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Original poster

Access before completion?

26 replies

MrsJ28903 · 27/11/2019 08:31

Has anyone ever organised access for works between exchange and completion? We had this on a new build to allow for our own flooring to be fitted the week before completion but I’m wondering if it’s possible on a non-new build? We are considering an empty house but it needs a bit of work and I would love to get the carpeting, artex slimming and painting done before the furniture is in. Is this possible?

OP posts:

TDL2016 · 27/11/2019 10:12

With a new build, exchange and completion can be months and months apart. With a second hand empty property, depending on your own circumstances, you could exchange and complete on the same day, so no time for it.
The only thing you can do is ask the vendor up front before putting your offer in.

TheFaerieQueene · 27/11/2019 10:14

You can ask but I would doubt you would get a positive response.

MarieG10 · 27/11/2019 10:31

A friend tried this. They (large builder) refused outright unless the works were bought through them. What that meant was that the laminate flooring they wanted needed (to look good) to be fitted before skirtings were fitted. They refused to even leave the skirtings off for them to have fitted themselves. So in essence I think you can assume no they won't unless you pay the builders vastly inflated prices (and they used the same supplier!!) to do what you want!

What you also need to do is get the concrete floors checked before handover. An estate near us the builder used fast drying concrete. The problem is it dries that quick it cracks and leaves a dusty residue on the surface which makes it impossible to fit the likes of Karndean without treating it etc. So the floor fitter turns up to fit and basically says it isn't fit to do the job

Just some tips

Teenangels · 27/11/2019 10:37

All depends on how long between exchange and completion, as the property is empty you may be able to, but you would have to ask the owner. If I was the owner I would allow carpeting etc but the skimming and painting I would not allow as this could cause problems

TiceCream · 27/11/2019 10:40

If you were buying my house I would not let you do any work on it until you were the legal owner. It would be insane to let someone mess about with a house that I still own!

MarieG10 · 27/11/2019 10:48

Sorry OP misread and didn't realise it wasn't a new build

No no one in their right mind would allow you to do that

HannahKM · 27/11/2019 10:51

If the property is vacant then your solicitor can request a key undertaking where you are allowed to pick up the key from the agents in the morning and drop it back before they close each day. This would be to do specific jobs only and often they won't let you rip things out in case it doesn't legally complete. If you are able to get the undertaking then you would have to take over the bills from the day you pick up the key and also have your insurance in place. I work for an estate agents and it's not an uncommon request on empty houses needing work (I also did it on the house I bought). Hope this helps

Hoppinggreen · 27/11/2019 10:54

We bought a new build and part exed
I very much doubt they would allow this. We got the builders to do our floors, which they did before completion but when doing it they damaged a toilet and caused a flood. They put it all right and we didn’t even know until the site manager mentioned it a few weeks after we had moved it. It’s things like that that mean there’s no way your floor people will be allowed in

gingerninja99 · 27/11/2019 11:02

The house I am in now we asked to be able to go and put driveway gates before completion as we have dogs and the driveway went straight up to the back garden. We were allowed to do this once we exchanged but not have access to the house

Appletreehouse · 27/11/2019 12:56

We arranged for an electrical pdpmptt, and then some rewiring and work to be done to the fuse box as some parts were identified as unsafe and dangerous. They were paying half so we arranged it all through the solicitors and estate agents and then the day before the electrician was due to do the work they suddenly decided they wouldn't allow access. It wasn't worth losing the sale over so it was just really annoying as the electrician was cross as he lost a day's work and refused to do the job for us once we'd moved in. So you can do it but it's dependent on the good will of the vendors, most probably won't want to bother with the hassle.

Appletreehouse · 27/11/2019 12:56

*Electrical report

MissingMySleep · 27/11/2019 18:45

I have had access before completion, in order to decorate, twice. You MUST have insurance in place before you step a foot in the house. Decorating the new house in between exchange and completion and a ceiling fell down, thank goodness we had the insurance.

MissingMySleep · 27/11/2019 18:47

Both times we were given the keys, no need to return them to the agents. First one was probably 1990 second one 2000.

happytoday73 · 27/11/2019 18:58

The estate agent gave us keys to the empty house we were buying (owner had passed away) as long as we only did positive things with no potential adverse effect and handed key back that day... The plan was that we could clean, measure up for kitchen, curtains and blinds, get an electrician in to price up. Plus clear some of the rubbish/50 year old damp carpets. All organised for 1 day..

All fine until the will Executor walked past noticed the gate was open and went totally loopy at us for breaking and entering, threatening to ring police, ranted for ages etc

So just make sure everyone is OK with it!

PlumsGalore · 27/11/2019 19:03

You have to consider the seller will need to arrange access, and they may have their house wrecked by dodgy contractors before you even hand over any money.

If i was selling i would not allow it.

Equally you may spend a fortune and then they may drop out.

Think about it.

Lovelydovey · 27/11/2019 19:12

We were allowed access so that we could get various trades people to quote (was a condition of the mortgage that the house was rewires before we moved in) but no actual work could take place until we had completed.

Original poster

MrsJ28903 · 27/11/2019 21:06

Thanks for the replies. I had hoped after exchange it would be okay but I think we will look for a short term rental for a week or two instead.

OP posts:

Dazedandconfused10 · 27/11/2019 21:07

You could still pull out of the purchase! It would be mad to allow that.

Original poster

MrsJ28903 · 27/11/2019 21:47

Do people really pull out after exchange?

OP posts:

DameCelia · 27/11/2019 21:56

Only if they want to lose their deposit!

Original poster

MrsJ28903 · 27/11/2019 22:35

@DameCelia that’s why I thought access after exchange might be a possibility!

OP posts:

DameCelia · 27/11/2019 22:53

Ask your solicitor to propose a key undertaking to the vendor's solicitor.
You'll have to pay for it to be drawn up. It will need to list exactly what work you want to have done.
You'll need to insure the property from exchange, and pay for any utilities.
But it's fairly common.

Patte · 28/11/2019 07:42

My parents did this (quite some time ago). They had to sign an undertaking that if the sale fell through they would undo all the works. They also may have had to pay for insurance against that as well as the normal house insurance, I'm not sure.

So it's possible but certainly not simple. Easier to rent for a bit if you can afford it.

Slightlysurviving · 28/11/2019 14:11

We did this earlier in the year. We were given the keys early with some rules. Nothing to be removed/ ripped out. Any positive impact we had was the property of the seller until we completed. Eg we had to unblock drains, clean everything, get the heating working. Disconnect a couple of fire hazards of electric heaters. Replace a door handle and lock. The house was unrecognisable at the end of the few days we spent there and if it had fallen through the seller would only have benefited.

Dinosauraddict · 28/11/2019 16:29

Someone asked me if they could do this on a house I sold earlier this year. There was no way I was ever going to agree to it. The EA thought I was unreasonable. My solicitor thought I was the only sensible one.

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