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Original poster

Buyers asking for money post-completion

175 replies

Nenanena · 17/11/2023 10:14

I know this is unreasonable really but I am so outraged I just wondered if anyone else had experienced this? A few weeks after completion our buyers had an issue with the heating and have asked us to foot the bill (a few hundred quid) as apparently they were told that the issue would have occurred while we still lived there (but we hadn’t had the heating on as it was summer so didn’t realise). Our solicitor told us of course we didn’t have to pay and we’ve refused but I can’t believe the cheek
of it!! Where would it end otherwise?! And why on earth did their solicitor not tell them they were being ridiculous?

OP posts:
Flickersy · 17/11/2023 10:15

Rather depends what the issue is really doesn't it. I don't see that it's outrageous to ask for funds to fix an issue which happened while you were living there, but also there's no obligation on your part to pay. Caveat emptor and all that.

Damnloginpopup · 17/11/2023 10:15

Were you supposed to service the boiler and neglected to do so?

MrsSkylerWhite · 17/11/2023 10:17

There are a lot of CF out there. EA/Surveys always specify that services aren’t tested. You buy as seen.

friendlycat · 17/11/2023 10:19

It's just one of those things. Fair enough as well that you had not had the heating on in the Summer.

I know of someone who had to replace the boiler second week into a new move. Boiler had been serviced regularly with relevant paperwork but was oldish.

FallingAutumnLeaf · 17/11/2023 10:26

Tough luck.
They either have a service record for the boiler, or decided they were happy to risk it.
Either way, it's not your problem

Bangkokbaby · 17/11/2023 10:27

When moved into my first flat it was apparent within the first few days that these was an issue with the boiler that hadn't been disclosed. My solicitor advised me to claim money from the sellers to fix it, which I did. It was quite straightforward to do.

Everydayisanewday · 17/11/2023 10:30

One of our boiler parts packed up the day we were moving. We were mortified. Kept in touch with buyers and offered half of costs as soon as resolved.
We thought only fair.

Radiatorlife · 17/11/2023 10:34

When I moved into my current house, the boiler was broken, the dishwasher leaked, the outside lights didn’t work and the gates fell apart in the first week. Cost me a bloody fortune, but its life and no longer the responsibilty of the previous owner.

Ignore them OP. You aren’t obliged to pay

Bloatstoat · 17/11/2023 10:35

I've clearly missed out here - a few weeks after we moved in we had a leak in the back of the house where it had been extended which cost thousands. Nothing was picked up on the survey but I suspect the sellers must have known there was an issue as the wall affected had been recently painted. If only I had thought to contact the seller and demand a refund!

I agree OP, peak CF!

bombastix · 17/11/2023 10:35

That is called tough luck. You have no obligations to them.

LadyMacB · 17/11/2023 10:37

Very cheeky.

When bought our first house we only had the most basic of surveys carried out. After moving in we discovered part of the roof leaked like a tap and had to get it repaired immediately.

Our responsibility and lesson learned about getting a survey. Even then there will still be issues, it’s life.

yellowlane · 17/11/2023 10:38

When we sold a house a few years ago the buyers solicitor specifically asked that we had our boiler serviced, which we did and paid for. Did they request one?

LittleBearPad · 17/11/2023 10:38

Who in earth thinks OP is being unreasonable!

Passepartoute · 17/11/2023 10:39

And why on earth did their solicitor not tell them they were being ridiculous?

Virtually every solicitor has bitter experience of clients who have been told that what they want is ridiculous but who insist on going ahead anyway. There's every likelihood that that iw what has happened here.

When a lawyer says "I am instructed that ..." or "I am instructed to ask ..." s/he is trying to distance themselves in a big way and make it clear that they know perfectly well that it's a load of bollocks, it's directly against their advice, but they have no choice but to put it forward.

Backtoreality1 · 17/11/2023 10:39

When I sold my house in Scotland, it was a built in clause that the heating/boiler had to be in working order or you would be liable. Don't think that exists in England though.

Mischance · 17/11/2023 10:39

After one house move, the owner got in touch after a few weeks and asked permission to come into the house and get stuff out of the safe which he had left there by mistake. We did not even know that there was a safe - it was hidden in the floor, under a carpet. Inside was a whole stash of jewels left to the buyer by his mother!! - really valuable stuff!! I wish I had claimed them as ours!

He got in touch 6 months (!) later and wanted to take away the built-in BBQ as he had a party that evening and had forgotten he had left it in our garden! We were somewhat puzzled by this and asked him what he meant - he described where it was - it had been a pile of rotting rusty metal that we had taken to the tip!

CFs abound!!

OldieButBaddie · 17/11/2023 10:43

We had this happen. We sold our house and at the last minute (the day before exchange) the purchasers insisted that the EA had said the white goods were included (which they hadn't and they weren't on the particulars). So it was give in or they would pull out so we gave in, 8k's worth of appliances ffs.

As a result we didn't remove our tumble dryer from the cupboard in the bathroom, had we done so we might have seen that the megaflow tank had corroded. About 2 months after they moved in it caved in and caused the ceiling to fall in in the kitchen and water damage. They called and insisted we pay to fix it... 8k. We said well we are terribly sorry for you, however we couldn't have known as we didn't pull the tumble dryer out as you insisted it was included

Karma 😁

JustEatTheOneInTheBallPit · 17/11/2023 10:51

I love @OldieButBaddie’s story!

To the OP, it’s sold-as-seen. My shower came through the dining room ceiling, with me in it… 5 days after completion. I broke my arm and it caused untold damage. Fortunately none of my children were sitting at the table at the time!

It was no longer the vendor’s problem… even though it was directly their fault!!

BUT, we did successfully receive some compensation from our survey company. We had paid for the most thorough survey and we had paid the extra 5% to “insure” certain aspects of it. (Not including electricity). They might have some luck there. Not your responsibility to tell them this though. Don’t even engage. They’re being unreasonable.

JustEatTheOneInTheBallPit · 17/11/2023 10:52

I should add, I didn’t land in the dining room. Sort of hanging half-through it. Naked. Just for the visuals.

purpleme12 · 17/11/2023 10:57

Oh my god this sounds really traumatic!

wildwestpioneer · 17/11/2023 10:58

They can ask, and in their shoes I probably would ask you to contribute, but there's nothing to stop you from refusing.

Bangkokbaby · 17/11/2023 10:59

Backtoreality1 · 17/11/2023 10:39

When I sold my house in Scotland, it was a built in clause that the heating/boiler had to be in working order or you would be liable. Don't think that exists in England though.

I am also in Scotland, so that may be why my solicitor advised me to claim from them.

LadyMacB · 17/11/2023 10:59

I think the bottom line is, has anyone ever bought a house and it absolutely faultlessly perfect in every way? Of course not, they don’t exist. No one is in the wrong (unless they’ve actually lied in response to a question). C’est la vie.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 17/11/2023 11:00

We moved into this house on 14th December. Just before Christmas the boiler packed up. We spent that Christmas in the kitchen because the rest of the house was freezing. The previous owners must've been having problems with it but yeah, you buy as seen. Never dawned on me to ask them for money.

ShinyPebble32 · 17/11/2023 11:04

Mischance · 17/11/2023 10:39

After one house move, the owner got in touch after a few weeks and asked permission to come into the house and get stuff out of the safe which he had left there by mistake. We did not even know that there was a safe - it was hidden in the floor, under a carpet. Inside was a whole stash of jewels left to the buyer by his mother!! - really valuable stuff!! I wish I had claimed them as ours!

He got in touch 6 months (!) later and wanted to take away the built-in BBQ as he had a party that evening and had forgotten he had left it in our garden! We were somewhat puzzled by this and asked him what he meant - he described where it was - it had been a pile of rotting rusty metal that we had taken to the tip!

CFs abound!!

You wish you’d kept his family heirlooms as your own and you’re calling HIM a CF? 😬