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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Completed - seller still has set of keys WTF?

52 replies

rumbelina · 23/02/2015 09:47

Completed on a house on Friday. EA rang for us to collect keys and said the seller had left a radio and some timer plugs at the house, could we leave them in the garage and the seller still has a set of keys so he'll pick them up and drop the keys through letter box over the weekend.

I said ERRR NO I will bring the stuff to EA and he has to drop the keys off with them or at the house over the weekend. He lives in a different city so I don't mind being semi reasonable.

Rang solicitor who gave notice to his solicitor to drop keys off by the end of Sunday. This morning - no keys.

I'm just waiting for EA to get back to me as to whether he's dropped them off there but I doubt it as they'd have rung me at the weekend.

What do we do??? I don't think there's anything dodgy, he's just a dozy twat that won't listen to anyone as he believes everyone is inferior to him.

The solicitor gave notice that if he hadn't dropped them off then we'd change the locks and he'd be billed. But I don't want to go down this road as I don't believe we'd ever get the money.

He's been a cock the whole way through and we're still not rid of him. ARGH.

OP posts:

Augustwedding · 23/02/2015 09:49

Change the locks anyway- just don't expect the money back !

Moresproutsplease · 23/02/2015 09:49

I'd change the locks anyway as you don't know how many people have keys to your house.

TooManyTakenUsernames · 23/02/2015 09:51

Change the locks, so much easier and much less worry.

zippyandbungle · 23/02/2015 09:52

And your home insurance may be void, it may be worth contacting them. It may be that they will treat them as stolen and pay up.

SoupDragon · 23/02/2015 09:56

Absolutely change the locks anyway! Even if he returns the keys you don't know if that's the only set. As he sounds like an arse, I wouldn't trust him.

Thisisanoutrage · 23/02/2015 09:56

His request didn't sound terribly unreasonable. It's advisable to change the locks when you move house anyway.

Minniemagoo · 23/02/2015 09:58

We've only bought a 2nd hand house once but immediately changed the locks. The owners may pass on their set of keys but you have no idea who else may have a spare.

specialsubject · 23/02/2015 09:58

change the locks, drop stuff off at EA, forget about it.

stealthsquiggle · 23/02/2015 10:00

Change the locks. Most people will (albeit inadvertently) keep at least some keys when they sell or leave a house - it's one of the places where all those keys which collect at the bottom of drawers come from. If he hadn't left stuff then you would never have known.

gamerchick · 23/02/2015 10:01

I agree.. just change the locks and put it behind you. It's really not worth the stress.

sosix · 23/02/2015 10:02

Theres nothing to stop him keeping a set. We always change the locks when we move. despite dh not wanting to

ReallyTired · 23/02/2015 10:03

The radio and the timer plugs are yours to do with as you pleased. You own anything left in the house. It is up to the selller to move his junk before completion. Don't return his stuff to him on principle.

You can sue if the seller has dumped loads of crap in your house as well as for the lack of keys through the small claims court. Ofcourse enforcement is another matter, but you would have the satisfaction of a county court judgement. The seller would then find it impossible to get credit for the next five years. The costs of the small claims court are low as you represent yourself. Bare in mind that the solitor will charge for any work that you have not agreed before hand.

flowery · 23/02/2015 10:06

Surely you're always best to assume that someone might have a key and change the locks anyway?

Original poster

rumbelina · 23/02/2015 10:16

Oooh I didn't realise so many people changed locks when they moved house. I guess it makes sense. I've lived in loads of houses and never bothered, don't think my parents did either.

I guess we'll get onto that then. Is it quite easy to do yourself in a standard sash lock? My grandad did show me when I was 8 but I didn't pay much attention.

I think you are all right though, change locks and bill him but expect not to get the money sigh

He won't be getting his shitty radio back though.

OP posts:

Original poster

rumbelina · 23/02/2015 10:20

I will look into the CCJ thing if he doesn't pay up!

OP posts:

flowery · 23/02/2015 10:43

Would you really try and get a CCJ against him if he doesn't pay for you to have your locks changed? Good grief!

greenbanana · 23/02/2015 10:46

My Dad's seller (selling her mum's house who had died) kept a set of keys and let herself into the house after they had completed. Luckily they hadn't moved in yet or would have got quite a shock. She was just picking up some stuff but still . Some people just don't get the concept of it being someone elses house as soon as completion happens. I also know a family where the teenage son let himself back into the family home after they moved out, he was upset they'd sold. I'd always just change the locks!

CreamSubstitute · 23/02/2015 10:47

Why would you bill him for the cost of a new lock? It's something you're doing to protect your new house and make sure no one has unauthorised access. Plus locks are pretty cheap in the grand scheme of things.

And if you're just changing the barrel it is very easy.

seaoflove · 23/02/2015 10:49

We changed the locks when we bought our house. It had been rented so there really was no limit to the numbers of people who could have had keys. It's the sensible thing to do,

PigletJohn · 23/02/2015 10:55

Easy DIY job

Bowlersarm · 23/02/2015 11:01

I don't think you can bill him for spending out money on the house you now own. That would be odd.

It's standard practice for new owners to change the locks on what is now their property.

RainingSocks · 23/02/2015 11:06

I've always considered changing the locks to be part of my moving costs. It's a small cost compared to all the other fees and removal costs, but it gives you peace of mind.

countessmarkyabitch · 23/02/2015 11:09

it takes 5mins and 10 quid to change the barrell on a yale lock. Others are nearly as simple

middlings · 23/02/2015 11:18

Definitely change the locks! We did it when we bought the house and again a couple of years later after we'd had a big renovation project done. Not that I didn't trust the builders or anything.......

ReallyTired · 23/02/2015 11:20

"I don't think you can bill him for spending out money on the house you now own. That would be odd. "

She is being forced to change the locks because the seller has not handed over the keys on the day of completion. It is NOT the same as someone CHOSING to change the keys. Normally you would use the sellers keys to open the door to make it easier to to change the locks. She has not been able to enjoy her new property on the day of completion because of lack of keys. She is paying interest and mortgage payments for a property that she cannot use.

The small claims court has a sliding set of fees for what the OP want to claim. The OP needs to back up her claims with reciepts. It typically costs £150 to change the locks on a house.

www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/court-fees

For simple amounts it is done online with no need to attend court

"Would you really try and get a CCJ against him if he doesn't pay for you to have your locks changed? Good grief!"

How else does the OP get the person to pay up other than the threat of a county court judgement on their record? Its against the law to send round the heavy gang to beat up someone who owes you money.

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