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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be frustrated about this house move? (first time buyer)

81 replies

Gracie123 · 21/12/2010 19:11

OK, I sort of am. But it's sooooo annoying!!

We exchanged contracts over a week ago and were due to complete today. Our solicitor rang to confirm completion at 10am this morning and told us to go and pick the keys up from the estate agent. DH went, keys weren't there Sad

We were told it would be one hour tops.

Two and a half hours later, still no keys. Estate agent rang them and they guaranteed keys would be there by 2pm. When the keys still hadn't arrived at 3.45pm the estate agent rang again and they said that they were on their way in the van to drop them off (the property is about a 1.5 mile drive from the agent).

5.30pm still no keys, agent tells us that they close at 6pm but that the owners have agreed to have keys to them by then.

6.05pm agents have closed but assure us that the couple have agreed to drop the keys around to our place 'at some point tonight'.

The thing is, we are in a rental and tenancy isn't up yet, so it's not like we had to get in today, but the kids have been so excited and waiting all day and it's now 7pm and I've had to put them to bed.

I'm also concerned that with the snow predicted to get worse we won't be able to get what we need to done before we get snowed in and won't make it to family for christmas Sad

The bit that will probably convince everyone I am unreasonable is that they have an 18 month old and are due another baby in february, so I'm being a bit heartless trying to kick them out. Blush

I just wish they'd said they couldn't move until wednesday or even at 10am 'sorry, we're nowhere near ready, it's going to be a few hours' rather than 'we're on our way' every time we ring!

OP posts:
LIZS · 21/12/2010 19:18

If money has changed hands then they are acting illegally by not handing keys over. Have you spoken to your solicitor ? Frankly it isn't good enough for the EA to go home leaving this situation.

Most people are able to move out by late lunchtime even with dc in tow. tbh I'd be concerned that something was amiss and they have had to rally round all day to put it right.

emsyj · 21/12/2010 19:21

Speak to your solicitor - you may be able to get compensation as they ave effectively failed to complete. There are conveyancing protocols that cover this and your solicitor should be able to sort it out with theirs.

CarGirl · 21/12/2010 19:22

I think I would be going around to see what is going around, it is legally your house now not theirs.

Seabright · 21/12/2010 19:25

Have they actually moved out?

Speak to your solicitor in the morning and get them to serve a Notice to Complete on the sellers and keep a record of any extra expenses you incur (additional removal fees etc)

magicmummy1 · 21/12/2010 19:27

That's mad - what if you'd booked a removal company etc? Shock

We all know how difficult it can be to move house, and I can understand how things do get delayed by an hour or so - a bit of flexibility doesn't do any harm in that sort of situation. But you were expecting to be in there at 10am, and you still don't have the keys? Shock Definitely talk to your solicitor - you are definitely NOT being unreasonable.

Firawla · 21/12/2010 19:28

yanbu i dont know the legal side of it at all as never bought a house but this seems quite out of order, them having children and pregnant is irrelevant surely - they have sold the house, it does not even belong to them any more so they should hand over the keys! they need to get organised and stick to the schedule surely. i hope they give it asap tonight or tomorrow morning and stop messing you around

LIZS · 21/12/2010 19:29

and they are taking advantage of you not needing to move in today - but for all they know you could have had cleaners/builders/decorators lined up.

dietcokesholidaysarecoming · 21/12/2010 19:32

I would be over there asking for keys.

masochismTangoer · 21/12/2010 19:33

We had this. Person we were buying off forgot to hand the keys over and went to works re-union a hospital so switched phone off. No-one could get hold of her, solicitors were useless, EA phoned her family who had no idea where she was. She turned up 5.00 pm as Estate agents with keys after loads of calls with - no apology.

DH had set off at 4.00 pm to EA as we do not drive and he made it plain he was waiting till they arrived. We were so worried - first time buyers. He got back we bungled kids up, both under 2, and walked in Dec freezing weather 45 min to house and got here at their bed time - had to find local shop and do an impromptu picnic then walk back to rented house.

Thank goodness we were in rented accommodation and had not planned to move till next day - else we would have had serious trouble.

There were no problems as such - just major inconsideration and poor planning on sellers part. She did leave some rubbish in house and did try to stiff us with meter readings - which we had to sort out later.

They are probably being very disorganized - if they have tried to move themselves they may have dramatically underestimated time involved.

Original poster
Gracie123 · 21/12/2010 19:34

They do know that isn't the case (I spoke to the owners last week when I went to buy the oven from them) and told them we weren't in a hurry because she said how stressed she was and I didn't want her to be upset because she is pregnant.
In that sense it's my fault, but I do feel they are starting to take the piss.

OP posts:
masochismTangoer · 21/12/2010 19:38

Our seller asked for an extra week to complete which meant extending our rental tenancy. Luckily landlady was fine with that. DH drove past property on way home - and could see she had moved out a week earlier than completion date. She still left things in driveway and rubbish in the house.

There is little to be done now but get on to solicitors in morning and see if how they can help and get them to get nasty if necessary.

masochismTangoer · 21/12/2010 19:41

Her pregnancy and family is not your problem or responsibility Gracie123 .

I have moved with no family support other then DH while pregnant then again with a toddler and very young baby in toe. It involved lots of organization and planning but we were ready and out of properties on time and no one else was put out.

masochismTangoer · 21/12/2010 19:42

Sorry do not know why that posted twice Blush.

Original poster
Gracie123 · 21/12/2010 19:45

Tbh, doesn't matter what time the keys arrive now. The kids are in bed and I'm not going to wake them up again to go over there. Sad

OP posts:
masochismTangoer · 21/12/2010 19:46

Hmm - second post not there any more. That is really weird or I am more tired than I thought.

masochismTangoer · 21/12/2010 19:49

Gracie123
The kids are in bed and I'm not going to wake them up again to go over there.

Hope the keys turn up soon so they can enjoy tomorrow exploring the new house.

Original poster
Gracie123 · 21/12/2010 21:47

Still no keys at 9.45pm. What's a reasonable time to give up and go to bed, considering that I have a 4 month old who got us up at 5am this morning?

OP posts:
dietcokesholidaysarecoming · 21/12/2010 22:03

I would go to bed and be at solicitors 9am in the morning.

Original poster
Gracie123 · 21/12/2010 22:20

I've emailed the solicitor and we're going to bed now. Pretty disappointed though Sad

OP posts:
NadiaWadia · 21/12/2010 22:21

This is not on, Gracie, its your house now and they are effectivly squatting. But I think you know that. Your solicitor needs to get tough!

Original poster
Gracie123 · 21/12/2010 22:25

I don't want compensation or anything. I just want some reassurance that things are going ahead. I'm scared the reason their taking so long is that there's a problem and they aren't going to move. Probably completely irrational but as a first time buyer who has just handed over a ridiculous amount of money I'm terrified!

OP posts:
starfishmummy · 21/12/2010 22:29

Our solicitor was very wise and told us not to let the previous owners know that we would not be moving straight in.
We also decided that our first job would be to change the locks as we didn't think we had all the keys. (dh is not a handy person but even he managed to change the barrel in a Yale lock)

Original poster
Gracie123 · 21/12/2010 22:30

Why starfish? What did the solicitor expect them to do? Now I'm scared...

OP posts:
Original poster
Gracie123 · 21/12/2010 22:48

You can't day that and then leave!! Come on! I need to know how badly I've screwed this up!

OP posts:
BoneyBackJefferson · 21/12/2010 23:15

Gracie

changing the locks has always been my first job in a new house.

keys get lost
given to family etc.

not all keys are accounted for.

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