How to Gain Access to Your Property in England on Completion Day Before 1PM

Moving to a new home is equally exciting as it is stressful, and as completion day draws closer, both these emotions are likely to be heightened.

The time that keys are handed over on completion day will vary from move to move depending on a variety of factors, including the number of people in your chain and the complexity of the move. 

However, most people hope to get their keys around 1PM at the latest to ensure a smooth transition into their new home with enough business and daylight hours left.

In this article, the team here at Clockwork Removals and Storage will outline what you can do to make moving day in England as seamless as possible and gain access to your property before 1PM. 

What you need to do to gain access to your property before 1PM on moving day

To ensure a smooth moving day, and to give yourself the best possible chance of gaining access to your property before 1PM, you should ensure several things are in place. While a lot of the work will be the responsibility of your solicitor, it is worth being aware of the various tasks that need to be completed. The below is a guide to the process in England, for Scottish moves please contact our team who will be able to guide you through the process. 

This includes:

Check your property information

If you are also selling your own property, you will need to review your property information, fixtures and fittings form. This will clearly outline what items you can take to your new property and anything you may need to leave behind. Making sure you know what can and cannot be taken will avoid potential problems and disputes with the new owners down the line.

Ensure mortgage funds are released 

You will not be able to gain access to your new property until mortgage funds have been released. This will be the responsibility of your solicitor and they should make sure this has been done at least 24 to 48 hours in advance of moving day. They will also need to have ordered the mortgage money at least five days prior to this, so make sure you have planned accordingly and are chasing them up on this if required. 

Coordinate with your solicitor 

It is practically impossible to gain access to your property before 1PM without your solicitor completing all of their tasks. 

To help you understand what’s needed, here is a list of the various legal tasks your solicitor will need to complete ahead of time:

• Order final redemption figures – Your solicitor will need to order final redemption figures from your mortgage company to ensure any outstanding balances and payments are settled before the move.
• Arrange an official search – An official search is needed to secure priority over the property’s title. This essentially means ensuring the property can be legally transferred to you without any complications.
• Prepare a legal statement – At least one day before completion is set to take place, your solicitor will need to prepare a legal statement that outlines all of the key legal details regarding the property purchase.
• All paperwork is signed off – The day before completion your solicitor will need to confirm that your moving file has been signed off. This means all paperwork that is necessary for the move will have been reviewed and approved. 

Arrange a removal team

On completion day, you’ll already have a lot to think about.

With this in mind, you should always organise a removal team to help make the move as easy as possible. You can share your desired move time with them to ensure a smooth and seamless move on the day. At Clockwork Removals and Storage, we offer a waiting time waiver which means you can avoid any extra costs associated with key delays. If you do not take this option, then we will need to charge an hourly rate for waiting.  

You should also make sure everything is packed and ready to go at the time you’ve booked your professional removal team. Our team has years of experience helping make domestic and commercial moves as easy as possible. This includes offering a dedicated packing service. 

What happens on completion day?

On completion day itself, there are a number of things that will happen including:

• Money transfer – Your solicitor will arrange for all money, including your deposit, to be transferred. 

• Pick up the keys – The estate agent will be in touch with you letting you know when you can pick up your keys.

• Register ownership with the Land Registry – Your solicitor will arrange for the property ownership to be updated on the Land Registry. But, be aware that this can take several months. 

If you need help moving home or business, get in touch with Clockwork Removals and Storage today. We can make your next move as easy as possible.