Keys to buyer before exchange

[scoopmuckanddizzyrollytoo]

Hi, we are moving into rental a few weeks before exit date. Family who are buying are doing it all on same day. Is it ok to give them keys a couple of days before to help them out??

[ExplodedCloud]

I'd say not. If they were exchanging a week beforehand maybe but if before exchange they aren't legally committed to buy it. It would be a potential nightmare if they damaged it, moved it or decided to pull out.

[ThomasHardyPerennial]

Absolutely not!

[HeyCat]

No!

If they are really pushing for this, say you'll need legal advice but they'll need to cover your costs. Your lawyer can advise you on the risks and draw up a contract to manage those risks (i.e. To allow them to access the property but ensure they'll pay for any damage if they then don't exchange contracts, and to make sure they can't damage it/remove items then sue you because it wasn't as represented etc).

[Backinthebox]

No. Removal companies are used to dealing with things all being done in the same day. I think you are talking about completion too, not exchange.

[expatinscotland]

NO! Very bad idea. Your insurance won't cover anything that might happen in the home.

[PuntCuffin]

Absolutely not. Our buyers asked us. Solicitor hit the roof. If anything happens to the house caused by them, you would be liable.

[passthecremeeggs]

Definitely not. Pre-exchange they haven't even committed to buying it! I wouldn't even let buyers in between exchange and completion let alone before exchange!

[scoopmuckanddizzyrollytoo]

Thanks guys, I thought this be the case, just though it might be helpful as they are a young family but will leave it. They haven't asked at all.

[Applesandpears23]

I saw a chain where they handed over keys the day of completion but before the money had gone through. That helped as it was a long chain and some people were moving a short distance so didn't have a long drive to entertain the movers. If you want to be helpful you could allow for it to be deep cleaned (at their expense) whilst it is empty.

[expatinscotland]

No, no 'being helpful'. They'll have to do it all in the day like everyone else because giving them keys before is a bad idea.

[scoopmuckanddizzyrollytoo]

I am planing to deep clean it myself hence why arranging my rental a week early 😀

[specialsubject]

No! And keys don't get passed until completion , which is not the same.

[Floggingmolly]

Why are you so committed to being "nice"and "helpful" to your buyers? To the tune of moving into rental accommodation weeks earlier than you have to just so you can deep clean the house and let the buyers move in before they've even technically bought the place??

[user1483387154]

No way. Never give keys to the house before it has been exchanged and completed, anything could go wrong.

[sunshinesupermum]

Not in a million years. Not until completion.

[scoopmuckanddizzyrollytoo]

I would just rather have time to go back and clean it when empty no biggie.

[Floggingmolly]

What? It won't be empty if they've moved in?

[expatinscotland]

You don't even know these people! FFS, leaving early, spending a week deep cleaning the place and wanted to hand over keys to a place they don't own?

[newmumwithquestions]

Just to put a different side, whilst I agree that you shouldn't give access to the house, our vendors let us have a key to the garage. This was post exchange, pre-completion. There is no power in the garage so nothing that we could really have gone.

It was a godsend as we were moving ourselves and it allowed us to shift a couple of van loads in advance.

[scoopmuckanddizzyrollytoo]

Do people not clean a house before new people move in? This is for my convenience, I have kids and dogs so much easier to pop over and clean when all our crap is out

[Floggingmolly]

Oh give over, op. You're starting to sound like something that will get me deleted if I say it

[expatinscotland]

Clean it, yes, spend a week 'deep cleaning' it, no.

[PuntCuffin]

Run the hoover round, mop kitchen floor, quick wipe out of cupboards/work surfaces and clean the bathroom. That's it. And that's more than I got from our vendor.

[scoopmuckanddizzyrollytoo]

Floggingmolly feel free!! I have no idea why I have upset you so much, my rental is round the corner I have arranged it a week early so I can wander round and clean it at my leasure without kids dogs underfoot therefore as I have the luxury of that whole week I wondered if I could perhaps give the owners the keys a day early, when advised this wasn't a good idea I have said no bother

[TheMysteriousJackelope]

Scoop I have done the same as you, we moved into a rental and had our house thoroughly cleaned once all our stuff was out. It made it a lot easier for the cleaner and I thought it was a nice thing to do for the buyers.

You are right to not hand over the keys until completion.

I have a friend who actually had buyers ask if they could move into her house a week before completion. That got a resounding 'No'. Can you imagine if they decided they weren't going to sign until X, Y, and Z was done to improve the house? It would be a nightmare to get them out.