Change f&f form because of tricky buyers?

[PandorasBoxers]

I’m selling my probate property, so I’m not in a chain. I would like the property to not be mine anymore but I’m not desperate to sell.

Buyers seemed very keen on the property and wanted to do some work in the garden before it was theirs. I didn’t mind because I pictured them planting bulbs etc and making it their own.

my last tenant left the place messy and the buyers understandably asked for it to cleared which I was in the process of doing anyway.

however buyers cut down trees in the garden and have been seen rummaging in the sheds and left boxes from the sheds outside in the rain. Garden furniture has also went missing but no one has seen who did this. Oddly the buyers friend did want to buy this furniture but the buyers knows nothing about this now. (Has said they haven’t been in the sheds and it must have been a thief)

I was leaving all the curtains and shades/nice fittings (leaving them with regular fittings) which they asked I did (I was going to leave these anyway for free). How much of a dick move would it be to now put a price on them or say I’m taking them?

Your mistake was letting them have free access and do things before completion.

Move on from that and I would say that just because of their CF'ery you leave nothing unless they pay for it (has the fixtures & fittings form been completed yet?).
That said, if it would cost you to remove and/or be a lot of hassle then (grudgingly) offer it to them.

I know, the estate agent asked and I thought it was a good sign they were invested in the property. They’ve now been told they aren’t allowed back without the estate agent.

I had filled in the form saying those things were being left but want to change it and send a new form to the solicitor.

Have you exchanged contracts yet? If yes, it’s too late to Chang the F and F form. If no, revoke your consent to them doing anything in the garden as you were mad to countenance this in the first place and your conveyancer will have conniptions if they find out!

No contracts exchanged and the conveyancer knows now. I really thought because the estate agent suggested it, it was ok.

I am monumentally dumb for this, I know 🙈

I just thought it was kind to do and also thought it was good they were so invested.

If they are CF enough to lift the furniture they are probably CF enough to make off with anything that isn't nailed down (and probably a fair amount more).

They have probably chopped down the trees to burn for wood, and given/sold the furniture to their mates.

They might well have taken a copy of the key, and if you don't watch out you might end up with squatters.

I'd be soooo tempted to pull out and sell to someone else but I know that is deeply impractical.

Thankfully they don’t have a copy of the key, it was garden furniture.

I would be extremely concerned about these buyers and would be changing the locks (they could well have copied the keys) and making sure your solicitor has written to them stating in no uncertain terms they are not allowed on the property until completion. I am shocked that the estate agent advised you this was acceptable. We actually discovered squatters on completion day of a probate property. I can tell you it is not a situation you want to find yourself in!

Just read your update. I would still get a letter.

Not in the UK so only know your system from Mumsnet but if it were me, I would padlock the gate today and have it relisted on Rightmove by 9 am tomorrow.

They would get nothing from me and I say that as a buyer who had our whole house repainted before the contract was final (painted walls were awful and previous owners had moved out already).

I'd pull out of the sale if I wasn't in a hurry to sell.
What the heck your agent was thinking when they failed to tell you that it was a monumentally bad idea to allow someone who hadn't even exchanged access to any part of the property I cannot imagine. I doubt your solicitor would have thought it was a good idea. If they did, I'd be changing solicitors as well.