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Original poster

Are they taking the piss?

71 replies

prayingforrainbows · 09/12/2021 15:32

We got the phone call today around 1:30pm from our solicitor to say we had completed on our new house (FTB) and we can go to pick the keys up from the sellers as we now own the property.
(online EA so we pick keys up directly at the house from the sellers)

However, we've been in touch with the sellers over the last few days keeping each other up to date etc, on Tuesday she said her EA said it would be anywhere between 10am-5pm for them and their new house.
Today she messaged at 1:45pm and said 'just had the call to say the sale is all complete :) just waiting on our new property now' ... she still hasn't messaged to say she's ready to hand the keys over. Yet, they've had a moving van parked outside for a week now (we just live down the road so often drive past).

Are they taking the piss? Should she have handed the keys over as soon as the sale was complete? Are they allowed to stay and wait in the property until their new house is ready?

OP posts:
IntermittentParps · 09/12/2021 16:16

@prayingforrainbows

Wow now they really are taking the piss!

We messaged them and said 'we completed 2 hours ago and have plans tonight so we'll be round at 4:30pm to collect keys'

To which they've responded 'sorry we had no control over getting the keys so late, got them now but we've got to unload our belongings and still have another load to put in so no way will we make 4:30 but can aim for 6' ??????!!!!!!! 🤬

Fuck that.

'No, we're coming at 4.30.'
And turn up then.

TakeYourFinalPosition · 09/12/2021 16:18

@prayingforrainbows Either phone them yourself; or get your solicitor to phone theirs, and let them know that you have been patient enough and you now need their keys.

What was your contracted time to be out? It's usually 1 or 2pm; ours was legally 2pm but the solicitors all agreed 11am. That meant everyone was ready to leave their houses at 11am.

Realistically, there's little you can do for small delays - there doesn't tend to be much to claim for - but you can put pressure on legally; and you need to do that now, before you get any closer to solicitors going home.

I hate confrontation too; but you're letting someone live in your house now, and cheeky fuckers will take a mile if you give them an inch, as you've seen.

bordermidgebite · 09/12/2021 16:18

Perhaos not but how about

" Ok you can collect your stuff from our house later but we need the keys now

Or we will need to break in , in which case your belongings will be dust "

Sparklfairy · 09/12/2021 16:19

Oh and "aim for 6". I've heard that before, the ultimate fob off. If you don't go now I guarantee you'll get a text at 6 saying "wow its taking longer than we thought... not done yet soz babez"

AntiHop · 09/12/2021 16:21

Yet another reason to avoid online estate agents.

percythewitch · 09/12/2021 16:31

Maybe they are Mumsnetters who, judging by some recent threads, have absolutely no idea how the completion process works.

I expect someone will be along soon to tell you that they have a lot on their plate (moving and small kids) and you should probably just book into a hotel for the night and maybe arrange for a takeaway to be delivered to them.

Seriously though, they are absolutely taking the piss and I hope you get it all resolved soon Flowers

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 09/12/2021 16:34

I do hope you’re now in your new home, whether they’re still there or not.

Have a poo with the bathroom door open to establish dominance.

PITA, moving house.

loveisagirlnameddaisy · 09/12/2021 16:35

This seems to happen frequently and is a failure on the solicitors' parts. A time for completion should be arranged between solicitors - completion is when money transfers from one part to another. All vendors should be made aware that from that point onwards, they need to vacate, it's not a rough timing that they can negotiate to suit themselves.

Unfortunately, if stuff is still in the house, what can you do? If you're really ballsy you could go round and start moving your stuff in while they're moving out.

FedUpAtHomeTroels · 09/12/2021 16:44

Turn up and change the locks, you'll be doing it anyway. They are proper piss takers.

Inertia · 09/12/2021 16:45

Hope you're in now. It's your house, they need to be out. Whatever you do, don't allow them to stay overnight!

HesBoughtAFuckingHat · 09/12/2021 16:47

I really hope you’re in now. They are absolutely taking the piss. They’re in your house, go and kick them out.

Mhc19 · 09/12/2021 16:57

This is why you shouldn't use online estate agents. It doesn't matter when their new house is ready, they need to be out by 2PM. I hope you've turned up and started unpacking

Collaborate · 09/12/2021 17:12

Take a locksmith and change the locks.

fromdownwest · 09/12/2021 17:23

@SilverHairedCat

Your mortgage - and the liability if the house goes up in smoke - started a few hours ago. Better get round there!
This is always overlooked by people but a very valid point. If they had a burst pipe, a fire etc - then it is your house, and your responsibilty to rectify.

You paid for it, now take it!

Barton10 · 09/12/2021 17:58

Why do people think it is acceptable to have to take more than one trip to move their stuff. All this back and forth is totally unacceptable. Get a big enough van or more than one van if you have lots to move. They need to get their stuff out and go. Get your solicitor to contact theirs and request they move out immediately!

EezyOozy · 09/12/2021 18:02

It's 6... I hope you've got the keys to your own house now op?

BackBackBack · 09/12/2021 20:30

Cheeky fuckers. If you haven't done so already then tell them to bloody do one. You've paid them a lot of money for the house!

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 09/12/2021 20:38
Wine
Original poster
prayingforrainbows · 09/12/2021 21:08

Oh we got the keys! But there was absolutely no chance of moving anything in tonight, the place is absolutely disgusting! They dropped the keys off at my current house when they were done and left the rest on the stairs in the property.

I went to collect the rest of the keys from the stairs tonight and it's absolutely filthy 🤮

I'm talking half drank mouldy cups of tea on windowsills, broken blinds, months of crusty build ups on oven (which were both part of the sale), piss stains in the middle of living room carpet and the best of all there was smashed glass all over the kitchen floor! I'm so pleased I didn't take my toddler with me.

I'm super pleased we've got the keys please don't come at me for being ungrateful cos we've waited years for this, but my god best get our marigolds on!!! 🦠

OP posts:
HesBoughtAFuckingHat · 09/12/2021 21:09

Cheeky fuckers! Was there any suggestion it was going to be filthy when you went for viewings?

Original poster
prayingforrainbows · 09/12/2021 21:11

@HesBoughtAFuckingHat absolutely not!

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 09/12/2021 21:14

What a nightmare

SilverHairedCat · 09/12/2021 21:16

Take photos and a video of the state of the place and ask your solicitor if there's any benefits in pursuing them for the costs and time of cleaning it up. Have they emptied it all? The loft? Outbuildings?

whyohwhyohwhyohwhywhy · 09/12/2021 21:23

So where are you sleeping?

Original poster
prayingforrainbows · 09/12/2021 21:31

@SilverHairedCat
That's the first thing I did, got my camera out cos I was in shock. Probably just naive as we've only ever had rentals that were clean when we moved in (and out obviously). I'm looking at getting a professional cleaner in cos I'm not quite sure it's a job we can tackle just the two of us since our moving vans are booked for tomorrow.

@whyohwhyohwhyohwhywhy
Luckily we have accommodation.

OP posts: