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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:
Scarydinosaurs · 15/07/2016 09:58

The estate agent needs to get those keys and get to the house and help sort this. There will be a van available today for them to leave in- even if it's self hire and takes them a few hours!

Get the estate agent to go round and assess the state of play- are they in boxes? Are they attempting to resolve this themselves? Massive insurance issues at play here.

specialsubject · 15/07/2016 09:59

Squatting laws have changed and theyhave no rights. They book a hotel and they call a man with a van to put their stuff into storage. It isn't can't, it is won't. You could help them make these arrangements but they are.leaving today.

BTW you should have insured the.place from exchange.

peggyundercrackers · 15/07/2016 10:00

I would be getting a locksmith to change locks on house and get them out. Tell them they need to go and live in a hotel and store their possessions at their cost. Don't let them stay as it will turn into a nightmare.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 15/07/2016 10:02

I find it very bothersome that they are saying they 'can't' move.
If they've been let down by their removers sure, that's awful for them, but this early in the day they should be saying 'We are frantically ringing round, we will move out as much as we can.' Not just sit there.

The only reason I would expect someone to be saying they can't move would be if they'd been taken seriously ill or had an accident and were in hospital or otherwise physically unable.

Coconutty · 15/07/2016 10:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Famik · 15/07/2016 10:03

We had exactly this situation a few months ago when we moved - it was hell and they got very agressive with us. Basically solicitor advised us that we really couldn't do anything until midnight of day of exchange. We managed to enter house, unpacked all our things into one room and remained in the house - as it was technically ours. They had barely started packing and we offered to help, offered to loan our lorry to move bits but they just really agressive and hostile saying we could have the house on the monday (this was a friday). We got solicitor and estate agents involved and made it very clear that at midnight we would call the police and they would be arrested. They did eventually leave by 9pm that night, but left 5 skip loads of rubbish and stuff for us to clear- for us the estate agents covered this. My advice is bare with it - our sellers were being deliberately difficult due to the fact the house was being sold in difficult circumstances and basically one side of the family refusing to move. If it was a genuine issue we have been more accommodating. Secondly, don't let this tarnish your new home, moving is always stressful regardless of situation, once this is sorted don't think about it again and enjoy your new home.

Oliversmumsarmy · 15/07/2016 10:04

I was wondering about where they were moving to.

I have had this a couple of times. Once when I sold a flat at auction and the purchaser didn't complete for 2 weeks, hadnt got mortgage sorted. Apparently you can't do anything you just have to wait. The other being not technically our fault, we were on the phone from first thing in the morning when we were completing on our house. The monies from the mortgage company were not released to the solicitors until 3.45pm so the monies did not reach their solicitor in time. It was a Friday so we had to hold up the chain for the weekend. Absolute nightmare weekend, furniture had to go into emergency storage and we ended up kipping on a friends floor and taking them out for my dps birthday on the Sunday when we had asked them to come over to our new place for a barbecue. The date we were supposed to complete was 29th August1997.
Singing Happy Birthday to dp in a hotel restaurant on the Sunday was the most deflated sounding song you could imagine, surrounded by fellow diners crying into their soup.

Personally I would be very concerned they have no place lined up to go and they are just using you as a convenient landlord. I would be calling the police and telling them to move their possessions into the front garden until they can get their act together or your solicitors organise a removal firm or a man or two with vans.

JT05 · 15/07/2016 10:05

They themselves must go, regardless of where their belongings are.
Most removal firms have 'standby' vans in case of breakdown or miscalculation of amount.
This sounds as if they are pulling a fast one! As for keys, I'd get a locksmith to drill out old lock and fit new ones. Charging the vendors, of course!

jomidmum · 15/07/2016 10:05

I agree with what others have said: get legal advice immediately. You could get yourselves into a situation where you have squatters.

99percentchocolate · 15/07/2016 10:07

I call bullshit. They could easily get a self hire van and do it themselves today. Yesterday was bad enough, but today is completely unacceptable. They should have spent all night on the internet looking for a hire available today. We had to do it a couple of weeks ago when moving - BIL's van developed a fault and we weren't sure we could fix it in time. We found 4 Luton vans available the next day and a dozen smaller vans. They could easily do it themselves, they just don't want to. I really think you should turn up on the doorstep asking for the keys and with a car full of stuff.

Callywalls · 15/07/2016 10:08

Please be careful, a similar thing happened to me, the vendor was heavily pregnant and had a young baby. We completed on the Friday but they insisted they could not move out until the Saturday afternoon. It was the first time I had ever bought a house and I did not like to cause stress to a pregnant woman so we stayed with my parent's and stored our stuff at their house (we didn't have much). I let the vendors stay overnight Friday till the Saturday evening, free of charge - against my Solicitors wishes. When we finally got in the house Saturday evening, they had made a right mess, scraping wallpaper off the walls when removing their furniture and slagging us of to our new neighbours, moaning that we had put them under pressure and would not let them stay longer - it was OUR HOUSE. The same thing happened to my sister and when she finally got in the house after letting the vendors stay an extra night, free of charge, they had changed the nice curtains that they were supposed to be leaving for some rubbish ones and taken the fire with them that was meant to be included in the price, some thanks!!

JT05 · 15/07/2016 10:08

Sorry x posts with peggy.

Badders123 · 15/07/2016 10:08

Travel lodge
It is YOUR house.
Out they go.

Closetlibrarian · 15/07/2016 10:12

CALL YOUR SOLICITOR!

Please do this ^. Please don't take advice from random people on Mumsnet about this! Your solicitor should be sorting this out, not you.

GiraffesAndButterflies · 15/07/2016 10:15

Your solicitor and estate agent will have seen this all before, get onto them. I like the pp's suggestion of camping out at the solicitor's office!

Good luck OP and update us

KeepingitReal2 · 15/07/2016 10:15

Get them out

Hastalapasta · 15/07/2016 10:16

I hope that your estate agent and solicitor are on the case. Keep us updated if you get a chance!

Just5minswithDacre · 15/07/2016 10:17

Well technically they're trespassing so police? Or at least the threat of police.

Aw give them a break. Can you imagine the horror of your removal company bailing on you and then being threatened with the police while you frantically try to problem-solve?

It's a civil matter anyway, not a police issue.

tictactoad · 15/07/2016 10:19

Your house insurance covers you, not them. if they cause damage or burn the place down you may well not be insured. Don't give them any leeway. They need to go right now. Your solicitor needs to be on this urgently.

EDisFunny · 15/07/2016 10:21

They should have been out yesterday by midnight.

I would have lawyer ring them to say a locksmith will be around yo change the licks and they must leave.

You cannot leave yourself liable. How irresponsible of them not to have sorted things. Even hf the removalists didn't show up they can rent a van and move themselves.

pinkunicornsarefluffy · 15/07/2016 10:30

What does your solicitor say? It should be the solicitors sorting it out not you. Once the money has changed hands then it is your house not theirs, so you need proper legal advice on this.

HarryPottersMagicWand · 15/07/2016 10:30

Tbh I wouldn't care what their excuses are. They are adults, they can sort it out, they just don't want to and are trying to buy themselves more time. Tough shit, the house doesn't belong to them. I'd threaten them with the police too. No it's not a shame. They have no right to be there. I also would be around there banging on the door. The fact you aren't actually moving in yet is irrelevant. I am guessing they know this? Which is why they are now pissing you around and haven't bothered to sort themselves out.

They should have been out yesterday. No way would I let them stay another day.

lifesalongsong · 15/07/2016 10:32

Has money actaully changed hands? I think you need to be speaking to your solicitor as well as the estate agent. I wouldn't be happy at all to have them in the house once the money has been paid

WeAllHaveWings · 15/07/2016 10:33

Why aren't they leaving? Has their removal company not appeared do they have nowhere to go?

Sorry, but your home is at currently at risk (insurance etc) with them there. I'd ask them to pack what they need for today/tonight but they must vacate the house now. They do not get back in without you present (change the locks today). You would still be doing them a huge favour by letting them leave their belongings for an extra day.

MerryMarigold · 15/07/2016 10:34

We did this when we bought our first house in 2005. It was pretty derelict and was about to be repossessed. I am fairly sure the old guy was being made homeless as we asked him where he was going and he was very vague and just had a small suitcase of stuff when he left in a cab. We waved him goodbye and the next I heard he had died (life insurance sent a letter to our address trying to track next of kin). The toilet was in a right state. I think he was very ill. I can't remember how long we let him stay, but felt bad since we were not moving into the property for a couple of months, and I had a week old baby so not thinking all that straight about insurances etc. Anyway, it was fine, but these people sound healthy and taking the mick. I would definitely pop round and see how the packing is going. If they are sitting there looking sad surrounded by boxes or everything is still in the kitchen cupboards.