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.

The keys should be available to you the minute the money transfers, which may take several hours.

The EA may well get them back off the vendor the night before or at 9am on the day.

As others have said, if the owner is going on holiday and letting their mum in to catsit/pack, the EA keys may be the easiest spare keys to hand out.

We actually didn't get our keys for quite a few hours after completion because the sellers solicitor wouldn't contact the estate agent to release them. Eventually, we got them after the sellers (who said their solicitors had been absolutely rubbish and were very apologetic) rang the estate agent and authorised the release themselves.

I think you're worrying too much and too early about key collection. You haven't even exchanged.

The seller may well have taken the keys because the agent has no need for them, and she needs them for a relative/friend who is staying/helping her.

I have never had a removal company say they will not move you till the day after completion, absolutely bizarre. Most people move out of one property and into the next on the same day - where are they expecting them to sleep that night!

Keys the day after completion? I am confused!

I think it is the movers who - especially as they are going a long way - don't want to set off with the stuff and find that completion is delayed. They would rather drive to the job the day after completion (presumably with OP having taken a car load and camp bed down the day of completion, or booked a hotel) giving them surety that they can unload the truck that day.

It's normal for a buyer to view the property just before exchange, as your insurance kicks in then and you want to be sure of the condition. Will the owner do this?
I've never asked an agent for the keys as they are going to hand over to the new buyer, but I guess there may be reasons why.
Be sure you change the locks once you own it though

@SheilaFentiman no buyer in their right mind would agree to doing that.

Then she will have to find a removal firm happy to move her on the day.

I didn’t say she should pick this firm, I was explaining the position.

Sure, I was expressing surprise any removal firm would suggest it. The OP should have no problem finding a company who will do the move on completion day.

We moved several decades ago, without any assistance from estate agents. Our buyers/sellers were honest people and there was no messing and good communication throughout. The things I read on mumsnetters about moving these days make my hair curl. There is no way I would want anyone outside of immediate family holding keys. What is the insurance point of view? If I leave my car unlocked and it or anything in it gets nicked the insurance won't cover it, so how is that different for houses?

It’s very common for estate agents or solicitors to hold keys - why would that be more risky for insurance purposes than a family member?

the EAs I have seen hold keys in a locked box so an extra layer of security to auntie’s key ring.

Why has your EA even told you this? She still owns the house, no paperwork has changed hands yet so she can do what she likes with the keys at this stage.

Once you have completed it's yours. If they don't give you the keys that day I'd be turning up with a locksmith and changing the locks!

It sounds like the estate agent has 'set the hares running' here by remarking she didn't know why the seller had asked for the keys to be returned.

I am slightly confused why she 'volunteered' the info too and in fairness to the OP I would be wondering as well, if it wasn't in response to a specific question about moving day. Not sure why she wouldn't just say: "We don't have the keys at present but at the time of exchange we will confirm arrangements on the day."

Could have been a throw away remark or the estate agent could be trying to tell the OP something about concerns that exchange isn't going to happen.

In any case, OP, hopefully it's for the packers etc. I can see why you're edgy: going on since January and you're moving a fair distance. I haven't moved in over 15 years but I have never heard a moving company refusing to deliver furniture on the day of completion either.

As others have said keys will be released once the sale is complete depending on the length of the chain could be as early as 12pm ( even if sake goes through earlier most sale contracts allow sellers to have until this time to clear the property, but I have had 2pm before) or as late as 4.55pm depending on the length of the chain and if it is a very long chain there is a tiny risk that it could roll into the next day. But no one will know what time your keys will be ready until to your keys are ready as there are so many variables at play including the banking system that moved at it's own speed.
But you have also said you are moving a very long way it could be that the removal team would be 'out of hours' by the time they reach the new property hence not wanting to unpack till the next day. If you are moving a very long distance a night in a hotel might be better than a chaos half unpacked beds not built house.