Legal question re access between exchange and completion

[Jinglebellsarenearlyhere]

We are selling our house and have exchanged to very difficult people. They want various contractors to have access to the house before comletion (which is in two weeks). For various reasons I have said no, they need to wait for completion.

The purchasers who have my telephone number are threatening to sue and were threatning to me on the phone.

Do they have a legal right to access before completion. I will of course be telling my solicitor and asking his advice but I trust mumsnet more!

No they don't. Get your solicitor to tell their solicitor to tell them the legal position and get them to back off.

No they don't, I'd just stop answering the phone to them

Absolutely not - the house isn't theirs until completion - that is the money has landed in your hands. They have no right to access and I would say they are harrassing you. Don't deal with them and get your solicitor to spell out in no uncertain terms they are not to harass you regarding access and that threatening phone calls will not be tolerated. Your solicitor should advise. Some people can be such arses and house buying/selling really brings the best out in them.

It's your house until the moment the transaction is deemed completed. Letting people have access before then is at your discretion, so you are absolutely entitled to refused access to contractors. Ask your solicitor to email their solicitor so he/she can advise them accordingly.

no. If they had asked nicely you might have decided to help, but now I strongly suggest that you tell them where to go. Threats should be reported to the police on 101. (remember they know where you are moving to so take this seriously)

stop answering the phone to them if you have caller ID - if you don't, say 'please refer all queries via my solicitor' and put the phone down.

I would also suggest you forget any plans to leave a box of chocs and a moving-in card...

Thanks all - thats what I thought but I feel better and stronger in hearing it from you as well.

And yes may go home tonight and drink the bottle of champagne I had been saving for them!

Will let my solicitor know as well.

Thanks again

No, what nasty people. Access between exchange and completion is at the vendor's discretion. We have always accessed properties we were buying once or twice after exchange (maybe even before) but that was with the consent of the vendors and probably because we asked politely, made sure the timings suited and didn't request multiple visits. Agree with the advice everyone else has given and I would not only drink the champagne yourself but do the absolute minimum in terms of cleaning and leaving any left-over paint, instruction manuals etc behind!

No they have no right. We are hopefully exchanging on a house this week that needs a lot of work. We will have access before completion but we made this condition as part of our offer and it has all been written into the contracts so both us and our sellers are protected from all angles. They sound horrendous and I'd refuse given their behaviour.

Yes absolutely do drink the champagne!

What's the access for? If it just to spec out jobs I'd actually try to be a bit flexible. They have no legal right but I can see how it would be frustrating for them and there are various ways they could make your life awkward - rushing you out immediately balance has cleared on completion day, not forwarding post, not confirming correct meter readings etc.