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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is this ok when selling a house? Doesn’t feel right

160 replies

DonnatellaLyman · 28/07/2022 14:52

We are selling our house, part way between exchange and completion. We’ve half moved out (sleeping in new place) but still lots of stuff in old house.

We’ve just found out that EA has been letting the buyers in on several occasions and has facilitated their tradespeople coming in to carry out work (who have damaged the property). We were not asked about any of these ‘visits’.

It feels like a massive invasion of our property /privacy but I don’t know if I’m just being precious as we won’t own it soon.

OP posts:
Chillypetal · 28/07/2022 14:53

Disgraceful! They have no right to be there until you complete! You’re still the home owner after all!!

Your buyers could pull out at anytime leaving you to pay for the damage!! 😱

Zonder · 28/07/2022 14:54

They don't own it. They could still pull out. This is absolutely not on. I'd be furious with the estate agent and expect the damage to be repaired.

VerifiedBot2351 · 28/07/2022 14:55

Technically you still live there. What a mad situation. They should be paying you rent if they want early access.

Unbored · 28/07/2022 14:55

They could pull out and so could you! They shouldn’t be doing this - ask the EA for the key back.

HippoRaine · 28/07/2022 14:55

This is so wrong. You are 100 percent not being unreasonable! I would be kicking up a MASSIVE stink about this

NellieJean · 28/07/2022 14:56

It feels like a massive invasion of privacy because it is. The EA is completely out of order. Ask them who is responsible if there needs to be an insurance claim caused by the purchasers damaging something accidentally, setting fire to it etc.

darlingdodo · 28/07/2022 14:57

Absolutely not OK - I would be raising it with the EA - they work for you, not your buyer.

Chillypetal · 28/07/2022 14:57

If they burn down / flood / damage the property and you need insurance - it may be invalid if it was left empty and random people had access!

Check your buildings insurance

Im so angry on your behalf. Make sure the EA has public reviews so nobody else uses them!!

Twiglets1 · 28/07/2022 14:57

At the very least the EA should have been asking for your permission - I wouldn’t be happy about this at all

WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe · 28/07/2022 14:58

I would be raising a huge stink about this not ok at all

Evenstar · 28/07/2022 14:58

I think you need to involve your solicitor in this and ensure any damage is made good. Also, I would be getting my keys back and making it plain in writing that nobody was to enter the house again unless you are present. I would also make a formal complaint to the area manager of the estate agents.

SolasAnla · 28/07/2022 14:58

Its yours until you get paid for your asset. If the buyer has caused damage they have devalued your asset.

The agent works for you not for the buyer.

You should contact the agent and get your keys back. There is no need for the agent to have the keys any longer. I would also get a confirmation that the agent has not given the keys to the buyer or their tradesmen at any stage as its is possible the key could have been copied.

ILikeHotWaterBottles · 28/07/2022 14:58

They are doing work on it?! Wtf?! No that is not right at all, I'd tell the buyers they can fuck off or add on another 10grand for dickhead tax.

Chillypetal · 28/07/2022 14:58

Theyve probably made copies of the keys already!

Doubleraspberry · 28/07/2022 14:59

NellieJean · 28/07/2022 14:56

It feels like a massive invasion of privacy because it is. The EA is completely out of order. Ask them who is responsible if there needs to be an insurance claim caused by the purchasers damaging something accidentally, setting fire to it etc.

Not that the EA and buyers are being reasonable at all, but if the OP is between exchange and completion then the buyers should now be insuring it, but the seller is responsible for the state of the property until completion. Their own insurance company might ask questions about events if there were damage in these circumstances.

SW1amp · 28/07/2022 15:00

Chillypetal · 28/07/2022 14:57

If they burn down / flood / damage the property and you need insurance - it may be invalid if it was left empty and random people had access!

Check your buildings insurance

Im so angry on your behalf. Make sure the EA has public reviews so nobody else uses them!!

Buyers have to take our buildings insurance from the point of exchange as standard…

it’s on them and their insurance, not OP…

Chillypetal · 28/07/2022 15:03

SW1amp · 28/07/2022 15:00

Buyers have to take our buildings insurance from the point of exchange as standard…

it’s on them and their insurance, not OP…

Show quote history

Thank goodness for that!

Penguinfeather781 · 28/07/2022 15:03

Absolutely not on. Fine and normal for buyers to ask for a visit (supervised by EA or yourself) but it’s not on to allow tradesmen etc to start actually doing anything or to keep asking for multiple visits - even on a completely empty property, which this isn’t. They’ll own it soon enough and they can start work then. I’d make a formal complaint to the EA.

Evenstar · 28/07/2022 15:04

I think when you have sorted it out, it would be kind of you to come back and name the agents as I certainly wouldn’t want to entrust them with marketing my property.

Govesdancingpartner · 28/07/2022 15:43

Chillypetal · 28/07/2022 14:58

Theyve probably made copies of the keys already!

This. Get the locks changed.
Tell the EA you want the property put back to the original state.
Tell your Solicitor to write to the EA with the above points and you will not pay the EA their money until the matter is rectified. Inform the manager of EA and report to their governing body.
No way is this acceptable omg op you are nicer than me I would have made a fuss as soon as I found out. I hope you can get it sorted asap good luck x

Zonder · 28/07/2022 16:06

Make sure all your stuff is still there. Anything could go missing.

Sunnysideup · 28/07/2022 16:09

They could pull out but the cost would be astronomical. As much as they should have told you I’d not be fussed unless it was ages to completion.

pd339 · 28/07/2022 16:10

Absolutely outrageous. Demand an urgent explanation from the estate agent as a first step.

Blossomtoes · 28/07/2022 16:12

Your buyers could pull out at anytime leaving you to pay for the damage!!

If they did that they’d lose their deposit as they’ve exchanged. The agent still needs shooting. Complain bitterly to the agency manager @DonnatellaLyman and tell them to stop all access until completion.

Skodacool · 28/07/2022 16:15

Change the locks.