Angry at house seller?

[perfectpotato]

Had our offer accepted, in the middle of the legal process and we’ve had got the fixtures and fittings form from the vendors.

They are taking with them all the column radiators (will be replacing with basic ones), all light fixtures - they had these beautiful sconce marble light fixtures that they will be taking and they are have a fixed mirror in the bathroom, has Bluetooth and different lighting and they are taking that too.

My partner doesn’t seem bothered but I’m really upset, Aibu?

They shouldn’t have to offer a price for radiators that was there at the viewing, radiators are part of the fixtures. Blinds, curtains etc yes.

I’d be taking £50,000 off the offer price to cover the replaying of everything that’s being removed and also the work and the upheaval and mess that it will cause!!

It is beyond weird and stingy to take radiators with you. YANBU.

I think the problem is that the legal position is no you can’t take them because a house needs radiators and if you do it is your responsibly to replace them

the problem here is of course that they are going to replace them with radiators

it is about having a working central heating system which they are also going to do they are legally obliged to do that but I don’t think they are saying they aren’t

And don’t forget to include making good costs to the decoration, as they won’t be installing radiators exactly the same size, so there will be marks on the wall that need redecoration and potentially issues with the flooring too.

I would just pull out, bet they will soon change their mind.

We viewed a beautiful house and were told the curtains carpets light fittings even fancy door handles were be left for us. Each time we spoke they said one thing after the other was not be left after all. We asked our solicitor to write to theirs and get a list of what was being taken. When the solicitor posted the list to me I could have cried. They were leaving us with four walls. I phoned our solicitor and said we wanted to pull out and he said it was the right decision. One day before exchange. They made all sorts of offers but we felt so cheated

Blinds or curtains, even lights are ok to take with you.
Radiators?!? That’s crazy.
And removing them might well create a hell of a lot of problems too - like damage to the wall/paint/wallpaper.
The bathroom mirror. I can see where they’re coming from. I can also this will mean you’ll likely need to redecorate the bathroom.

The radiators are fixed, part of the house. If they were to be removed you should have been told before the offer was made. What next, they want to take the windows etc. have they got another house lined up where the radiators will fit … a bit unlikely. In the current market it’s a buyers market. “ in view of the incorrect information supplied at the time the offer was made (no mention of…….. being not included in the purchase) a revise offer of £xxxx lower than our previous offer is being made”

The radiators are difficult, to replace with radiators that have the SAME heat output, will mean replumbing, moving of pipes, perhaps to unsightly positions. Also you would need to insist onan insurance backed guarantee for the new plumbing work, should you agree.

its not just the aesthetics, iTs the technical side of things … the wrong replacement radiators might mean a cold house.

@MyHazelOtter who takes carpets and door handles?!?

I agree in theory, but £50k is stretching it a bit….

The mirror is wired into the wall.

My son was advised to remove anything he wanted to take with him on the sell of his property before putting it on the market, so he removed his heated bathroom mirror and lighting system replacing with basic before viewings started.
My sister in law had a fireplace cowl, they told every viewer that it would be going with them when they moved out.
The day of signing contract the buyers threatened to cancel if the cowl didn’t stay.
Refuse to sign unless stuff that is fixed to a wall or ceiling stays.

Op did you ask? At every viewing we asked what fixtures were staying. Then follow up with this in writing and then check the contract before exchange. You must do your own due diligence. There was one property and they were taking out 3 fixtures which made us not make an offer because their house was average without them.

Agree with this. I think if op has knocked money off, that the sellers are kind of getting their own back.

I agree! But that doesn't change the fact that the sellers can take those 'fancy bits' with them as long as they're honest about it. And the buyers can pull out or reduce their offer accordingly. I would be annoyed if it happened to me but I'd have to accept it and decide if I still wanted to go ahead.

When my parents bought their current house (as a young couple with 2 babies), the seller took everything. I mean everything - including all the carpets and every lightbulb.

Yes, really.

Taking radiators is really not on!!! The cost of changing and a plumber fitting all the radiators and rebalancing the heating must be pretty expensive. But essentially If I look round a house that I am buying I expect the heating situation to be the same as when I looked!!! I'd consider radiators as part of the fabric of the house!

The mirror is fine for them to take though.

You seriously ask if the radiators are staying? It would never occur to me to ask such a question.

I really don’t get post like this because every seller has to fill in a home inventory form of what they are leaving and taking.

Yes, it is a massive pain to replace, and I cant imagine why it would not be left - I left my one in my house, would not dreamed of taking it with me.

I recently moved and I was offered several things to buy at a price. Some I accepted, some I didn’t.

I was surprised they had taken the light up bathroom mirrors though (no option to buy those) as now I’m left with holes in the walls and electrical wires sticking out. Luckily I don’t have kids so they shouldn’t present a danger until I can get someone in to wire in some new ones. Normal mirrors I wouldn’t have been surprised at them taking (although bathroom mirrors have always been left in other properties that I have bought in the past, including ones which light up).

Some of the replies on here are crazy. They are supposed to leave anything that wouldn't move if you could pick the house up and turn it upside down. It is normal to assume these are included. The clues should have been in the estate agent's room by room description eg space for a range cooker as opposed to range cooker, space for a washing machine, etc. If these were built in you'd expect them to be included unless the wording in the info makes ot clear they are not part of the sake. Springing it on you at this stage is awful and I'd consider threatening to withdraw.

If they say on the form that they’re taking them…then they’re taking them!

Definitely speak to a solicitor about the radiators. Assume your offer was based on the standard of the fictures. Also removing them to replace with standard radiators will most likely leave holes in the flooring so all flooring will need to be replaced adding an extra unexpected cost. Maybe your solicitor could negotiate a reduction in your offer to account for this which will make the seller change their minds.

The lights and mirror I get though. It is common for these items to be taken. I will be taking my lounge & kitchen lights when I go and replacing with standard bayonet lights. The lounge ones matches my lamp and the kitchen is my unique taste so think they would most likely end up thrown if left anyway due to personal taste