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Original poster

To be disappointed the curtains aren't included

91 replies

blackjacker · 05/02/2016 12:45

We're buying a house and have just got the fixtures and fittings form which says that all the curtain poles and curtains are excluded from the sale, is this common? I think it's pretty bad form to take the curtains (even though they're horrible) because it's pretty unlikely they're going to be the right measurements for the vendor's new windows! We're going to have to tack blankets up over the windows when we move in because I don't want to pay for 'interim' curtains while we decorate ...

OP posts:
WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 05/02/2016 14:45

Pick up a couple o pairs from a charity shop for a few quid.

Probably cheaper than a blanket...

Viviennemary · 05/02/2016 16:04

I would say it's usual not to take curtains. But I'd be a bit annoyed if curtain poles are taken too. They're usually left. I thought they'd be fixtures.

whois · 05/02/2016 16:19

Most contracts state that the seller has to make good any holes in the wall from removin fittings. If they do a bad job and leave dirty great chunks then you need to get solicitor and estate agent on it ASAP.

wonkylegs · 05/02/2016 16:29

We had expensive JL poles throughout our house - the bay window one was £500 alone, I offered them to the buyer at cost as I would have to pay that to replace them they bought some and declined others. We took all the curtains as the could be reused - my living room curtains would have cost £1200 for replacements, they matched our sofas etc and fit the new house without needing alteration, the bedroom ones matched our bedding etc and again were expensive. It made no sense to leave them.
We were upfront about it though so their were no surprises for the buyers. They actually came and measured up before completion and ordered curtains and furniture so it was all there the day they moved in. According to the neighbours they only redecorated the kids room so I guess it was easy.

anyoldname76 · 05/02/2016 16:37

on the last house we bought, the seller took the surround sound speakers (which we were expecting) what we didnt realise was that they were going cut all the wiring to the wall Hmm they also took every light bulb and even the toilet roll holder

LittleBeautyBelle · 05/02/2016 16:44

awful, anyoldname76!

anyoldname76 · 05/02/2016 17:02

we had to get an electrician in to make sure the wiring was left safe, it turned out the whole house was a bodge job tbh, cost us a fortune and put me off buying for life, we are now in rented

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 05/02/2016 17:05

I was going to suggest curtains from a charity shop, blackjacker, but I see others have got in ahead of me.

Good luck with the move.

GoringBit · 05/02/2016 17:45

When we last moved, our buyers didn't want our curtains (we left the tracks), and the people we were buying from left all their curtains and poles. We had our old curtains adjusted, and gave the new house ones to charity.

I understand your disappointment, OP, but some charity shop hunting could do the trick.

LadyLuck81 · 05/02/2016 18:25

It's pretty usual. Although when we sold the flat I left all the curtains and poles, I even organised all my original remaining paint and put the right pits in each room and gave the dodgy bits a quick coat she was a first time buyer, moving in on her own, and I wanted it to be easy for her. I left her a bottle of wine for her first night too.

Pileofstuffatthebottomofthesta · 05/02/2016 18:29

I thought you had to leave curtain poles (we did and I really wanted to take them as they were expensive!) we took all our curtains though as they weren't cheap and mostly fit in our new house. The vendor did leave the curtains here but they're not particularly nice and they probably couldn't be bothered removing them.

Husbanddoestheironing · 05/02/2016 18:35

We have always had a list to fill in stating as part of the legal paperwork what would and wouldn't be staying. I think last time it said that if you were taking light fittings you had to replace with a standard ceiling light fitting as well, but don't know if that's universal

ExConstance · 05/02/2016 18:40

We have one curtain pole that is special to us as it is an original eighteenth century one from our first house. When we move we take it with us and the purchasers are always surprised until I explain why. We always make good and replace with one of their choice. Curtains are almost always taken but poles - no.

PegsPigs · 05/02/2016 18:46

I left blinds and curtain poles at my last place but wasn't left any at my new place. We'd only been in our old house 18 months so the poles we left were virtually brand new. And I liked them so much I bought replacements at the new house. Cost me a fortune so next time I will be measuring the new house and taking them with me.

Girlwhowearsglasses · 05/02/2016 18:52

God I wish our vendors had taken them away. Smoked 60 a day and every single window had lace curtains up (inc conservatory) ewwwwww.

lavendersun · 05/02/2016 18:56

Pile, you don't 'have' to leave anything. You just note what you are leaving on the fixtures and fittings form. For instance I am taking my curtain poles but leaving a range cooker, three log stores full of wood, a full oil tank, house full of jim lawrence light fittings etc., etc.

My curtain poles are easy to remove, discontinued and I have loads of them for use in another house.

You leave what it suits you to leave.

Girlwhowearsglasses · 05/02/2016 18:57

I see my o remember that some times vendors will 'sell' you the fittings because it can be advantageous if the sale price is very near a stamp duty increase (so 500k house they might sell you for 498k and if the fridge/curtains/lights add up to a couple of k you pay for them separately. And this avoid stamp duty. Perfectly legit if the fittings do add up (which tbf they could do)

HereIAm20 · 05/02/2016 18:58

Basically you can take curtains - they are neither fixtures nor fittings. As regards curtain poles/tracks and light fitting you can take this as long as you replace them with something. Thus if you have expensive poles and want to take them you can replace them with cheap tracking. I have always asked Buyer if I am taking poles whether they want me to do this or whether they would rather me just have the holes filled. Usually they have opted to not even have the holes filled so that they can possibly reuse them for new poles.

There should be no confusion over what is being left as the Seller has to complete a form as part of the paperwork submitted by the solicitors to say what is and isn't included. As many have said even if listed as not included sometimes it is just left behind because when they filled it in they didn't know what they'd be getting at their new property at that stage.

catsinthecraddle · 05/02/2016 18:59

By experience, I'd say that everything depends on the price of the house (but not always of course). When you pay the full asking price, vendors seem to be more generous and leave more than when they have accepted a really low offer.

I would rather have a bargain than curtains, but being in the South East, not much chance of that Grin

Ditsy4 · 05/02/2016 19:22

Our lSt house they took everything including the loo roll and holder and all the light bulbs!

Curtains I took some and left some. I took my favourites...the kids room ones because I loved the fabric, I had made them and I thought the kids would settle more quickly. My bedroom ones because I had just bought them. I left the rest.
Charity shops and car boot sales. I bought a beautiful, velvet pair for £4.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 05/02/2016 19:41

Last house I sold the buyers also purchased every item of furniture that I had in it! And I mean every item.

PinguForPresident · 05/02/2016 19:47

When I was a kid we moved into a house where the vendors had removed every door handle and taken it with them. It took YEARS for my parents to get round to replacing them. We were all dab hands at opening doors by sticking our fingers through holes.

Scarydinosaurs · 05/02/2016 19:50

We had to bin all of ours to try and get rid of the smell

lavendersun · 05/02/2016 19:58

Curtains, blinds and poles are such a personal thing though aren't they.

I don't expect my young and with it buyers to like my choice of silk/linen Sanderson fabric and solid oak poles.

Seeing as I have half a roll of fabric and a load of matching poles I would prefer not to leave them to have them given/thrown away as I will use them.

JamesBlonde1 · 05/02/2016 19:59

If I was to replace poles where I'm moving to I could easily spend up to £1k, then the curtains on top of that which will probably be made to measure.

I may not re-use my curtains (may do for 1 or 2 rooms) but there's no way I'm laying out that money unnecessarily. Particularly when I don't like the cheapy poles the vendor may leave. I can use the money towards buying some of the curtains.

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