asking if he can stay for 1-2 more weeks. I feel he will retailiate if I don't let him stay. Any advice appreciated

uhuru_2

When I bought my last house the vendors got confused about the completion date and there was a load of hassle about them moving out. To cut a very long story short, I was told at the time by my solicitor that I could sue for compensation from them for every day they delayed. Apparently the purchasers of my property could have done the same via me or something. When the vendors of my property were told that they miraculously solved all their problems over the completion date.

The only snag was they retaliated by making me wait till nearly teatime for the keys - nothing to do with money, they insisted on mowing the lawns front and back before they would leave!! lol.

I guess it is all dependant on what (if anything) is in the contract regarding renting the property back to the vendor. Hope you get it sorted.

JonnyBravo

eh?

Let me get this straight.... I must have missed something?

You are completing today? The house you are buying.... the seller isn't going to move out and is going to stay in it for a "week or two" and you're happy with this?
You haven't discussed rent?

Has the world gone mad?

Have you gone mad?

Tell him "tuff sh1te" and to get the hell out. It's going to be your house and youll have paid for it.

You feel he will retaliate if you don't let him stay? Retaliate how? Get some big mates round and throw him out once it's yours. Or call the old bill and do him for trespass or something....


Don't just carry on with this "wet lettuce" attitude though... youll get walked all over.

dander

Your contracts should state that you are buying the house with 'vacant posession' - that means, no previous occupant living there!!! Don't hand over a penny until he's out!

What do you mean retaliate? Is there more to this than meets the eye?

amz84uk

Thanks for the quick advice uhuru and Jonny.

I haven't discussed any rental agreements with the Sellers, and they've been under the impression that I'm happy for them to rent it from me. We haven't even discussed how much rent I will charge, or how much deposit they will put down first.

I've got a family coming round on the weekend to view the property, and they are happy to put down a months rent as deposit, and pay rent upfront. And if they like the property, they wish to move in about 2weeks time.

I simply want the keys to the house, and these Sellers don't want to move. They haven't started packing. Furthermore, they are both at work, and wish to discuss stuff later on this evening in person with me.

I am worried that if I rent it to them, 1- they will not pay on time and will refuse to vacate when I ask them to. 2- they may take all the fixture & fittings with them, when they do decide to vacate, and I may not be legally able to do anything as I am renting it to them.

Is it possible for me to withdraw from the sale totally now, as they are not giving me the keys? (Well, the Seller is fine giving me the keys, and for the prospective tenants to view on the weekend, but they don't want to vacate just yet, as they aren't ready).

amz84uk

We've already Completed. I've checked my HSBC account, and the mortgage is showing. My Solicitor has confirmed with their Solicitor that they have received the monies. Both Solicitors are unaware that the Sellers were renting from me. Equally, I am shocked that they wanted to rent from me, as we haven't discussed rental agreements. So I've already paid them the monies, but no key or house yet.

As for retaliating - there is no chance for them to vacate today, as they have nowhere to go to (apart from relatives), but no removal truck or anything has been arranged, and both are at work. If I give them 2-3days to vacate, they may take more stuff from the house (such as Freezer, lighting - all the F&Fittings basically), and then I believe I can't legally do anything.

Furthermore, they may retaliate by thieving the place after I purchase it - never know! Am just worried.

dander

Get on the phone to your solicitor straight away. If you bought the property with vacant posession then they should be out. You need to get proper legal advice here.

I think you need to act quickly to show the intention to evict them. The longer you let them stay unchallenged, the more rights they have to stay.

Don't listen to 'they have nowhere to go' - that is not your problem. They are trying to bully you.