Seller has asked for keys back from estate agents

[seriouslydonewiththisnow]

Hi everyone, not really a mumsnetter but in an odd situation with a house I’m buying and wondered if anyone else has had the same thing.
We’re a few days from exchange and two weeks from completion, and the seller has just asked for her keys back from the agents. My solicitor and my mum (who’s moved several times) both agree this is really weird behaviour. Any advice/suggestions as to why she may have done this/what to do now? It’s been a very drawn out process and she’s been quite unhelpful through the whole thing, keeping lots of information back for a long time.

We needed to pick our spare keys up after the house had sold stc. During that time, our relationship with the estate agent deteriorated quite a lot and was nothing to do with our buyers. We didn’t trust the estate agents and they were not having the keys back until our conveyancers had told us it was sold and no longer our keys.

She probably doesn't trust the EA.

Blimey - I thought it was normal practice for the EA to keep keys to hand over to buyer? I've recently moved and my EA kept a set of keys for my buyer and I picked up the keys from the sellers EA on completion.

How close are you to completion?
If there's still awhile left then maybe they will drop off again closer to the time

People saying no more viewings due to STC are wrong... its standard and common sense to re-view right before exchange and completion to check the house is still in reasonable condition. Its also common to be able to view the house for trades people quotes for work that needs doing etc...

Just because other random people aren't viewing doesn't mean the buyer doesn't need reasonable access.

We went to re-view a house we had offered on to find half the roof missing which conveniently had not been mentioned. Needless to say we did not buy it.

The fact that you know this, op; suggests the seller was wise to do it...
Why were you asking for the keys?

When selling our house two years ago, the estate agent asked us to go and pick up the keys from the office once it received an offer and we had both instructed solicitors. I'm surprised the EAs were hanging on to them. I'd do the same as the seller if they hadn't been offered to me.

I wouldn't necessarily assume that it's anything sinister - there are lots of entirely legitimate reasons she might want the keys back (for example, we needed our spare set back after exchange to let our movers in to pack up). Or, as others have said, she might just want to know who has access and when between now and completion. So long as the keys are available at completion, she's perfectly entitled to want to hold on to them for now.

I should add, the EAs said that if a second viewing was needed, or buyer wanted to come and measure anything up, either we could let them in ourselves or drop keys nearer to the time.

We dropped the keys off the night before completion IIRC.

eh? you're about to exchange so they're getting the house ready.

Why have you even been told this?

I’ve done this when I’ve suspected that the buyer was getting in tradies before exchange. I was right to do so - carpets were ruined and they had caused damage. I was still the legal owner and if the buyer pulled out I’d be liable for fixing up.

Guess what!? Buyer pulled out and I was left with thousands to fix.

From day 1 an estate agent could say “we’ll be ready to exchange soon” and it’s bollocks.

It was also in my home insurance policy to not have my keys in silly places (albeit written in a more legal language!)

Any good solicitor would advise having the keys right up until completion. A shite solicitor would deem it “odd behaviour”

The fact you even know the whereabouts of the keys is weird and reflects badly on you OP! Have you been harassing the EA every 5 mins for updates?

exactly? what on earth?

I’ve moved maybe 15 or more times and I’ve always picked the keys up from the agent as you say.
I’d be deeply suspicious she was going to remove fixtures and fittings or do something sneaky.

@seriouslydonewiththisnow

another thing I haven't seen mentioned, is that with newer locks it's much more difficult & expensive to get a key cut, so that's changed things a lot with people needing their spare key (you usually get 3) for cleaner, packers etc.

It’s very unlikely that the only set of keys the seller has are those with the estate agent - she can go and recover lightbulbs with her own keys at any point!

@AGodawfulsmallaffair

give your head a quick shake! She still owns the house, she'll have her own keys 🤣🤣

😂

Yes I’m being thick 😆

I’m being particularly stupid today 😆

I've collected from EA on completion and directly from the vendors as they leave. Both are normal processes.

I have taken the keys back from the EA as well because it was easier to have the spare back in my possession for other family etc. Nothing suspicious or odd on either taking them back or leaving them with the EA. It's just convenience.

I wouldn't see it as an issue. There could be a lot of reasons, none of them sinister. They will give keys to the EA on completion day.

I also wonder how you know this, why would the EA tell you?

Hi everyone, thanks for your replies. The EA volunteered the information about the keys but didn’t know why she’s asked for them back - I’m moving from a long way away and I wanted to confirm I’d be able to get the keys on completion day rather than the day after. One of the moving companies I contacted said they wouldn’t move stuff until day after completion for this reason, and I need a bed! The last time my mum moved house there was an issue with where the keys were and she was left outside the house in early December with a tiny baby, so she advised I get the information about where to pick them up in advance. Nothing sneaky 😂
The EA has had the keys since my offer was accepted in late January, so this seemed like weird timing. House isn’t vacant possession, seller is moving elsewhere on completion day.