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Original poster

WDYD when you've completed and vendors are still in?

451 replies

Lemonwords · 15/07/2016 09:16

So we've finally completed on our property. We're waiting to get the keys but vendors are saying there is an issue with their removal service and can't move out today. Solicitor says they have to. They say they can't. Literally what do you do?

OP posts:
Bearbehind · 17/07/2016 19:07

doing things like removing their food from the fridge and replacing it with mine

That would be the fridge that doesn't belong to you then Hmm

Gung ho shit like this is ridiculous.

AlwaysFeedingBabies · 17/07/2016 19:23

Fingers crossed for tomorrow morning. If u've got the builders booked then jus get them to start knocking walls down (or whatever they're doing) with the sellers stuff around if they haven't moved out!

RakeMeHomeCountryToads · 17/07/2016 19:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

incogKNEEto · 17/07/2016 19:28

I really hope this works out for you op.

ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 17/07/2016 19:29

Good luck for tomorrow Wine

expatinscotland · 17/07/2016 19:30

Surely just changing the locks would be sufficient? No need for all the PA 'breezily' packing their things or being polite with a smile.

'That would be the fridge that doesn't belong to you then hmm

Gung ho shit like this is ridiculous.'

The fridge does belong to the new owners if it was sold per the agreement. There's nothing 'gung ho' about wanting to occupy a property you bought and not wanting your insurance to be invalid or be legally liable for people you did not invite to lodge in your property. The OP is lucky she had somewhere else to stay. When I bought a house, I had to be out of my flat and then had nowhere to go. If the vendors hadn't moved out, then I'd have still gone in and changed hte locks and set up camp to sleep because that was my house I'd bought and I didn't have money to blow on nights and nights in a hotel.

Nor would I want to be legally responsible for non-guests and any damage they might do to the property I just sunk all my money into.

Anyone who does this is a top class pisstaker.

LunaLoveg00d · 17/07/2016 19:34

I can't believe the solicitor was so lacking in interest when all this happened on Thursday. This is what you pay a solicitor for. Not the estate agents who are working for the vendor. You pay a solicitor to guard against situations like this happening, and coming down like a tonne of bricks on the vendors if it does.

In this situation I would have been demanding my solicitor drafted an extremely strong letter on Friday morning, telling the vendors basically to get the hell out of the house which does not belong to them, and imposing hefty penalties if they do not.

All this wishy washy hoping for the best and asking nicely is just madness.

throwingpebbles · 17/07/2016 19:36

Totally agree luna this is a serious breach of contract.

AlpacaLypse · 17/07/2016 19:39

BoffinMum you're normally quite sensible. What's got into you tonight? If it's slightly more Wine than was intended.. totally understand Smile!

layla2016 · 17/07/2016 19:52

Blimey....fingers crossed for tomorrow.

RubbishMantra · 17/07/2016 19:54

Yes, good luck OP. Moving in itself is entirely stressful, and we exchanged and completed on the same day - through entirely different reasons to yourself mind. that's a whole other thread in itself.

Stay strong, focused and remember, it's your property, not their's. And IME, conveyancing solicitors can often have a CBA attitude, especially once they've received payment. Keep phoning them, and don't be fobbed off with excuses such as "in a meeting", or "at lunch". You have, I'm sure, paid a considerable sum for their services.

I hope any extra costs will be undertaken by the squatters sellers?

Bearbehind · 17/07/2016 19:57

The fridge does belong to the new owners if it was sold per the agreement

That's a pretty big if. Portable appliances are not usually included with a house sale.

I totally agree it's an entirely unacceptable situation but the reality of what you'd like to think you'd do from behind your keyboard and what you'd actually be able to do on a Friday if your vendors were still on site, are very different.

cheminotte · 17/07/2016 20:03

Surely anything left in the house after completion belongs to the new owners?

mineofuselessinformation · 17/07/2016 20:03

I've been lurking and just came in to say almost exactly what boffinmum said.
Gain entry to the house and DO NOT LEAVE.
If necessary, get other people in so you can act like a tag team. This is your new home, and they need to leave.

SoupDragon · 17/07/2016 20:06

It is the school prefect tactic. Which worked.

What is that supposed to mean? Confused

Ilovewillow · 17/07/2016 20:09

Fingers crossed for you for tomorrow!

Bearbehind · 17/07/2016 20:09

Surely anything left in the house after completion belongs to the new owners?

If the vendors haven't actually moved out then you're talking about all their possessions.

The fridge example boffin quoted was for a rented out property where she likely owned the fridge anyway.

As I've said before, I don't doubt the black and white facts that this property, and by definition its contents, now belong to the OP, but the reality of what can actually be done on a Friday afternoon is very, very different.

Sooverthis · 17/07/2016 20:22

Personally I like Boffins plan I find the school perfect approach works extremely well with faffy ineffectual types. A rousing mix of bossy, competent and polite not sure why you're getting a hard time for suggesting it. However the IP has taken an optimistic hopeful approach and I hope it works. Maybe they are planning on moving on Monday and just cocked up on Friday. I'd be there at 8.30 am tomorrow and get a locksmith out to change locks, open all doors and start helping them move out.

Batteriesallgone · 17/07/2016 20:31

The tag team of extended family thing can work.

My OH has a large family who all live nearby. His uncle was moving house. Vendors were slow / threatening / saying they didn't want to leave. He phoned up enough male family members for them to come round with one in each room. Not saying anything just sitting on the floor. No threats, total silence, just sitting in the house.

Vendors moved out an hour after the heavies turned up Grin

Expat777 · 17/07/2016 20:49

Good luck on Monday

WeeM · 17/07/2016 21:17

Like others have said I would be there sharp tomorrow morning to make sure they are actually all set to go. And also to make sure they aren't taking anything they shouldn't that was included in the sale (white goods and the like). And go via screwfix to collect a new lock barrel for the door! Hope it all goes well for you.

HarryElephante · 17/07/2016 21:21

A problem like this and your first port of call is mumsnet?

Haven't read any of the thread but I sincerely hope you contacted you solicitor after posting on here!

GabsAlot · 17/07/2016 21:24

they werent helpful just said they should have moved out

i would have gone over and said im sorry you'll have to stay somewhere else over the weekend as my insurance wont cover you-u can come back monday for your things

expatinscotland · 17/07/2016 21:28

'That's a pretty big if. Portable appliances are not usually included with a house sale.'

Not really if it's a modern fridge/freezer and at any rate all that is detailed in the sale.

For some it's not a matter of 'behind a keyboard' if the buyer had no other place to go other than the home they just purchased. I would have had nowhere to go so the vendors would've had to leave. Most people who buy a house need to move in on completion because they've sold their other house, their lease is up, they don't have relatives or friends who can put up a whole family or funds for 3 nights in a hotel. The OP is able to bunk at her inlaws.

Not to mention the issue that your insurance would likely take issue paying out in this situation if the vendors cause damage to the property or become injured during moving out.

Upthetree100 · 17/07/2016 21:39

Completely agree with BearBehind on this one. What you think you would like to do and what you would actually do if faced with a similar situation are, I suspect, two very different things.
Saying that op, you should definitely hold your ground with the 'squatters' on Monday morning make it absolutely clear to them that they do not have your permission to occupy the property any longer and get legal help ASAP. I do think your solicitors are not doing their job if they can allow this to happen.

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