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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Seller trying to charge £'000s on top for existing fitted window shutters!

347 replies

MrsKT123 · 16/01/2022 00:08

We're buying a house and have had the fixtures and fittings report back and our seller has noted that the fitted window shutters are not included and would be an extra few thousand £s if we'd like them to stay! (Don't want to give exact amount in case they're on here!)

We're already paying considerably over asking price, had no quibbles on around £5ks worth of work required noted on our survey and have said we're happy to exchange and complete in order with their timescale (they have asked for an extended period between exchange and completion). We love the house and just want things to go smoothly.

I'm really disappointed by this as I would not have expected them to be taking these as they're made-to-measure and I know the house they are buying and there's no way they'd fit. To me, it's like taking the kitchen cupboards or built in wardrobes with them.

Surely it's more hassle to them to get them removed and put good the decoration for all windows in the house (large 5-bed with some bay windows)?

YABU - you shouldn't expect fitted window shutters to be included
YANBU - of course fitted window shutters should be included

OP posts:
Freecuthbert · 16/01/2022 00:12

I think that is really fucking weird of them. If there is no cat in hell's chance of the shutters fitting at the other house, which they likely won't as windows come in all shapes and sizes, then to me it just seems they're being cheeky fuckers wishing they settled on a higher price and now trying to milk a little extra assuming you'll just agree to the extra cost for the shutters as it'll be so much faff otherwise, so it's all quids in for them.

DPotter · 16/01/2022 00:13

call their bluff and say no thanks - will cost them more to have them removed and the walls and frames made good and re-decorated.

I would class them as a fixture and fitting, just like a staircase balustrade or a fitted wardrobe

Lightswitch123 · 16/01/2022 00:14

I would also expect them to be included but think technically they might be ok listing them as f&fittings

NorthSouthcatlady · 16/01/2022 00:15

@DPotter yep that’s what l would do. They sound like total dicks. They are fixed and need to be left in situ

PainterMummy · 16/01/2022 00:16

Yes as above, all their bluff. Be sure to state that you’re ha if they’re left but if they take them, you expect the walls to be repaired and painted.

Hairyfriend · 16/01/2022 00:17

Speak to our solicitor. I thought fixtures- meant something fixed in place by say a screw, fixing like a radiator, light fitting and possibly this type of shutter. I thought fittings were something not fixed in place and could be removed such as curtain, cushions, rugs etc. I don't know where you stand if its on the report that they are taking them.

We bought an old house recently and a sell-able, screwed and wired in item had been cut out and removed! Fortunately, we had before photos and on contacting the solicitor, it was 'reinstated' on the wall within 12hrs!!!

Speak to the solicitor, get an idea of what they'd cost to buy yourselves elsewhere. They might be calling your bluff and trying to get extra money? Esp if they wont even fit in their next home!?!

FleeceNavidadFromTheSheep · 16/01/2022 00:18

I disagree and think they fall in the same category as, say, decorative light fittings or curtain poles, so the sellers are entitled to remove or sell them to you.

Hunderland · 16/01/2022 00:20

There was a lovely big fitted cupboard in the entrance way when we viewed - Christ knows where it had gone by the time we bought the house Confused

cutebutscary · 16/01/2022 00:20

They are being cheeky fuckers because you've been good in other ways like not renegotiating after the survey. Just say no thanks . It will likely prove to be more hassle to remove them and it's not like they will fit whatever house they move into . Or you could counter offer- say if you have to pay x for the shutters, then you will need the £5,000 off from the problems raised on the surveyors report. Play them at their own game!

HidingFromDD · 16/01/2022 00:27

I'd suggest that, since they are re-opening negotiations, you'd like to discuss the survey report, and see what happens...

Flatandhappy · 16/01/2022 00:32

I would tell the sellers you are not interested in buying them, you expected them included, but if they remove them then they have to make good which will cost. We bought a house with a conservatory at the back, on the second viewing the owners were there and the guy said they had to have made to measure blinds installed as otherwise the room was too hot and unusable. Last minute they wanted an extra 5k for them, we said no, blinds were left as clearly not usable anywhere else. Cheeky sods.

Kipperandarthur · 16/01/2022 00:35

@HidingFromDD

I'd suggest that, since they are re-opening negotiations, you'd like to discuss the survey report, and see what happens...
I think I would be tempted to say the same.

I really do think this is cheeky and grabbing.

But people are weird. Our sellers tried to charge us £100 for logs in the store for the wood burner. I just said no take them. Funny enough they decided not to have them packed in boxes and moved with them.

Iamthedom · 16/01/2022 00:35

I have shutters in my house and they are easily removed wouldn’t take me more than an hour to remove 7 shutters and fittings
They are made to measure but my windows are a pretty standard fit so I could easily sell them or give them to a family member who windows I know they would fit

If I was moving house I would be taking them with me as they cost over 3k and only 18 months old .
I have fitted blinds behind the shutters and I wouldn’t be leaving them either as they were an extra cost
And I wouldn’t leave my blinds on my patio doors as they were bloody expensive as well 😂

stevalnamechanger · 16/01/2022 00:40

I would say you don't want them and if they are to be removed you expect full decorative repairs and make good .

95% chance they will leave them

EM1912 · 16/01/2022 00:41

I know someone that has made 50000 profit on her house yet is trying to negotiate with the buyer for the light switches and taps etc. It's money grabbing.

ZombiePara · 16/01/2022 00:43

😂😂

The sellers of my old house did this to us as well... they wanted an extra £5-600 for the blinds (not as much as yours, but they were just standard blinds)

We shrugged and said that's fine - take them - we aren't paying for them.

Funnily enough they were left, as they were specific to fit the windows of the property,,,

As PP have said, they'll have to make good if they're taken, which is far more hassle and cost than they will want to be dealing with!

GirlOfTudor · 16/01/2022 00:47

Yabu. Tailor made shutters are ridiculously expensive. If I'd bought some, I'd take them with me to the next house unless the buyer really, really wanted them. If they didn't fit my new house's windows, I'd sell them.
How do you know what house they're buying and what size the windows are, out of curiousity?Hmm

YouCanCallMeA1 · 16/01/2022 00:48

We moved house late last year and discovered that the vendors had removed not only the made-to-measure blinds (which was petty but we were expecting; as confirmed on the FF list) and the electric car charging point (which wasn't listed on the FF form but was a selling point of the house 🤔) but they'd also taken every toilet roll holder and towel hook from all the bathrooms. So petty. They'd made good all the holes and painted them over with a new tin of matching paint. The polyfilla and paint would've cost more than the things they removed.

People are weird.

Freecuthbert · 16/01/2022 00:51

@EM1912

I know someone that has made 50000 profit on her house yet is trying to negotiate with the buyer for the light switches and taps etc. It's money grabbing.
The taps and light switches?! Shock
Wafflesnsniffles · 16/01/2022 00:53

Id call their bluff. "Sure, take them but you will of course need to replace them with curtains etc."

Original poster
MrsKT123 · 16/01/2022 01:01

@Lightswitch123

I would also expect them to be included but think technically they might be ok listing them as f&fittings
I had expected them to be listed in the fixtures and fittings, like you, I just expected them to be included!
OP posts:
PastMyBestBeforeDate · 16/01/2022 01:05

We had a seller who wanted money for things that really should have been part of the sale. We said we weren't prepared to pay and asked them to make good and get the work authorised- it involved Gas. The items were left, free of charge.
Call their bluff but stipulate you want holes filled and walls repainted to ensure the same finish as if the shutters hadn't been fitted.

Original poster
MrsKT123 · 16/01/2022 01:06

@cutebutscary

They are being cheeky fuckers because you've been good in other ways like not renegotiating after the survey. Just say no thanks . It will likely prove to be more hassle to remove them and it's not like they will fit whatever house they move into . Or you could counter offer- say if you have to pay x for the shutters, then you will need the £5,000 off from the problems raised on the surveyors report. Play them at their own game!
This is what I think we're going to say to the agent - we really don't want to cause any fuss but (incorrectly!) thought they were included and state how reasonable we have been with the survey and timescales and ask for them to reconsider including them.
OP posts:
StarbucksSmarterSister · 16/01/2022 01:07

I know someone that has made 50000 profit on her house yet is trying to negotiate with the buyer for the light switches and taps etc.

WTF? Shock They're fixed items, she can't expect people to pay for them, the CF!

marpelier · 16/01/2022 01:08

Why is the property market so difficult over there? I have bought and sold several houses here in Australia. You view the house, you make an offer ( or it goes to auction ) and if your offer is accepted or you win the auction then you exchange and give a 10% deposit. 6 or so weeks after that you settle and that is that. There is a contract , that you sign on exchange that lists inclusions and anything unusual that is not included. That's it. If either party wants it changed you do it then, before any money has changed hands. Once it's signed it's done ( if it's an auction) if it is a private treaty sale there is a 5day cooling off period where you can back out of the sale completely. After that you can't stuff about changing the price or asking for discounts or wanting to take away the blinds or anything that wasn't in the contract. It's done.
Most people get property and pest inspections prior to making an offer but that's up to you. If the place is full of termites or mould or falling down or whatever then you don't buy it or make a very low offer.
It's pretty simple.
We also don't have "chains" which seem to be where you guys sell on the basis that you will buy the next persons place, who sells on the basis that the next person will buy theirs and so. Why do you do that?????? Confused

Re: OP. I'd tell them to take them as it seems to be legal in your country and it's not worth the hassle to argue about it . Use the money you didn't give them to get your own window coverings if the weirdos do actually go ahead and take them.

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