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AIBU?

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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:
MrsCocochannel · 17/01/2022 20:10

I have them, I wouldn't leave them in the sale either

Lolamento · 17/01/2022 20:16

Say not and walk away. You will see they will not be trying it on anymore. Those should be included so imagine which surprises you will have waiting. The people who sold our house raise several thousands the last day. We agreed because we were waiting for ages. The house was a pit and we had to do so much work.

takemetomars · 17/01/2022 20:17

@DeoForty

Shit, I took my antique towel rail with me when I moved. Not because I'm grabby or tight but because I liked it and wanted it in my new house...
And you had every right to do so. As long as you declared it on your form with the solicitor
Vivianebrookskoviak · 17/01/2022 20:20

I totally get you OP, problem is if you don't agree they could leave it in a dreadful state out of spite but if they do they would have to pay for repairs anyways.Play them at their own game.I've known petty sellers like this before,trying to milk for every last penny then taking the most ridiculous items and all kinds of grabby/plain nasty behaviour. Don't do them any favours after moving like with their post etc if they don't disappear as soon as you complete!
The words I have for this kind of behaviour includes a lot of expletives!

Devora13 · 17/01/2022 20:23

The general rule of thumb is that if you turned the house upside down, anything that falls is a fitting, other things are fixtures and I would expect them to be included. Weird that this has been added as a condition later, sounds as though they may have overstretched themselves and are expecting you to pay for their poor judgment. You sound as though you are bending over backwards to accommodate their needs and wants. I have to say unless it really is a unique house, I would seriously be wondering if I want to contract with them.

Daffi · 17/01/2022 20:27

They are no use to them, you can't take shutters out they are made to measure, I know, I sell shutters, call their bluff

takemetomars · 17/01/2022 20:28

@cookiemonster2468

I'd call their bluff. They won't go to all the effort and expense of getting them taken out. Bloody cheeky!
I would go to the trouble of removing them and it's not cheeky at all
Unsure33 · 17/01/2022 20:32

We had exactly the same so we just said no we did not want them and if they remove them the damage should be put right. In the end they left them .

They are very expensive too fit though so depends how much you want them I guess .

Nekoness · 17/01/2022 20:38

Did the same thing with curtains, thinking they’d leave them because that’s what everyone tells you… they didn’t leave them.

Get a quote for new shutters. Then offer 35-40% of your quote for the existing ones if they’re in a good condition.

Or as others suggested, say you misunderstood and thought they were staying and that’s why didn’t negotiate on price after your survey came back.

But be prepared they will refuse to negotiate on price and take their stuff.

Offmyfence · 17/01/2022 20:40

@FleeceNavidadFromTheSheep

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.
Well let them remove them, they won't fit their new house!

OP, tell them to stick their shutters up their arse!

Offmyfence · 17/01/2022 20:41

@Iamthedom

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 😂

We snows a standard for .......
Offmyfence · 17/01/2022 20:42

*fit GrinGrinGrin

Isntitironic1 · 17/01/2022 20:43

Nothing surprises me anymore, first house I bought they removed all fittings (toilet roll holder etc) and lightbulbs and curtain rails. The next one they removed all the pipes for the dishwasher 🙈 completely bizarre

sueelleker · 17/01/2022 20:45

@ChocolateCakeYum

People do weird things when buying / selling houses.

The person who bought our last house wanted all our furniture, like every single piece. We said no. Conversely the house we bought came with a free fridge as the owner didn’t want it any more.

Anyway, I would expect shutters to be left. What’s the point in taking them? Doubt they’d fit a different property, they usually made to measure. Call their bluff, they’re just after more £££

Do you think perhaps they'd always lived in rented furnished accommodation, and just assumed that houses came like that? Of course they could just have been CFs too!
ParkingDiagram · 17/01/2022 20:49

Our sellers produced a huge list of everything they wanted extra money for which ran from custom-made blinds to light fittings to the white goods right down to plant pots and the washing line. We said no to everything except the fridge. They were emigrating so there was no way they were taking it with them.

Bizarrely, they left everything they’d tried to charge us for except the plant pots and the washing line. I can only conclude that they found someone to give them to.

Honeyroar · 17/01/2022 20:55

If you’ve offered to pay over the asking price does it mean there are lots of other people that would buy it if something went wrong? I’m just thinking you’ve less room to bargain if there are.

But I’d think they ought to be included and the seller is being mean.

Biker47 · 17/01/2022 20:58

The general rule of thumb is that if you turned the house upside down, anything that falls is a fitting, other things are fixtures and I would expect them to be included.

Some picture frames on my wall are screwed in, my shelving units are screwed into the walls to stop them toppling over, some of my TV's are screwed into the wall, I wouldn't be leaving them if I moved house just because they're secured to the house.

My rule of thumb is until you get a fixtures and fittings list in the contract, everything that can be removed one way or another may or may not be included.

I have an integrated washing machine and dishwasher that both cost quite a bit, and depending on how old they are at the time and their condition, I'd probably take them with me if I moved, I'd leave the doors etc. maybe even go as far as to get brand new replacement doors and fittings for the new owner, but that would be it.

NigellaAwesome · 17/01/2022 21:05

I always thought integrated appliances counted as fixtures.

Porridgeislife · 17/01/2022 21:08

@Biker47 Integrated appliances are fixtures. You can’t take them!

AlwaysinaFlap · 17/01/2022 21:13

@Biker47

The general rule of thumb is that if you turned the house upside down, anything that falls is a fitting, other things are fixtures and I would expect them to be included.

Some picture frames on my wall are screwed in, my shelving units are screwed into the walls to stop them toppling over, some of my TV's are screwed into the wall, I wouldn't be leaving them if I moved house just because they're secured to the house.

My rule of thumb is until you get a fixtures and fittings list in the contract, everything that can be removed one way or another may or may not be included.

I have an integrated washing machine and dishwasher that both cost quite a bit, and depending on how old they are at the time and their condition, I'd probably take them with me if I moved, I'd leave the doors etc. maybe even go as far as to get brand new replacement doors and fittings for the new owner, but that would be it.

I have an integrated washing machine and dishwasher that both cost quite a bit, and depending on how old they are at the time and their condition, I'd probably take them with me if I moved, I'd leave the doors etc. maybe even go as far as to get brand new replacement doors and fittings for the new owner, but that would be it

Jesus ! They are part of the kitchen . All doors that cover integrated appliances are not the same re fixings - in fact the sizings of these things ( door to appliance) changed considerably a few years back . It can end up really messy.

userxx · 17/01/2022 21:23

Weird! When I move house my shutters will be staying with the house, I'd just add on an extra £500 to the asking price to cover the cost.

AlwaysinaFlap · 17/01/2022 21:27

@userxx

Weird! When I move house my shutters will be staying with the house, I'd just add on an extra £500 to the asking price to cover the cost.
Agree - they are a selling point as house can be marketed as ready to move in. They would attract me to look at a house as opposed to another.
ChristmasCurry · 17/01/2022 21:37

First house we bought the previous owners left the loft and garage full of crap.

I repaid their kindness by throwing all their mail in the bin - they did not bother get it re-directed or come round for it.

Caelan2018 · 17/01/2022 21:38

If I was moving I would take good curtain poles and curtains if I was going to use them in new house I have never heard of anyone taking shutters but of they taking them let them o bey they won't

dopenguinsdance · 17/01/2022 21:47

I would class window blinds as fittings not fixtures; something like a boiler is a fixture because the heating system can't run without it, curtain poles aren't because they're designed to be unscrewed from the wall. People do take odd things though (electric switches/plug fronts, doorknobs/knockers) and that's why you need to check what's on the vendor's TA10 form www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/property/transaction-forms

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