Page 2 | Keys to be collected from neighbour we don’t know?

Elll29 · 2021-02-27T11:49:55+00:00

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.

TheCatWithTheFluffyTail · 28/02/2021 00:22

I think it’s fine. I’m guessing due to covid the solicitors are wfh and estate agents aren’t allowing people in to the office or are also wfh. Surely it will be empty and you’ll be changing the locks straightaway anyway?

gurglebelly · 28/02/2021 00:23

I suppose it's ok if the neighbours will definitely be in for you to collect them from!

HeddaGarbled · 28/02/2021 00:36

I think they’re probably trying to make it easier for both you and themselves. It’s much more convenient to get the keys from next door than to have to drive into town and find parking so that you can collect the keys from the estate agent. I’ve always found that this is an additional stress on an already stressful day.

We used an online estate agent when we sold so couldn’t have left keys with them. Fortunately, our solicitor was in the same town as the house we were selling so we could leave the keys there, but if our solicitors weren’t nearby, I’d have considered leaving the keys with a neighbour.

Changing the locks is ridiculous. If your vendors trust your neighbours enough to leave their house keys with them, it’s paranoid to suspect them of nefarious intent.

LemonViolet · 28/02/2021 05:12

Changing the locks is not ridiculous it’s basic common sense - you literally have no idea who else may have a copy of the keys to your house. It was a day 1 job for us and really easy DIY, loads of videos online show how to do it.

When we picked up the keys to our house the envelope had 37 keys it, none labelled....and then the front door wasn’t even locked when we got here! Months down the line and there are still keys we haven’t works out what they’re for.

UmteenthUser · 28/02/2021 06:41

So the neighbours have to stay in all day waiting for you to collect the keys, I would be more pissed off if I was the neighbour

UmteenthUser · 28/02/2021 06:44

Do people that rent houses change locks when they move house. DS rents, I don't think he changed the locks when he moved in

FoolsAssassin · 28/02/2021 08:17

I think it’s fine, assumably the neighbour has agreed to be available for the day and will get a call when the funds are through just as the agent would.

We have spare keys for a couple of neighbour’s as they do for us. Just get the locks changed when you move in as is sensible and I think it will be much easier than the agent and save you a trip. Small bunch of flowers for the neighbour’s and you’re all set.

MeadowViews · 28/02/2021 08:26

We had this once, it was a nightmare because the neighbour was out for a couple of hours so we had to wait with no idea when they'd be back.

The previous owners had an online estate agent.

HeddaGarbled · 28/02/2021 08:44

I have moved house many times and never changed the locks and, as far as I am aware, nor has anyone I know, and none of us have been burgled by random key holders. You do what makes you comfortable but I’ve never before realised that this was something that people worry about.

Original poster

Elll29 · 28/02/2021 13:15

Thanks everyone for the comments. I think to feel comfortable I will change the locks. I’m going to contact the solicitor in the morning to ask how the neighbour will know our funds have been released etc and if they will be in if not I want them to Go to the estate agent. End of the day we have paid a lot for this house and for solicitors fees It’s not very professional just handing them to a neighbour. Also the estate agent isn’t even 10 mins from this house! So it seems rather lazy of the seller. I know the estate agents are still taking keys during lockdown as our house sold 4 weeks ago and we dropped them off for the new buyer to collect.

OP posts:

MySocalledLoaf · 28/02/2021 13:19

Some people I know who rent change the cylinder and change it back before they move out, and use it again for the next place if compatible. Not a huge cost for the extra security that way. They just change it themselves.

TheCatWithTheFluffyTail · 28/02/2021 13:21

@UmteenthUser

So the neighbours have to stay in all day waiting for you to collect the keys, I would be more pissed off if I was the neighbour

Lots of people are home all/most of the day at the moment due to the pandemic. It’s hardly a hardship for those already at home anyway.

TheCatWithTheFluffyTail · 28/02/2021 13:23

@Elll29

Thanks everyone for the comments. I think to feel comfortable I will change the locks. I’m going to contact the solicitor in the morning to ask how the neighbour will know our funds have been released etc and if they will be in if not I want them to Go to the estate agent. End of the day we have paid a lot for this house and for solicitors fees It’s not very professional just handing them to a neighbour. Also the estate agent isn’t even 10 mins from this house! So it seems rather lazy of the seller. I know the estate agents are still taking keys during lockdown as our house sold 4 weeks ago and we dropped them off for the new buyer to collect.

Then insist the estate agent has the keys, not the neighbour and make the ten minute journey there to collect them. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Andwereback · 28/02/2021 13:52

Yes just say whatever works best for you. It may well.have been done with the best of intentions trying to save you a trip and done on trust that you would wait until your solicitor had confirmed transferred funds.

GU24Mum · 28/02/2021 13:52

It's completely standard for sellers
to leave keys with the agent. Just say that the seller has to get the key to the agent or the agent will have to come and collect the keys - that's for the seller and the agent to sort out.