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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for house keys a few days early to clean?

97 replies

AliceRR · 18/03/2019 12:50

We exchanged on a purchase on Friday 15th and due to complete on Friday 22nd.

The house we are buying is a deceased estate so is empty and it seems they have moved the furniture and everything out.

DH got garage keys on Saturday so we could start moving in our belongings in there so we don’t have to do it all on Friday. It didn’t occur to him to ask for house keys
🏡 🔑 The garage is however large and very clean so we moved half of our stuff into the garage over the weekend.

I’ve now asked if we can have the house keys as I would like to give the house a good clean before Friday if possible. Estate Agent seemed to think it would be fine but said I had to go through the solicitors and he said he would ask.

Is getting the keys before completion (but after exchange) unusual? I don’t know what the “done” thing is but would have thought it’s fine if house is empty and we sign undertakings to insure etc.

We do plan to replace everything (including kitchen and bathroom) but I want to be satisfied everything is clean before I move in and it’s easier before furniture is in there. I might even try to clean the carpets properly. I’ve got a steam cleaner but not sure that will work very well so might need to hire a carpet cleaner.

Any advice on cleaning carpets / a new house welcome too 😀 (I’m particularly concerned about the bathroom and kitchen. They don’t look dirty but not v nice and obviously those areas need a bit of care to be hygienic)

TIA

OP posts:
bellsbuss · 18/03/2019 15:08

We did this and the vendor agreed, the house was empty and although we loved the house it was filthy. We had professional cleaners go in and they told me they found dirty nappies in the main bathroom.

Original poster
AliceRR · 18/03/2019 15:13

No idea regarding the keys, sorry. Regarding the carpet cleaning - if your EA does any lettings, ask them to recommend a firm as they'll probably know someone who does end of tenancy cleans. Otherwise, local Facebook pages are good for recommendations (and sometimes some inadvertent comedy).

Thanks everyone for the replies

Maybe it was a cheeky request! They can say no and that’s ok.

I also thought even if we just took the keys for a few hours and agreed not to store anything in the house that would be ok but we’ll see. I have asked now so will let you know what they say!

I just have time on my hands and am slightly anxious about the move so thought I could spend some time this week cleaning. I hope the vendors are not offended or annoyed by the request 🙄

OP posts:
PCohle · 18/03/2019 15:23

^"(I think someone referred to us pulling out if they say no). It’s simply a polite request and if they say no, I completely understand."

I think the issue is that the vendor won't know that. They well feel very pressured into letting you have access, even if they think you are being a total CF, out of fear that you might pull out if they refuse. It's a bit rude to take advantage of that vulnerability.

Dieu · 18/03/2019 15:27

Very unusual indeed.

Handay · 18/03/2019 15:33

It does happen. Friend of mine is a conveyancer and one time when she phoned up to tell a seller funds were through and they could hand over keys they told her they already had a couple of days previous!

OhDearGodLookAtThisMess · 18/03/2019 15:37

Oh and we gave our keys to our buyers before completion but only by a few hours so it's not that unusual.
Just because you've done it, doesn't mean it's common practice!

Yogagirl123 · 18/03/2019 15:38

Very unusual most vendors solicitors would be advising their client no, as you then have possession. Keys are never usually released until the funds have cleared.

smurfy2015 · 18/03/2019 15:53

I feel strongly about this YABU. Its CF territory.

My mum's house after her death, one of her neighbours offered to buy it from us, he didn't want to go via solicitors (I wonder why), when we insisted it was all done legally he was unhappy.

This was before we got a chance to clear it, he had been a keyholder for mum and her emergency alarm, he owned the land right up beside the house so it would suit him to have the house, he moved a tenant in using her old set of keys, He didnt own it or any intent to buy at this point.

It was a total nightmare which took a lot of time to sort out so the sellers don't know you in this case and so NO I wouldn't ask or wouldn't give over keys esp after that experience. People aren't always who you think they are.

My buyer, in the end, ended up paying over the odds as it was a very unusual situation and we uncovered some of what he was up to (not very legal) and forcing his hand then handed over the details to taxman who he is still in dispute with

Original poster
AliceRR · 18/03/2019 15:57

he had been a keyholder for mum and her emergency alarm, he owned the land right up beside the house so it would suit him to have the house, he moved a tenant in using her old set of keys, He didnt own it or any intent to buy at this point.

That sounds complicated and costly. This is a bit different from our situation but I can understand why you would not want to hand over keys early. It seems the majority wouldn’t.

OP posts:
smurfy2015 · 18/03/2019 16:04

Very complicated and costly - wouldn't hand keys over, I am moving house myself in the next 2 months and will get the keys when everything is signed and sealed and deposited.

NicoAndTheNiners · 18/03/2019 16:07

I don't think it's unreasonable to ask.

I also don't think they'd be unreasonable if they said no.

heidivodca · 18/03/2019 17:00

We got the keys immediately after exchange on our first house! The house was empty (and had been for some time) so nobody minded. As we’d exchanged it was fully insured.

ThatssomebadhatHarry · 18/03/2019 17:09

We were asked by the people buying our house and we were advised against it by out lawyer. They said that until the completion day you are still legally responsible for the property. Exchanging is just a contract saying you will buy which you can’t get out of.

So if house buyers fell down the stairs moving their stuff in etc they could sue you.

Bluesheep8 · 18/03/2019 17:40

Our buyer asked if we would let him access the garage to put things in prior to completion. We were advised by our solicitor to say no as how would the items be insured? What if they were stolen? Wouldn't be covered on insurance etc. Surely no solicitor would advise to do this. What if they gave you the keys then complained that something had been damaged or gone missing?

Original poster
AliceRR · 20/03/2019 14:50

Just letting you know they said no to letting us have the house keys before Friday

Thanks everyone for the comments / advice x

OP posts:
Spicylolly · 20/03/2019 21:02

Good luck with your move 😊

Suki60 · 28/03/2022 11:57

This was my mums house, the owners of the house let my mum in early as it was being sprayed for rot .

Avocadobacardi · 28/03/2022 12:14

we bought an empty house and were allowed to have it professionally cleaned so long as it was all arranged through the estate agents and they let them in and out

SpiderinaWingMirror · 28/03/2022 12:18

It's unusual but I did it. Sold my mums house hundreds of miles away. Her house was immaculate really but they wanted to access to paint the bedroom. I agreed on the basis that the estate agent would hand over the keys and check after. I had arranged a cleaner for the week of completion any way. So they were very happy!.

TimeForTeaAndG · 28/03/2022 12:24

Zombie thread. Hope the OP has been enjoying their new house for the last 3 years!

Quincythequince · 28/03/2022 14:38

YABVU.
You should get the keys, including those to the garage, when and only when, you own the property.

If you wanted to get in to clean earlier, you should have arranged for completion to take place earlier.

Quincythequince · 28/03/2022 14:38

Ah Zombie thread.
First time I’ve been caught out!

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