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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Are curtain poles a fixture

92 replies

lucylockett27 · 14/08/2019 01:39

I am buying a house. A house that I know we are paying slightly over the odds for, but it is all done so we decided to go for it. Anyway the seller has said they want £1000 for curtain poles and light fittings! I have sold 2 house before and assumed these were fixtures, as in fixed to the house, so I left them and the 2 houses I have bought previously they were always left. AIBU to think the seller has to leave them?

OP posts:

jay55 · 14/08/2019 07:05

Tell them if they are taking the poles that they need to make good the walls and not leave holes.

Bluntness100 · 14/08/2019 07:09

It's odd. Some folks seem to think leaving anything other than the shell of the house is doing the buyers a favour, they fail to realise that they have actually sold these things.

It's a shitty way to behave, to accept an offer then want to strip the place of the fixtures and fittings, but it's surprisingly common. The majority of people play nicely, but you'd be surprised how many people think anything they can take they should.

We had one seller who even removed the light bulbs, resulting in us doing an emergency trip to the supermarket, and we had thought ther was a problem with the electrics when we moved in on a dark November evening and none of the lights worked, just what you need with a toddler in tow.

PurpleFlower1983 · 14/08/2019 07:13

I wouldn’t lose the house over it but I would call their bluff, just tell them you don’t want them but you expect the walls to be in good condition where the poles have been removed or you want £300 off the asking price to make the walls good.

MRex · 14/08/2019 07:18

They have to leave bulbs, so you can just add a lampshade or your own light. Light fittings can be very expensive depending on what you get, the cost for an electrician to take them down and put them up at the new house amongst other work isn't very much. I have lights from my previous house, from a low offer I left them an option of keeping the lights, curtains and some furniture for very low prices (10% purchase price). The buyers said they didn't want them so I kept the lights and gave curtains and furniture to a neighbour, as a vendor you have to clear the house of anything unwanted and it's far better that someone can get use out of stuff than leave it to go potentially into landfill. I thought curtain poles had to go with the house or be replaced, it's a shame because my neighbour wanted them and the buyers then just threw them out and had broken them, so I should have asked. If they'd paid full price for the house then I'd have offered most of the lights and furniture for free, I don't know if they'd have wanted them then or not.

MRex · 14/08/2019 07:22

(If you do want them, then it's worth stating that you don't want to pay for them, but are happy for them to be left when the house is cleared, otherwise in the legal contract the vendor should remove them because you've said you don't want them.)

Agog123 · 14/08/2019 07:23

If I was the seller, I’d be mindful of the current climate. What you paid for the house when you offered (and you don’t feel it’s perhaps worth, now in hindsight, stretching that far) other houses will be going on the market more competitively priced as people want to sell before October ... if you are first time buyers or don’t have to worry about your side of the chain, I’d perhaps be sowing seeds of doubt in the agents mind as to how committed you are (only of course if you are definitely happy to walk away)

Spinnaret · 14/08/2019 07:26

But that's what an offer is made on - the shell of the house. Anything else is by negotiation and up to the vendor to decide what is included. If you have spent several hundred pounds on a light fitting that you can use where you are moving to, why would you leave it?

It isn't 'shitty behaviour'. It is a business transaction. FWIW, I have always left curtain poles and light fittings, but have bought and the vendor has taken them.

In OP's case, the vendor has been upfront that they are not including these items before it gets weeks down the line to the point where it is harder to pull out. They now negotiate. If they want the items, agree a more reasonable price. If they don't, just say no.

dancingcamper · 14/08/2019 07:28

Say no, you're paying the full price as they were included. They probably don't want to lose the sale, but are trying it on. I had similar with a carpet, was quickly sorted out.

Timeless19 · 14/08/2019 07:32

These things tend to be a negotiation point once surveys etc have been done. So you may end up with them. I do find most people leave curtain poles unless they are really expensive ones.

Some people will want money for everything, some people will try their luck and charge for stuff but it will be more hassle to them to remove everything so they leave it and others won’t charge for that kind of stuff.

If you really want it you pay for it otherwise you take your chances.

donquixotedelamancha · 14/08/2019 07:34

Our seller tried to do this with carpets and everything. Just tell them you are not buying the house stripped bare.

They will not lose a sale, they are just trying it on.

donquixotedelamancha · 14/08/2019 07:40

These things tend to be a negotiation point once surveys etc have been done.

I don't think this is true. Apart from my last seller I've only heard of this in distant tales, told to demonstrate that someone is a cunt. The legal position is that anything physically attached to the house must stay, unless specified in the contract.

sleepyhead · 14/08/2019 07:40

Makes sure you tell them that they must make good any damage to the walls or ceiling if they remove them.

JacquesHammer · 14/08/2019 07:44

They aren’t being “shitty” as a PP said or doing anything to make either you or DH furious.

It’s a perfectly legitimate action - provided they make good any damage from removing the same then they’re fully within their rights to take curtains/poles etc. IME “light fitting” is usually simply the lamp shade.

Furrydogmum · 14/08/2019 07:46

My SIL paid top end for the perfect house then the vendors wanted money for all sorts.. She paid because she wanted the house so badly, and then what didn't go wrong with many things in the house over the first few months wasn't worth talking about!
I'm not sure why the curtain poles being removed should cause a need to re skim.. If they remove light fittings they have to leave a bulb ready ceiling rose..

YorkshireGoldFanClub · 14/08/2019 07:48

You are in for a miserable few months with a seller like that and one that is able to upset you so much already. I would honestly call their bluff, just say you aren’t paying and it’s part of the fixtures and fittings so they are legally obliged to leave them in place. I reckon when it comes to it they will just leave them anyway, it would be such a pain in the arse to remove them.

Either accept they will be gone and get on with it or pull out now as this is just the start. If they end up leaving them, consider it a bonus. If they do take them despite being against the terms you really don’t have any recourse to action that will actually end in you coming out on top so sadly you just need to choose to be or not to be upset about it.

LIZS · 14/08/2019 07:49

If they remove light fittings there should be a basic pendant wire left instead. Curtain poles are not expensive from likes of Wilko. Chances are they won't bother to take them all. It is normal to negotiate on fixtures and fittings.

JacquesHammer · 14/08/2019 07:50

I would honestly call their bluff, just say you aren’t paying and it’s part of the fixtures and fittings so they are legally obliged to leave them in place

That’s incorrect. They legally have to leave what they say they will be leaving as part of the contract negotiations. If they state on the form they are removing various items then they’re legally allowed to do so.

ThisIsMyBuick · 14/08/2019 07:54

I agree that they probably won’t bother once they realise they will have to replace them with a pendant fitting and fill the holes where the curtain poles were. I hope they have some paint left over!

shoulderstoesandknees · 14/08/2019 07:57

Just call their bluff and so no thanks. They just want more money. If they take them, they take them. I don't think it will need skimming, maybe a bit of filler. Light fittings too, hey will have to leave them safe and usually if it's something fancy then hope it costs them to get them removed. You can buy cheap temporary stick on paper blinds.

user1474894224 · 14/08/2019 08:02

Our buyer took light fittings and curtain poles. Be explicit that you expect holes to be filled and the walls redecorated so that you can't see the repairs. Our vendor left really badly filled unpainted holes which meant we had to redecorate the entire room - that wasn't part of the deal. She also left switching the light fittings till day of completion and called me to say they were having trouble getting a new pendant up and would I mind them not doing it....like f* did I mind....it was sorted. She had the last laugh as the place was filthy, the fridge wasn't cleared, the dishwasher was broken and full of mouldy water, the sink leaked (big bucket to collect leak water under it), fire in living room damaged and condemned......and this was an expensive house. Make sure you include the wording on the f&f list that everything has to be in good state of repair and clean if being left - unless specified.

KUGA · 14/08/2019 08:06

If you have to pay for them I would tell her you dont want them. £1000,? are they gold plated ?. If she thinks you dont want them she may drop the stupid price shes asking.
Happy house move.

BrienneofTarthILoveYou · 14/08/2019 08:09

I agree with your DH & would at least threaten to pull out as if you say no to paying, they could make a complete mess removing the stuff.

We had one house where they removed everything including curtain poles & toilet roll holders etc & left holes everywhere. I hated the house after that as even though we filled the holes & painted, you could still see 'marks' in the walls where the holes had been filled.

If you're paying top money to ensure you've no work to do, then I'd explain that to the agent / solicitor & say that you expect it all to be included (list exactly what you mean) & if it's not, then you'll pull out.

Spinnaret · 14/08/2019 08:12

There is a sample form TA10 on the link below. Every vendor should be filling a similar form during the contract negotiation stage. It even includes things like taps and boilers. The whole point is that 'fixtures' should be included. 'Fittings' are by negotiation. They are not the same and they are not legally obliged to leave them.

www.lawsociety.org.uk/support-services/advice/articles/ta-form-specimens/

Removing light fittings and curtain rails is a quick job, 'calling their bluff' is no guarantee of success. If a buyer won't pay for them, and they have value, why not take them. There is always eBay.

TeamUnicorn · 14/08/2019 08:13

We moved last year, the fixtures and fittings form had everything listed with the option of taking it or not, including curtain poles.

Don't pay, you might find they just leave them anyway.

LellyMcKelly · 14/08/2019 08:19

I would be very polite and say, “That’s very kind of you, but we don’t want them, thanks. Please make sure when you take them you make good the walls and leave the lighting safe as required by law”. Just close it right down. That said some lighting is really expensive. If the house is full of crystal chandeliers and you’d like them offer money for the ones you actually want.

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