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Original poster

To think fitted wardrobes come with the house...

214 replies

NeverMovingAgain · 03/09/2022 12:54

We've taken bloody months and months to get to this stage and we're finally on the home stretch towards completion and exchange so it's entirely possible I've lost sight of what is and is reasonable but am I wrong to think fitted wardrobes should come with the house?

We've finally received a fixtures and fittings form today along with the paperwork we need to sign before we can complete and exchange and it says the fitted wardrobes are excluded from the sale.

Am I losing the plot to think they would surely be coming with the property? We're leaving them in our property, it never occurred to us not to because they are fitted to the space, so surley the whole point is they're designed for that room and you don't take them with you?

I've emailed to get clarification but was it presumptious of me to think they would be staying in the house?

OP posts:
sst1234 · 03/09/2022 12:56

Anything bolted down should come with the house, unless specified earlier. Also it would be crazy for someone to go through the effort of removing fitted wardrobes, especially as they are unlikely to fit anywhere else.

nomistake · 03/09/2022 12:56

I was charged (and paid, stupidly) for an integrated washing machine, which they never would have been able to take with them, and turns out it was 8 years old!

Now I've learnt a lesson, going back I would call their bluff and say no you don't want it and see what they suggest. The faff and cost of taking them down and disposing of them will not be worth it for them.

LampLighter414 · 03/09/2022 12:57

Yes I would expect them to remain. If they clarify and are indeed hoping to take them you can play hardball and insist they remain or reduce your offer to cover the cost of having replacements installed. They may turn you down though and be happy to find another buyer but often the pressure of the change will mean they relent.

RosetteNebula · 03/09/2022 12:57

Are they making you buy them separately? That's insane. They should definitely come with the house. We are currently buying a property with fitted wardrobes and anyone I've ever known to buy a house with them in has not had to buy them separately.

Ponoka7 · 03/09/2022 12:57

It's a reasonable assumption but I wouldn't let it fester, just ignore and work around it.

LampLighter414 · 03/09/2022 12:57

Pressure of the chain*

Gassylady · 03/09/2022 12:59

I mean really! how lucky they have found another bedroom of exactly the right size to move into. Perhaps they are expecting you to pay for them separately - £2.50 should cover it!

Ponoka7 · 03/09/2022 12:59

Just to add it isn't unusual for people to sell such things to neighbours, I've heard of people being ripped off an blinds, stair carpets etc.

sleepymum50 · 03/09/2022 13:00

I always thought that fixture and fittings came with the house. Ie if you couldn’t just pick it up, it stays.

I guess that’s why the form is done. It wouldn’t do any harm to query it. Are the fully fitted eg bespoke or like ikea and just fixed to wall after assembly.

You could insist they make good after removal, ie repair/paint room, fill holes etc. That might put them off

toomuchlaundry · 03/09/2022 13:00

I suppose it depends on how fitted they are. In our current house our fitted wardrobes are built into the bedroom so can’t be removed unless you just took the doors.

My DM bought a flat which had one of those units built round the bed with cupboards on either side and above the bed. Attached to the wall so not standalone. She hated them and luckily the sellers removed them before she moved in otherwise we would have had to sort out removing them for her. There were just a few screw holes that needed filling once they were removed.

Dogappreciationsociety · 03/09/2022 13:00

Are they "fitted" fitted wardrobes or ikea pax wardrobes made to look like fitted wardrobes. We have a dressing room made up with ikea pax wardrobes and i would take these with me if i moved.

But if they are fitted wardrobes i would expect them to stay. Call their bluff and see if they remove them. Or reduce your offer by the cost of the fitted wardrobes they have outlined.

Original poster
NeverMovingAgain · 03/09/2022 13:00

Anything bolted down should come with the house, unless specified earlier.

This is what I'd always assumed. There is no mention for us to buy them separately it literally just says bedroom 1 - fitted wardrobes and they have crossed the box under excluded.

I'm so bloody confused as to why they would be taking them it honestly never occurred to me to think they wouldn't be staying. Confused

OP posts:
MatildaTheCat · 03/09/2022 13:01

Are they shown on the floor plan of the property and mentioned in the blurb? If so I would think you have a very strong argument that they were part of the original offer to sell.

Next they’ll be asking an additional price for the doors or kitchen units. I suspect they were fairly expensive and they want to recoup the cost but it doesn’t work that way.

Original poster
NeverMovingAgain · 03/09/2022 13:02

They are fitted fitted wardrobes. I complimented them at the viewing and they said then that they had got a proper company in to do them several years ago.

OP posts:
FruitPastilleNut · 03/09/2022 13:03

Depends on just how 'fitted' they are imo.

There are lots of wardrobes nowadays that masquerade as fitted wardrobes but really aren't, and could easily be reconfigured for another room or rooms.

iamnotanalcoholic70 · 03/09/2022 13:03

One house we bought had hideous 1980's smoked glass fitted wardrobes. They asked us to pay extra for them and I refused saying I didn't want them so they could be removed. Saved me a job😁

pieceofpies · 03/09/2022 13:05

They might be taking the front panels with them. So, you will be left with the housing, but you will have to buy new doors/sliding panels. They can be expensive.

FruitPastilleNut · 03/09/2022 13:05

Cross posted but in that case I'd expect them to be left.

However ime fitted wardrobes are nothing but a damp-prone ball ache, especially if fitted to an external wall - so is be glad to see them gone!

Mythril · 03/09/2022 13:06

Of course they should stay. They are part of what you viewed and are buying! And what if they leave the wall a total state in removing them?

Original poster
NeverMovingAgain · 03/09/2022 13:07

Mythril · 03/09/2022 13:06

Of course they should stay. They are part of what you viewed and are buying! And what if they leave the wall a total state in removing them?

That hadn't even occurred to me... Its going to be a right state isn't it!

OP posts:
Ihavekids · 03/09/2022 13:07

It's their house and their fitted wardrobes, entirely up to them what they do with them. I don't think you've any right to be annoyed about whatever they choose, but certainly get it clarified. I wouldn't make a big deal about it.

Spacerader · 03/09/2022 13:07

Same as previous poster said where they included in house description? If it was you could argue that point.

If it wasn't the owner has possibly always wanted to take them, especially if they paid so much it is probably cheaper for them to pay to have them refitted for the needs of thier new house than getting new, so for that I wouldn't blame them if they took them.

Lcb123 · 03/09/2022 13:08

we’re selling and asking for money for our kitchen appliances (free standing) and custom made blinds. We’ve got built in cupboards and wardrobes but they are built into the wall so can’t ask for money. Usually you can only ask for money for removable items

Poppyseed14 · 03/09/2022 13:08

As well as the state of the wall behind them I'd also be worried that the flooring ends where the wardrobes start so if they do remove them the flooring will need to be replaced.

YorkshireTeaCup · 03/09/2022 13:09

I would always assume they came with the house BUT we have just removed the fitted wardrobes in our house that we bought 4 years ago, and they was a lot of mould behind there from where at some point in the past there has been a leaking outside drainpipe. So if they do take them, it might at least allow issues like that to come up sooner rather than later!

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