My settlement took place today and I went to the real estate agent to get the keys to my new property so I can start moving as my old house has also sold. The agent refused to give me the keys saying that he hadn’t received instructions to release the keys. What can I do?
Lawyer Answers (1): Answers from lawyers are general preliminary responses. They are not formal legal advice and cannot taken account of all your circumstances. They do not create a lawyer–client relationship.
Answer by Neha Sharma, Hillsdale 2036 NSW
- After settlement takes place the purchaser’s lawyer gives an ‘order on the agent’ to pay the deposit to the vendor and the vendor’s lawyer gives the real estate agent an order to release the keys to the purchaser.
- The real estate agent cannot give you the keys until he or she has received written instructions from the vendor’s lawyer. It may be simply a technical issue and the lawyer has not been able to fax the order to release the keys to the agent yet. You may request the real estate agent to contact the lawyer to sort out the issue.