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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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

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

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.

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:

Beamur · 21/12/2010 23:22

You're not being heartless - they should have moved out. It's not on - let your solicitor deal with this, you'll be paying them enough money.

dietcokesholidaysarecoming · 22/12/2010 06:56

I expect you have hardly moved a wink. First thing is if the solicitors and estate agents are in the same town I would go in first time and sit it out. Preferably with kids who are a bit noisy- bet the EA sorts you the kids sharpish. Make sure you tell them yesterday was not acceptable.

As starfish says- change locks- always a good idea.

AntPants1 · 22/12/2010 07:11

I really hope you get this sorted today.

Your sellers have broken the law- simple as that.

Speak to your solicitors- you are owed compensation by them and you probably have a claim against ths estate agent.

You are being very nice to worry about seller being pregnant etc. I am sure it is a stressful time for her BUT she did sell you her house, agree a move date and take your money......She has had plenty of time to sort herself out.

Please please do not take anymore crap. Be assertive with your solicitor and estate agent. They have been well paid for their services and need to pull their finger out. Ps I would be making an official complaint to the Estate Agent- cannot believe they locked up without sorting this.

Good luck

ps you are not being unreasonable by the way!!

Original poster

Gracie123 · 22/12/2010 07:14

Keys are now 21 hours late and still no contact. I guess we just have to wait for the solicitor to read her emails. I'm scared because this is the last day they are open before Xmas, so if we don't get keys today they won't do anything about it until new year!

OP posts:

dietcokesholidaysarecoming · 22/12/2010 07:17

Gracie- you need to be more assertive. You ring- don't wait for an email. Then you ring 30 minutes later, then again and again.

Otherwise you won't get keys today.

dietcokesholidaysarecoming · 22/12/2010 07:18

And tbh a person in the waiting room us more effective than a phone call.

dietcokesholidaysarecoming · 22/12/2010 07:19

how far away is new house? Morning visit may be in order.

lal123 · 22/12/2010 07:20

the other thing to think about is nowthat the house is yours you are responsible for insurance and stuff - if you can't get access is you insurance valid? If money has changed hands can't you just get a locksmith in to let you in and change the locks at the same time?

onceamai · 22/12/2010 07:27

Action Plan

Visit solicitor - confirm money has been transferred and house is legally yours. Instruct solicitor to do what needs to be done legally and ensure the sellers are aware they are liable for any additional costs including yesterday's interest on the loan.

Visit Estate Agent - explain how disappointed you are and request full explanation. Might gently mention that you only plan to stay in the property for a year or two and will take this into account when you engage an estate agent.

I might even consider a quick call to the policy, they people are now illegally occupying your property and I think that may be trespass - not sure that legally they can squat in a property they have just sold.

If there are any further problems - this is your property and you have every right to go round and disconnect the main services or wait until they go out - then you change the locks.

Good luck - sure it will all be sorted by lunchtime. But you do need to remember they are now liable for any additional legal fees and get your solicitor to turn the screws.

RockinRobinBird · 22/12/2010 07:30

I'd be knocking on their door. If you've completed then it's simply not their house anymore and they have no right to be in it. If the solicitor is closing today I don't think I'd be wasting time hoping they read their emails.

arentfanny · 22/12/2010 07:33

They are effectively squatting.

SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 22/12/2010 07:34

i had similar with my second property purchase (first went very smoothly). when i eventually did get the keys (after reminders that i owned the property and the guy was breaking the law by not giving over the occupation of it) i found washing up in the sink, the washing up bowl sealed to the sink with cooking fat that stank and all sorts of dumped stuff everywhere.

gross!

hope they're just a little delayed rather than filthy pigs like the last guy i bought off of. in the time between my final viewing and offer and the time i got the keys he'd made enough filth to have me scrubbing for weeks.

i got in their and cried at the state of it and whether i'd made a mistake. was the first time i'd bought alone so think i was a bit freaked out by it all.

enjoy the new place. it's so much stress buying but finally you do get those keys get in there and know for real it's yours now.

happy christmas.

lisianthus · 22/12/2010 07:43

They have your MONEY! YADNBU. You are now paying a mortgage on a property you dont have as well as rent.

I'd get stuck into your solicitor as well as the EA. Because of the insurance situation, not to mention Christmas, you are taking a lot of risk if these people don't move. What if they burn the place down while it is uninsured?

Your solicitor needs to get nasty NOW and get them out. If your solicitor is dragging her heels, then make sure you make it clear that you are holding her responsible for sorting this and there will be consequences. You can't just put up with this for the next two weeks!

And I know you are sympathetic because the seller is pregnant, but she wasn't too pregnant to take your cash when she could have contacted her lawyer and had completion extended instead.

madamehooch · 22/12/2010 07:50

I would also be round knocking at the door. The solicitor can't contact the sellers direct - she has to go through their solicitors who then have to contact their clients - maybe the phone has been disconnected. Camp out at the estate agents if you'd rather and make them take you round there if you'd rather not go alone. There will be something written in the contract about delayed completion. Don't panic - they're just taking advantage of you. You'll get it sorted today.

mum2oneloudbaby · 22/12/2010 07:51

YADNBU I would have been on their doorstep last night finding out what was going on.

Do not be sympathetic because she is pregnant it is not an excuse she just needs to get organised. I moved house in October 34 weeks pregnant and with a 2yo we moved out of ours and into our new house by 3pm on move day. However, like you we had completed before move and the sellers buggered around with the keys too v.late.

Do what onceamai says and squat in either solicitors or EA with kids until sorted better still if you have more than 1 send DH to solicitors with one child and you take others to EA.

dietcokesholidaysarecoming · 22/12/2010 07:55

Is your solicitor local or one of those telephone only firms. Friend had similar experience with the latter

usernamechanged345 · 22/12/2010 07:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MumNWLondon · 22/12/2010 07:57

I agree with the other posters, you need to tell the solicitor and the EA that unless you get the keys (and vacant possesion) by say 10.30am this morning you will be suing for non completion on the specified day.

They have your money and are squatting in your house.

When is your removal van coming?

When we bought, our removal lorry got to the house at 2pm, we didn't have keys but they were still there. We knew the money had gone through so we sat in the garden, opened out post and waited for them to leave.

pumperspumpkin · 22/12/2010 08:51

Some people are awful. We moved with a 17 month old when I was 7 months pregnant and I remember being really anxious once we'd completed that we were now in someone else's house and wanting to get out. Staying the night there is just taking the piss, particularly as it suggests they are nowhere near ready to get out if they still have beds etc.

Go to solicitors, go to estate agents, and just keep ringing. If your solicitor doesn't answer demand to speak to another one, a partner if possible, and when you speak to someone agree a deadline by when you will get a call from them or you will call again.

MorticiaAddams · 22/12/2010 09:18

You have had some excellent advice on this thread Gracie and it's time to get tough and take it. Don't be put off or back down because you are a first time buyer and unsure. The house is yours and you are paying for them to live in it at the moment!

Keep on badgering everyone and don't give up. I would wait until 11am at the latest and then drive round to the house (unexpectedly) to see what on earth is going on.

Good luck and please update us when you get in.

Original poster

Gracie123 · 22/12/2010 09:24

Update:
Rang EA who was horrified. Apparently the sellers rang them at 6 yesterday and said they'd dropped the keys off already.
Rang solicitor and got them to serve notice to vacate. Their solicitors countered that we had made a private arrangement that we would collect the keys from them (lies)
EA rang back to say they were still in bed (in our house?) but were going to bring the keys straight over when they got up
Our solicitor has advised us to ring EA every hour until noon and then call her back if we still don't have the keys.

This is sooooo bloody frustrating!!

OP posts:

pumperspumpkin · 22/12/2010 09:30

"When they got up" - are they planning a lie in (in YOUR house)?!

Glad everyone is swinging into action and hope you have those keys very soon.

Original poster

Gracie123 · 22/12/2010 09:31

Planning a lie in? It's after nine!!! Everyone with kids knows that this is already a lie in!!!

OP posts:

Original poster

Gracie123 · 22/12/2010 09:33

Annoying part is that we'd planned to buy curtains cheap on the Market today (was going to measure up yesterday) but the markets only on til 1pm so we are probably going to have to pay full price. Small in the grand scheme of things, but a lot when you've just handed over £20k and have to get locks changed etc...

OP posts:

Kitta · 22/12/2010 09:35

Unreal!

I think they're taking the piss now, and the time has come to start stomping feet and yelling.

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