Page 13 | Bought house but they’re still in it now!

ItsOnlyRainFFS · 2025-09-26T16:44:59+00:00

So we exchanged contracts last week and completed by 10am today. We vacated our house by 12.30pm as our buyers keen to get in and contract said 2pm. The house we bought was supposed to be ready 2pm but it’s still not ready! Now the seller (house we now own!) is saying they’re going to struggle to empty it by 8pm! And that sounds optimistic. They just don’t sound like they packed up properly. Anything we can do? Solicitor and estate agents shut. We have put most of our stuff in storage - which is shut. We have though thankfully hired medium van which has our essential stuff in it. But we just want to unpack it now. We have 2 kids and have been at a bowling alley and kfc trying to kill time since school. Would we be unreasonable to demand we move in 8pm?

Silverbirchleaf · 27/09/2025 08:28

DebsA1 · 27/09/2025 08:24

They are in breach of contract which states vacant possession on completion. A strong solicitors letter needed. I do hope you get it sorted.

This.

Nessiesfoodprovider · 27/09/2025 08:33

Probably like everyone else on the thread, I'm wondering if you got into your new house last night or slept on the grass in the garden?

Stifledlife · 27/09/2025 08:33

You have to be a bit careful here. If you don't take a stand it could be construed as permission and they then have squatters rights. You can't leave their stuff in the driveway.. you can be careless but not negligent.

The best thing would be to stop the money until they are able to complete the transaction but I suspect the only person who can make the position clear to them is their solicitor, and as you say, they're shut.

I really hope they finally left.. Otherwise, get a locksmith to attend right now, change the locks in front of them and try and get the money back via your solicitor.

Fluffypuppy1 · 27/09/2025 08:35

Doris86 · 26/09/2025 22:09

They didn’t do everything for us. We packed every single box, dismantled every item of furniture, and disposed of all junk and rubbish. All the removers did was turn up on the day of completion, and loaded everything into their vans.

It wasn’t hard because we were organised, not because someone did it all for us.

Show quote history

Same here. As dc was a toddler, we started a couple of weeks before completion. Spent a little time each day packing. Started with books, dvds, rarely used kitchen things. By the time it was a couple of days until moving, all we had unpacked was some clothes, toiletries, and one box full of kitchen stuff.

FableLies · 27/09/2025 08:37

Francestein · 27/09/2025 07:23

So even if they get their shit out, they're not going to have it clean... Let them know that you are going to be charging them the cost of a commercial clean, the hourly rate for your movers after 10am plus 50 pounds per hour.

Do MNetters really do this crap or are they making it up as they type? Really, is this going to work? It's meaningless.

SnooperLoopy · 27/09/2025 08:40

I'm sure you're very busy today OP but we'd all like an update on how it unfolded last night!

Last time we moved I was still cleaning the empty house when the buyers arrived to move in, but they sat outside for 10 mins or so whilst i mopped my way out the front door.
When we got to our new house, the sellers were in a massive panic having started late (removal van broke down on the way to them). We went to the pub for a couple of hours and they finally screeched away but left behind loads of old crap in the shed and in the house, including large pieces of furniture we are still living with (and actually hate but not enough to go to the expense of disposing of) five years later. Still, they did also leave some nice things that i enjoy using, and they were at least aware that they were in the wrong. They were in their seventies and i think had underestimated how much slower they had become and therefore long it would take to clear the property.

Original poster

ItsOnlyRainFFS · 27/09/2025 08:41

So we got in! I did just turn up on doorstep and explained in person we did have to get basic beds and kitchen stuff in before dark and settle children and they were very apologetic and clearly stressed. They managed to clear their stuff but like people said there was some cleaning and a bit of waste left (nothing awful just things like wood, tiles, paint cans etc in shed and loft). Just glad to be in! Everything working in kitchen and decor in good condition in most rooms still thankfully so just the long slog of emptying storage unit today! Would have been much easier if in by 2pm yesterday but it’s done now at least. Thanks for giving me kick up the bum to grow a pair and not just be fobbed off on phone!

OP posts:

Worralorra · 27/09/2025 08:42

So how did it go, OP? Did you finally get in and settled?

SnooperLoopy · 27/09/2025 08:43

ItsOnlyRainFFS · 27/09/2025 08:41

So we got in! I did just turn up on doorstep and explained in person we did have to get basic beds and kitchen stuff in before dark and settle children and they were very apologetic and clearly stressed. They managed to clear their stuff but like people said there was some cleaning and a bit of waste left (nothing awful just things like wood, tiles, paint cans etc in shed and loft). Just glad to be in! Everything working in kitchen and decor in good condition in most rooms still thankfully so just the long slog of emptying storage unit today! Would have been much easier if in by 2pm yesterday but it’s done now at least. Thanks for giving me kick up the bum to grow a pair and not just be fobbed off on phone!

Hooray! Congratulations on your new home and may you have fun settling in. It will be clean and feeling like your own in a few days and all the stress will be a distant memory.

Fedupwithnamechanging · 27/09/2025 08:44

Glad to see your update that you had a good night in your new home :)

We had a similar situation many years ago when moving in. It does nothing for your stress levels at an already stressful time. Hope you enjoy your new home! 🏡

Manif3st101 · 27/09/2025 08:48

This happened to us! The sellers were moving to another house in the same village and I just knew we were going to have trouble!

In the end the van we hired had to go back by 6pm so we were moving in on the ground floor and they were moving out of the first floor - absolute nightmare! The place was filthy too.

They left the stuff in the shed and had to come back the next day. We’ve been here 25 years now and part of the reason is I can’t bear to go through the moving process again!

Glad you are all moved in though.

Nessiesfoodprovider · 27/09/2025 08:53

Glad you managed to get in. Happy new home!

Washingupdone · 27/09/2025 08:59

Wishing you well in your future life in your new home.

metalmutha · 27/09/2025 09:01

Following

jessr1990 · 27/09/2025 09:06

Congratulations on your new home! And on standing up for you.

I wish you all the best for your future, and hope that you can hold on to that confidence too, to do what's right for you and your family :-)

Crazyworldmum · 27/09/2025 09:17

ItsOnlyRainFFS · 27/09/2025 08:41

So we got in! I did just turn up on doorstep and explained in person we did have to get basic beds and kitchen stuff in before dark and settle children and they were very apologetic and clearly stressed. They managed to clear their stuff but like people said there was some cleaning and a bit of waste left (nothing awful just things like wood, tiles, paint cans etc in shed and loft). Just glad to be in! Everything working in kitchen and decor in good condition in most rooms still thankfully so just the long slog of emptying storage unit today! Would have been much easier if in by 2pm yesterday but it’s done now at least. Thanks for giving me kick up the bum to grow a pair and not just be fobbed off on phone!

Keep those paints and extra tiles if the house has been recently done as in the future you might need spares .
Wishing you and your family all the happiness in your new home

peppermintteadrinker · 27/09/2025 09:20

Good luck with it all @ItsOnlyRainFFS Remembered to celebrate along with the hard graft!

sueelleker · 27/09/2025 09:20

LalaPaloosa2024 · 27/09/2025 05:41

I had worse than this when I bought my current house. The estate agent told me the Seller needed to stay in MY HOUSE another week. He even went into detail about the Seller’s childcare arrangements etc., and their move to Kent. I said I didn’t care and didn’t want to know about their family situation and I would be proceeding as planned, as was my legal right. The estate agent even tried to talk to me about how I could get a mortgage holiday and rent somewhere to convenience the seller!!! My resounding no was taken badly and I was framed as being difficult. Extraordinary.

I was having none of it, and neither should you. Go and move into your house. The former Seller is now trespassing.

Was the EA related to the seller?

Longingforspringtime · 27/09/2025 09:25

So glad you're in! We had the opposite experience. We sold our house to a lovely couple who ran their own church. We didn't realise that a lot of their members were moving in too. Early on moving day, hours before completion, deliveries arrived, new furniture and the most enormous amount of huge leather sofas. The sofa company insisted that they all had to be left inside the house as did the other delivery people. It made it really difficult to move our furniture out!

We got out in time but forgot something important and arranged to go back the next day. They has already erected a large conservatory by early afternoon and had around twenty people living in a four bedroom house. Luckily we had moved to another town as I don't think we were popular with our old neighbours as apparently two minibuses and numerous occupants caused a lot of disruption. Very nice people though.

Silverbirchleaf · 27/09/2025 09:29

I presume you’ve had the storage unit 24 hours longer than planned, so I hope you get compensation for this.

Pleased that you’re in.

CharityShopMensGlasses · 27/09/2025 09:29

They have broken the contract to be out by 2pm and caused you loads of stress and so your solicitor should chase this up with theirs to compensate.

Swiftie1878 · 27/09/2025 09:32

ItsOnlyRainFFS · 27/09/2025 08:41

So we got in! I did just turn up on doorstep and explained in person we did have to get basic beds and kitchen stuff in before dark and settle children and they were very apologetic and clearly stressed. They managed to clear their stuff but like people said there was some cleaning and a bit of waste left (nothing awful just things like wood, tiles, paint cans etc in shed and loft). Just glad to be in! Everything working in kitchen and decor in good condition in most rooms still thankfully so just the long slog of emptying storage unit today! Would have been much easier if in by 2pm yesterday but it’s done now at least. Thanks for giving me kick up the bum to grow a pair and not just be fobbed off on phone!

Yay! Enjoy your new home!! 🏠 🍾🥂

tinyspiny · 27/09/2025 09:36

Congratulations @ItsOnlyRainFFS

BramblesMum · 27/09/2025 09:46

Well done & don't let it spoil the excitement of creating your new home.

Viviennemary · 27/09/2025 09:54

Start moving in.