Buyer has entered property pre exchange and started renovation

[Iwishiwasjoking]

We were supposed to exchnage last week, then yesterday, now the proposal is exchange and complete tomorrow, all delays on buyers side told its mortgage company releasing fund.

property was vacated last week, but I removed the last items yesterday. Went back this evening to do a meter reading. Garden dug up, carpets ripped out, all windows open, lights on.

I am so shocked I have no idea what to do now …technically is burglary … but if this sale falls through I have a much less saleable house …

and before you ask how has he got in, there was a lockbox with keys in that the estate agents have been using … so either they’ve shared the code with him or he’s watched them and then let himself in.

Pleased you have completed, phew, but if I was in your shoes, I would want to get too the bottom of how access was obtained, and if the agent gave the buyers the key code, no way would I have been paying them commission.

It's not their house until the deposit has been paid and all legalities signed off.

The estate agents don’t know how it happened?! You didn’t give them the code/keys, clearly the estate agent fucked up, therefore!

Or the buyers broke in.

😱

So pleased it has all worked out!

That should have be supervised by your agent.

And this adds to the thread ... how?

As far as I’m aware it was

This.

I'm glad it all worked out for you today, but it could only be the EA at fault here.

Have you decided to pursue this matter with them or just let things lie @Iwishiwasjoking ?

Main thing if you've completed and are basically past the tension of the last few hours. However, I'd still still be on at the agents as it must be down to them that the purchasers managed to gain access to your old property before completion and without your prior consent. Sometimes completion falls flat on the day (ie monies aren't transferred in time or purchaser pulls out) (I used to be a legal secretary) - can you imagine if purchaser had pulled out and had access as you suggest beforehand without your consent?!

Take pics and send to the estate agent tonight telling them you are thinking of legal action. This is breaking and entering and criminal damage. Then decide how you are going to play it. The easiest thing would be a straight forward sale but I think both buyer and estate agent owe you more than an apology....perhaps the price of your house is about to go up??

Glad you’ve completed OP , the total CFs.

The sale has been completed.

Wrong. It's not their house until all the money has been paid and everything signed off. They get no rights to the house at exchange/deposit payment.

It is a mystery but as you exchanged and completed today it doesn't really matter now.

Bloody hell, I think these CFs beat the allotment woman!

As you have locked up removed keys . How about you delay completing for a few days/week. That will teach them .
you seem to have other premises to stay in now so just keep it all locked and dilly dally on your completion lol 😂

The OP has updated. She completed today.

Just caught up. Thank goodness for that.

"I think I forgot just how poor some people’s comprehension skills are."

One thing I comprehend is that the CFs ripped the carpets out of a house they do not own. Not to mention the garden they dug up. If for some reason the exchange doesn't take place, the OP will now have to list a house that has been defaced and damaged. To purposely damage a home is vandalism, and legally, this is what the buyers have done.

There is no excuse for this. They didn't even ask!

Perhaps you should bill them for entering property, electricity and gas usage and a storage fee for stuff in the garage? Could come to the value that they negotiated down on the carpets?!?

lol, it’s not a competition to see who can come up with the maddest suggestion possible…

Is it really that mad to suggest the OP seeks some sort of compensation for having what was, at that point legally still their property, entered and essentially vandalised - all without their consent?
I know I wouldn’t have been fine with this, as many other PP have said they wouldn’t be either and would have given the EA Hell for letting it happen.

OP did at least get a good outcome, but it could still have gone the other way, and where would that have left them? That’s the real crux of the issue, here.

Yes, because she came to no harm, and that’s what comp is based on, and the cost in legal fees will be high.