Buying a house- fixtures and fittings

[MumDadBingoBlueyy]

We’re in the process of buying a house and have recently found out that the vendor plans to remove all light fittings, curtain poles, shelving (including some built to fit around the chimney breast), and even rails that were fitted to the wall to create a dressing room setup.
We understand that technically some of these may be classed as fittings rather than fixtures, but this level of removal feels excessive to us — especially the dressing room rails and custom shelving, which seem integral to the use of the space.

Given that we made our offer with the assumption these items were included (nothing was mentioned about them being removed at the time), we’re now wondering:
Are we being unreasonable to want to renegotiate the price based on this?

We’re prepared to proceed with the purchase, but we don’t think the house is worth quite as much without those elements, especially as we’ll now need to replace lighting, storage, and dressing room functionality

I'd ask your solicitor.

At least you didn't find out after you'd been given the keys! The people we bought our house from took everything, including the cheap plastic curtain tracks that cost a few pounds from dunelm which doesn't sound like much but was a total pain in the neck because we couldn't hang any of the curtains we'd bought in advance to make sure the house was liveable immediately and they left the walls full of holes where the tracks had been that needed filled and painted over before we could put up replacements. I'd speak to your lawyer before the sale goes through and get them to negotiate for those items to be left.

It sounds like our vendors are taking a similar approach @GlasgowGal2014 my mind is blown by some of the things they are taking.

I’m assuming we will be walking in to lots of holes in the walls

This does sound excessive. Did they tell you or did you find out from the paperwork they filled in? As it will reduce storage and lead to decorating and repairs immediately I’d be suggesting a reduced offer.
Literally left everything for our FTBs including a bespoke L shape leather sofa, all white goods in the utility and furniture in the conservatory! All curtains, blinds a bed base too.
Sounds like you’ve been unlucky.

YABU. Currently it is their house and they make take what they wish with them. You should have based your offer on the bricks and mortar and that's it. I've just exchanged on my house and I'm taking my curtain poles (all antique and it's taken years to collect them) and a light fitting. I'm only leaving the rest of the light fittings because I have no need for them in my new house. The last house I sold I also took every light fitting as they were either Laura Ashley or Christopher Wray and I was going to a house with white plastic ceiling flexes. Why on earth wouldn't I take what I already owned with me? The vendor of my new home is taking the integrated fridge with him and it would never enter my head to complain as it is his and he can do with it what he wants!

We found out from the paper work. One item was mentioned when we looked round, which we would have removed anyway, so we thought nothing of it. I thought it was relatively safe to assume that custom fitted shelving would be left.

We will be leaving curtains, light fittings and shelving for our buyers, as it would not suit or fit into our onward purchase. We’ve also said they can have the washing line, etc as it just seemed like a reasonable thing to do.

I’d try and negotiate with them on the custom shelves and dressing room, they may only be taking them assuming you wouldn’t want them. I’ve always taken light fittings - mine are expensive, and I like them, and I also wouldn’t assume the ones like my Seletti monkey chandelier were to everyone’s taste - and would take curtain poles and curtains if they fitted my onward purchase. Wouldn’t expect sellers to leave theirs unless they were cheap. They’re decor rather than fixtures.

This.

Thanks @ComtesseDeSpair I think it’s the fact everything is going is what surprised us.

We will go back to the solicitor and ask if there is any possibility of a few of the items being left, along with checking about a few things not mentioned in the paperwork too.

When I moved in here, the seller left the light fittings but had taken all the light bulbs. We didn't realise until it started to get dark, turned the light on and nothing happened!

Luckily we found this out shortly before B&Q closed so I was able to dash over and buy a load of bulbs.

The people we bought our house off took the blind from the living room with them. It matched the rest of the house and we were unable to find a company that could match the design of the blind so we have a different style blind in the front room from the rest of the house. They took all curtains and curtain poles which I didn’t mind but the blind pissed me off. They also took the insert from the cutlery drawer

@Ehcphelpbeep @TheSnootiestFox thanks for your insight. We are only moving into our second home, so have very little experience. Probably quite naive but we were working on the basis that if it was made to fit a certain space in a room then it would be staying. Made to measure rails and shelving were our main surprise. I accept that curtain rails and light fittings are more likely to be taken when moving house, but again I was just surprised they were taking all of the light fittings and all of the blinds/curtains

@YorkshirePuddingsGreatestFan that sounds like a nightmare! I’m sure I read somewhere you have to leave lightbulbs 🙈 but I will be making sure we have some to hand. DH actually changed one in DS’s room the other day which gave us all giggle as it was from Woolworths!

If light fittings are being taken then they will have to replace them with a standard ceiling rose, flex and bulb. I would be asking that they use an electrician to do this via my solicitor.

Some people take curtain poles and curtains if they fit their new house and some don’t. There’s no hard and fast rule on this one.

Built in shelves/wardrobes are considered fixtures and should be left with the property. Speak to your solicitor for advice on the fixtures they plan to take.

It depends though. For example, about 6 months before I decided to sell my house I had some made to measure blinds made for my kitchen in a quite distinctive Emma Bridgewater design. Why would I leave those when a, they were expensive, b, they are new and c, they are clearly to the taste of a middle aged EB collector and the person buying my house is a young single man in his late 20s? Even if I left them they wouldn't be to his taste so if I can't make them fit my new house then I'll sell them to someone who likes them! Perhaps they want to recreate what they have currently and can use the shelves and rails to do so in their new home?

Why don’t you offer the vendor money for anything you want to keep? Lighting fixtures are rarely included, the legal requirement is a flex. Usually the fixtures & fittings report says what is going / staying and there is a price beside items the buyer may purchase from the vendor. Curtains and blinds are not considered a fixture or a fitting.

How much to 'make good'

How much do you want the house, how big is the chain, and how far into the proocessare you?

I was dismayed to find that the people who sold me my house had removed even the loo roll holders in the bathrooms. Also things like the handle to get in and out of the bath.

Gosh people are strange aren’t they? Yes I’d definitely speak to your solicitor. Especially with regards to the functionality of the rooms. Also it will look a mess once they’ve removed it all.

Our lovely sellers left loads of things - a Smeg fridge, outdoor furniture, blinds and curtains. I do think you’ve been unlucky.

I had this once and I said they had to make good on any fitting removed ie fill in holes, paint walls, put up new flex wires etc. I just felt if they were really that attached, then best they take it. Strangely when it came to it, they didn't remove half of what they had stated. Apparently ran out of time.

Some people really are that wanky.
Its not like their old curtain tracks are going to fit in their new place either unless it has the exact same measurements, which is highly unlikely.
My nan exchanged a social flat, her 3 bed house in the countryside for a 2 bed flat in a city. The outgoing tenants took everything, right down to the light bulbs. When she moved was a Sunday during December. All the shops were closed and she spent her first night in her new home sitting in the pitch black!

why would anyone take lightbulbs?

The fuckers that sold my brother his house did this. They left him with cut wires from the ceilings everywhere as they’d taken not only the bulbs but the light fixtures too. They also moved the toilet from the wall so it leaked everywhere. Honestly if I met them now I’d punch them. Absolute crooks.

There's nothing 'wanky' about taking some very expensive items that you already possess to another house. What a revolting phrase! As I said before, my curtain poles are antique. The one I'm taking from my sitting room came from my local church and my mum was given it by the then Church warden who knew she liked her antiques and mum then donated to the church. So a, it's beautiful, highly ornate and irreplaceable, b, has sentimental value as both my mum and the fabulous lady that gave it to her have died now, and c, my new windows are slightly smaller so it can be cut down. Why would I leave that for someone else who may not even like it? Light bulbs are in a different league admittedly but it's the people being left Smeg fridges etc that are unusual, not people like us who like the things we own and want to take them with us!

There's nothing 'wanky' about taking some very expensive items that you already possess to another house. What a revolting phrase! As I said before, my curtain poles are antique. The one I'm taking from my sitting room came from my local church and my mum was given it by the then Church warden who knew she liked her antiques and mum then donated to the church. So a, it's beautiful, highly ornate and irreplaceable, b, has sentimental value as both my mum and the fabulous lady that gave it to her have died now, and c, my new windows are slightly smaller so it can be cut down. Why would I leave that for someone else who may not even like it? Light bulbs are in a different league admittedly but it's the people being left Smeg fridges etc that are unusual, not people like us who like the things we own and want to take them with us!