Allowing storage of buyer's stuff before completion

[HapHap]

My buyer has asked if they can store some items in our shed a few days before completion (we have already exchanged). We have side access so they're saying we just need to unlock the gate for them.

This buyer has been a bit of a nightmare, including demanding last minute reduction (we agreed to just get it through), so I'm not feeling particularly warm towards them.

Would you allow it?

*last minute price reduction

Absolutely not.

No way

No, I wouldn't. It's intrusive, and might get in the way of packing and moving yourself.

Thank you! My feeling is absolutely not but my DH is softer.

There is a remote possibility that something could happen to their things. Who is insuring them? Will it affect your insurance?

Given the last minute reduction, no.

How much did they take off you?

Do not allow this under any circumstances. If it is stolen or damaged you could be liable. Their stuff, their problem. They can store it at theirs.

Nopeity nope.

No. They can store them wherever they’re currently storing them, and move them with the rest of their stuff on completion.

Nope. They've already been a pain, and you would be responsible for whatever they left potentially if it got damaged. They can move it all at once.

@MzHz

Given the last minute reduction, no.

How much did they take off you?

Two months after the survey, before exchange, they said the survey highlighted "so many" things and they guessed it would cost them £10k and wanted us to reduce that off the price. The survey was totally fine!! Nothing urgent whatsoever, no investigations needed, good solid house. We have an old boiler but it works brilliantly and the buyer saw this on their 2 viewings before they offered. We had it serviced and certificated.

Eventually agreed to £1k off as a gesture of 'goodwill' to proceed and they were delighted apparently. They were just that type of buyer that wanted anything off to feel better I think.

@BreakfastOfWaffles

Do not allow this under any circumstances. If it is stolen or damaged you could be liable. Their stuff, their problem. They can store it at theirs.

That's a really good point. I'll say that to the estate agent, as he's putting it across that it's a totally reasonable request and a common thing to allow.

No. As pp said what if it goes missing or they accuse you of looking through and damaging anything. Very cheeky of them.

You can tell them your solicitor has advised against

This is an incredibly cheeky request!

Say no - just that.
If pressed (it sounds like they're cheeky enough to ask), tell them your insurance won't cover it.

Charge them rental space......say £1k sounds reasonable to me

Nope, nope, nopitty, nope. I'll bet they'd have some "reason" to come after you with a claim for damage or loss afterwards.
When the shed is theirs they can do what they like. Until then they can shove off.

Definitely no.

If pressed just say you are using the space yourself!

No. For all reasons above.
Additionally you’ll no doubt be using your shed yourself right up to the last minute for storing packed boxes/rubbish etc.

@TodaysFishIsTroutALaCreme

Charge them rental space......say £1k sounds reasonable to me

Thanks for the reassurance, if the buyer had young kids or was moving a long way I might be more inclined to say yes even with them being difficult but they are moving from just 3 streets away and their kids are grown up.

I will say no!

I’d say yes. Helps to oil the wheels on everyone’s moving day. It sounds like it’s no skin off your nose.

I’d put the 1k reduction behind you. Really not one to dwell on given you agreed to it and in the grand scheme of house buying.

The chance of the property they want to store being stolen or going walkabout seems remote to me.

No and I think your solicitor would say the same. If anything happened you would be liable. They can buy storage space just like everyone else

Nope. Nope. Nope

If they had been good buyers, I might consider it but seeing as they’ve already been difficult, then no

We did this for our last sale, to boring to explain but the sale would have fallen through if we'd had to find storage (very long story). The seller was very generous in allowing it, we recognised and appreciated that generosity and it was only possible because there was high trust on both sides with a track record of zero cf'kery.
As it was there were still people understandable warning against it as the risks if the sale falls through are there, then you have to make them take it away, if anything is broken will they blame you.
I wouldn't do it with the track record of disrespect... And I say that as someone who has done it!