To say no to my house buyers wanting to redecorate before completion?

[Tarantella43]

I know my house buyers slightly as they were parents at the school my kids attended until recently. They found my phone number from a former school year group parents WhatsApp group and set up a group chat with me once they made their offer (though estate agent — it’s not a private sale). Anyway, my house is now empty and it turns out they somehow presumed they would be able to have early access before completion to have floors sanded and walls painted, My solicitor strongly advised against this as it brings various risks, not least that I’d ultimately be liable for any accidents or damage. I said, on an awkward phone call they asked for with me, sorry, no, I’m not comfortable with this. They said it will be hard for them to do the work with kids and furniture. Seems like they’d assumed my goodwill in this. AIBU?

Even the Whatsapp group idea sends me over the edge tbh
cheeky fuckers
Im not sure id want to sell to these mad loons

That's very useful info but I'm guessing the work your DH needed to do wasn't materially altering the property - more like comms systems etc?

The fact is even with a KU the sale could still fall through and the OP be left with a partially altered house to re sell whilst waiting on compo through the KU. Not worth the bother at all.

No - not your problem. Cite legal advice from a friend.

Totally. How inappropriate. Agree with PPs - leave the chat. All communication through estate agent/ solicitors. The entitlement.
So sick of people acting like the fact they have children is somehow a burden that is other people’s responsibility.

I'll be honest and say I wouldn't allow that. Yes you could let your buyer permit Virgin or Openreach to run additional lines etc, but if it all went south who's picking up the line rental on those contracts etc.

Nope!

Years ago I moved from England to Scotland before the sale of my house completed. A former neighbour let me know that there was work going on in the house, without my knowledge. Obviously I phoned the agent and it turned out that one of the staff had given the buyer keys and, essentially, told them it was ok to get in with it. I was livid for all the reasons mentioned in other replies, and work stopped. Fortunately, the sale did complete, and the agent waived the bill for their work.

Indeed! I'm afraid it would be a big fat NO from me too. Just too much risk to consider.

Everyone mentioning insurance is forgetting your supposed to take out insurance after exchange anyway

This is true, @Followthattaxi, but doesn't alter the fact that it's not fully the buyer's home until completion, and that if anything went wrong as a result of letting them in early the insurers would certainly find a way to wriggle out of responsibility

It just issn't worth the hassle, which is why the answer has to be no

A scenario here.

You let them have early access and they strip your floors back and say pull out your bathroom but haven't got around to finishing the floors or putting the new bathroom in and suddenly the buyer loses their job before completion and has no option but to pull out. Who puts right the work they have done, because the next person that comes along will want a discount for their being unfinished works.

I can't imagine you would get insurance for anything like this as its not theirs and you are ultimately responsible. Yeah you could sue them and even if you win, if they have no money you will still need to take the initial financial hit.

How about if they set the place on fire whilst undertaking the works, I doubt your insurance would cover that.

It woudl be a hard "no" from me, friendships should not overide common sense.

"Im sorry my lawyer advised me I would be legally responsible and I cant afford the financial risk that would carry"

Anything could happen, someone could injured themselves or if the property was damaged they might change their minds about the sale. Its absolutely too high a risk for you to take. These arent even friends or family just causal acquaintances and CFs

Where are people buying this level of audacity? It seems to be rife these days.

Listen to your solicitor.

@herbalteabag your nightmare with the pain of sanding floors etc is not really on the seller though? Lots of us have moved into houses that are not picture perfect and we have had to manage it.

It's a really cheeky ask, honestly.

You got what you wanted but as many PP have pointed out and the OP's solicitor has also pointed out, this is so risky for the seller.

I allowed my buyers to paint the woodwork in my empty flat between exchange and completion. I found that they had moved kitchen cabinets and slapped white paint over my wallpaper. No harm done in the end but extremely cheeky. Laughed at exchange when they had to sit outside for hours when the money was slow to work its way through the system. But never again, don't do it!

So would I. And as long as it’s done to a reasonable standard it would help future sale if this one falls through. Get everything in writing though!

@Tarantella43

They could perhaps be allowed access after "exchange" of contracts and before completion. When exchange takes place they are required to insure the property and you would need to know that this was in place

No way. Remember what happened at Windsor Castle when they had the decorators in! Annus horribilus etc etc.

The OP doe not want to redecorate. So why on earth agree

Thanks so much everyone — this is a big, clear and resounding response and it has helped me dropped the guilt they’d somehow left me feeling (probably because I know them slightly). Agree much better not to have direct comms either — I will never go outside estate agent/solicitor for comms again.

My friends had this happen just recently, they had had all the problems of evicting tenants , which took time and money, but the buyers bless them hung on in there, then within two days of exchange the buyers mortgage offer fell through ( it was a complicated no interest mortgage and the lender ran out of funds) and they pulled out. It happens, nothing is a done deal until the signature ink is dry on the page.

Nope, nope, nope, nope!
id also say to them that all communication needs to be via the estate agent or solicitor- as for them to get your number from an old WhatsApp group to discuss the the sale without your agreement is also overstepping the boundary. You are entering a legal transaction with them - they are being really cheeky fuckers

@Charminggoldfinch

I am glad you said this. I was astounded at the lifting of the OP's phone number from an old Whatsapp group. Boundaries not in place at all here. Very cheeky.

What was the outcome here? (Just curious)
There’s usually implications for not completing. Were they able to complete at a later date, or did they have to start again?

They’re being ridiculous. Until the house is legally theirs they can’t do anything to it and they are totally unreasonable to expect to be able to. You could tell them it would invalidate your insurance. Or just say no.

Absolutely not!! I’d be asking them to comminuthrough solicitors as I was short on time. Gosh I’m shocked they’ve asked!!! The cheek of it is really something

Good Lord, no!

I don't know why I'm amazed - people seem to think all sorts of Cheeky Fuckery is quite acceptable these days.

and what happens if something does happen and they’ve no money to pay for it? What use is this letter?