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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think I should have been given ALL the keys?

14 replies

Flossyfloof · 07/01/2020 19:35

I’ve just bought a new house and collected the keys from the agent this morning. I haven’t yet had a chance to go to the new house but they said there was a list of what keys were in there in the envelope, I’ve just opened the (unsealed) envelope and it seems that one set of keys is missing. I think it’s probably the Juliet balcony keys but I can’t check until the morning.
I have messaged the previous owner with a photo of the list and the keys I have received.
I’ll obviously contact the (useless) estate agent in the morning.
Surely I should have received all the keys? Is there anything I can do about this? If I get no joy from the estate agent I’ll contact my solicitor but she can’t magic them up from nowhere.
I’m so cross with myself that I didn’t check everything off when I was still in the office. They have lied on a number of occasions and I have no doubt that they’ll be uninterested p, especially since I’m not paying their bill.
Any advice, please? Thanks!

OP posts:
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 07/01/2020 19:36

I wasn’t left any keys to any of the windows when I bought my house- I ended up find a company that provide keys for such locks with the help
of a photo. Why are people so inconsiderate and stupid

Original poster
Flossyfloof · 07/01/2020 19:38

i am worried that it’s going to cost me a fortune. The previous owner said that it would be a good idea to change the locks but I would like to be able to give the keys a whirl first!

OP posts:
SlayingDragons · 07/01/2020 19:40

They may be in the house. When we have bought and sold our estate agents have always only handed over 1 set of keys - enough to get into the house basically - and the rest have been left in the house (usually on the kitchen worktop with all the manuals/bin collection info/takeaway menus etc.)

Dinomom52 · 07/01/2020 19:42

You never know, they might be in the property.

When we completed our solicitors said to let them know if we had any issues with the keys. You could give them a try if there’s no joy tomorrow.

Our vendor kept her keys for 3 days after completion. She only returned them as our (actually lovely) estate agent got involved.

iolaus · 07/01/2020 19:42

go to the house first - they may be in there

listsandbudgets · 07/01/2020 19:42

Check the house itself first. When we bought our house the majority of the keys were left on a kitchen surface. We only got front door key from estate agents.

You may even find the balcony keys in the lock, could just be a simple oversight

Original poster
Flossyfloof · 07/01/2020 19:42

Possibly, but he told me that he never keeps the keys in the house as if anyone breaks in it gives them access to everything. There was a list of keys and one set seems to be missing.

OP posts:
millimollimandi · 07/01/2020 19:43

I would always change the locks when I buy a house - you never know who has a set - particularly if it had been a rental.

annualleavepurchase · 07/01/2020 19:44

I've only ever been given the front and back door keys. Windows etc were just in the house.

VenusTiger · 07/01/2020 20:02

They'll have been left in the balcony doors @Flossyfloof - we were only given the front door key and found all others including windows in the house. Can't you drive round now and check? I wouldn't have sent a photo to the old occupiers until I had checked all the facts first!!

VenusTiger · 07/01/2020 20:04

if anyone breaks in it gives them access to everything but it's empty and they've moved out Hmm

Original poster
Flossyfloof · 07/01/2020 20:11

Just repeating what he told me regarding leaving keys in and sometimes empty houses can be trashed.
Yes it is possible that the keys are there. I messaged him at 6.30 and heard nothing. If that were me I would at least have acknowledged the messsage.
Not really anything I can do now but thank you.
The photo is a photo of the list the previous owner left with the agent along with the keys that were in the envelope. The agents told me that they had never held a key, they just collected it from him when they needed it. I’m not sure why sending him a photo of the keys I have received alongside his list is an issue?

OP posts:
SciFiRules · 07/01/2020 20:25

If it's a euro barrel they can be broken in under 10s... even the anti snap ones! New barrel is an about £15. Doing it more slowly with basic tools - Remove the handle /escutcheon (two screws), grip the end of the euro barrel with a large set of mole grips (top/bottom), forcefully pull up and down till it snaps in half, pull out the half you have, flick out the other half with a screwdriver (may have to flick the tang out the way if in place) - open door.

Original poster
Flossyfloof · 07/01/2020 20:52

Thank you very much, it’s just so expensive buying a new house and the thought of spending another few quid even is a bit tough!
If necessary I will give it a go myself.

OP posts:
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