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Original poster

Keys to be collected from neighbour we don’t know?

40 replies

Elll29 · 27/02/2021 11:49

Hi, me and my partner have just purchased a house last time we collected keys from the state agent and when we sold I dropped ours at the estate agent. I received an email yesterday to say our keys will be available from number 2 neighbour in our new street on Monday! I don’t know why but I find this very odd is this normal? We don’t know this person and it slightly worries me they have keys to our new home.

OP posts:
greengrey · 27/02/2021 12:11

It's unusual but what a good way to meet your new neighbours.

I'd be changing locks when I moved anyway and the neighbour being able to get in at the moment wouldn't bother me as the house would be empty.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 27/02/2021 12:13

Change the locks as soon as you get them.

SausagePourHomme · 27/02/2021 12:13

Sounds fine to me. You should change locks anyway when you buy a house.

PurBal · 27/02/2021 12:14

This is what we're doing. Didn't think it was odd.

statetrooperstacey · 27/02/2021 12:15

Perhaps the estate agent lives at no 2.

blue25 · 27/02/2021 12:15

Sounds fine to me & a great way to meet your new neighbour. We always change locks on a new house anyway, so I don’t see a problem with it.

Seeline · 27/02/2021 12:15

That is very weird. How will the neighbours know when the funds have been received so that they can release the keys to you?

They could give them to you and then you could cancel the cheque 😆

LST · 27/02/2021 12:15

People change the locks when they move in!? Whoops.

Nearlyhalfterm · 27/02/2021 12:18

We got ours from a neighbour. It was fine and so much more convenient than getting them from the estate agent who was miles away. Are you worried they will have copied the key? If you would have trusted the previous owners then I'm guessing they would only give the keys to someone they would trust. I would likely change the locks anyway 🤷

gavisconismyfriend · 27/02/2021 12:40

It is very weird. Don’t understand why people think this is normal. Keys should be lodged with the solicitor and can be collected once the money has gone through. I would not agree to this.

LIZS · 27/02/2021 12:43

Is it via an online agent?

DogsSausages · 27/02/2021 12:44

I wouldnt agree to that. What reason have they given that you cannot pick them up from the agent.

Seeline · 27/02/2021 12:53

My MIL has just moved using an online agent. The person she had been dealing with still dropped the keys at the new property once the solicitor told them that the funds had been received.

Original poster
Elll29 · 27/02/2021 13:09

Thanks for the replies I will definitely be changing the locks, but I just thought how will they know when we can collect them when the funds clear? Also it means I will need to go at a specific time or they might not be in? Where as estate agent I can collect after work etc. They gave no excuse just said that’s where they have been left.

OP posts:
Bloodyhamabeads · 27/02/2021 17:59

I wouldn’t be happy with this either. They know the neighbour, but you don’t, and but the time you pick up the keys it’s your house. I’d ask for them to be left with a professional such as estate agents or solicitors.

murbblurb · 27/02/2021 18:09

Yes, how does the neighbour know it is ok to release the keys ? Is it an online agent - if so I think the vendor hands over the keys. You need to make some phone calls.

Janedownourlane · 27/02/2021 20:05

We bought without an estate agent and picked up the keys from the next door neighbours who were good friends and trusted by our seller. They were lovely people and made us a cup of tea after a stressful day's moving. We enjoyed living next door to them and they were lovely. Never ooccured to us to change the locks but I have since read that you should always do that.

Botanicals · 27/02/2021 20:07

I always get all the locks changed when I move, they might be lovely, good chance to make friends.

caringcarer · 27/02/2021 20:10

You really should change locks when you buy a new house. Simply because the previous owners could have given a copy to workmen, friends or anyone. We even change locks on our btl's in-between tenants. We just have one spare set of locks we change around so previous tenants no longer have access to property.

topcat2014 · 27/02/2021 20:10

I have moved house several times, and never thought to change locks.

Anyway, what about all the renters..they just have to suck up the keys they get given..

Original poster
Elll29 · 27/02/2021 20:28

It was not through an online solicitor it was through a solicitor my family have known for years. I didn’t want to say to her I wasn’t happy incase she thought I was being ridiculous but I think I might call and say I want them from the estate agent. My partner has said he isn’t happy either but to just go with it and change the locks instead of complaining but to me it just doesn’t sound right.

OP posts:
senua · 27/02/2021 22:04

If things went wrong what recourse would you have? Suppose the neighbour went shopping / was rushed to hospital / decided not to release the keys ...!

CasperGutman · 27/02/2021 22:31

I can see why it would feel weird to you, but I doubt it is a real security issue for them to leave the keys with the neighbour on this occasion - because if they're leaving the keys there for you they may well have left spare keys with them loads of times.

If you wouldn't leave your keys with the neighbour yourself (and you shouldn't: you don't know them!) then I agree with those suggesting you should change the locks. That would be good practice anyway.

Hallyup5 · 27/02/2021 23:28

I wish our vendors would have left the keys with the neighbour. I had to drive for 30 minutes to some estate agent that was miles away to pick ours up. Not what you want to be doing in the middle of moving day!

nordica · 28/02/2021 00:20

When I bought my first flat, the key I was given for the communal door downstairs didn't work Shock The flat had been rented out and then empty for a while. Turned out the management company had changed the lock recently and the key had been posted through the letterbox into the flat. Luckily I had a cross over between my previous home and wasn't actually moving in on completion day.

Anyway, I wouldn't be too worried about a neighbour having the key for a day as you don't know who may have had keys to the house anyway - lots of people give spares to family, neighbours, cleaners, pet sitters... And realistically a neighbour on your street is not going to refuse to hand over the keys or go in and damage the house before you get there.