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?

All totally irrelevant. OP was clear that they’ve made an offer and are proceeding. They are at the stage where the vendor is required to list what they are leaving and what they are taking. They’re nowhere near contract stage. The only comeback they have is if the vendor takes something they have stated they are leaving, or fail to make good/replace the items they are taking with suitable replacements.

The vendors post clouds the waters, they say the OP is planning extensive works and wanted to keep the rads to save them from the skip. Neither the OP or the vendor have been back.

Just bumping the vendors side of things, they explain the thinking from their side here.

I’m with you OP on the radiators. The mirror less so but YANBU.

We moved into a house we’d bought, sellers were a nightmare throughout the process, with non-stop lies about important stuff like building regs (that ended up being put right at our cost). It was over priced and we paid full price as we were desperate - wanted a house in a very specific area and I was heavily pregnant. On moving in day we discovered that all bar 3 lightbulbs in the house didn’t work - they’d obviously saved up blown lightbulbs and replaced them!!! Utterly filthy house too.

Yeah that's weird. If they were planning in taking certain aspects then they shoukd have made that very clear earlier in. I'd offer less money now as you're going to have to replace it all.

Again, offers are not legally binding.

Until exchange both buyer and seller can walk away for any reason, or even for no reason at all.

So talk of "no case" and "all she can do" are meaningless. If the buyer no longer feels the agreed price is justified, even if it's because of her mistake, she can absolutely say she's not prepared to pay that price now and offer a lower price. The seller can then decide whether to accept that, walk away herself, or try and negotiate between the two.

So while the buyer cannot force the seller to leave the rads if the seller does not want to, also she is also absolutely not obliged to continue the purchase at the original, or indeed at any, price.

The seller cannot force the buyer to proceed at the agreed price unless contracts have been signed and exchanged.

Are they taking the bricks and windows also?

I know all of this. The point is that they have only just received the form on which the vendor has stated what they’re taking and what they’re leaving, and this is an entirely normal part of the process. If she’s not happy she can indeed walk away, as can the vendor if she lowers the offer based on the removal of these items. What should have happened was that OP should have clarified before they made the offer instead of assuming it was sold as seen. If she wants the house she’s going to have to decide what’s more important and make sure the replacements are properly installed and that the vendor makes good any damage incurred in the process.

This is helpful - I would discuss this with your solicitor.

@perfectpotato you just state your offer was accepted did you knock something off ?
Does it look like a house that was done up to sell they could use the items on next house.
You could ask how much for items to be left.

Based on the fact that OP is irked/surprised enough to have created a post and has stated that it was during the legal process that this was announced how is it obvious she was told this at the viewing? Are you the tight bastard taking the radiators?

OP has gone a bit quiet since yesterday and now we have a self-identified ‘vendor’ in the mix.

Calm down everyone, sit back and munch on the popcorn….

They're taking the radiators? That's not normal. I'd have a chat with your solicitor to see what the crack is.

We bought a house years ago which had a beautiful, really gorgeous, wooden kitchen floor. When we collected the keys we discovered the sellers had taken the lock from the front door. I kid you not. Oh and the beautiful wooden kitchen floor had disappeared and cheap vinyl was down. We were staggered! Solicitor was a bit stunned too! 🤣

Bit strange taking radiators, I assume they were particularly expensive or they really like them enough to take them which is a faff to be honest.

The first few comments on this thread haha, who the fuck takes radiators. I'd really really argue that because they are absolute piss takers.

I'd reduce my offer they can't take the radiators that's ridiculous

It obvious they WEREN'T told at viewing or they wouldn't be posting.

I think in 2 years of viewing house, probably viewed a hundred I spoke to a home owner ONCE. The rest where all done by in field EA who just show up where they are sent and often know nothing about the house and only saw it 5 minutes before you showed up.

None ever stated something specifically DIDN'T come with the house, some even said I would have to query through solicitors if it will even be empty or I would have to house clear it (mainly probate or repos though).

I was irritated that the one owner we met (first house we viewed as well) wandered round listing random shit she was expecting to be leaving as she was 'downsizing'. She was like 'I love this table, will be sad to leave it'... sorry I dont want your MASSIVE 12 seater hosting table, I'm not opening a restaurant.

Really they should have said they were taking radiators when you viewed but light fittings etc they don't have to say unless you specifically ask about them.
Similar happened to me, they charged extra for garden shed, light fittings curtain rails and tie backs that were fit to the wall. I paid full asking price as well plus 300.00 on top for fixtures and fittings. (Shed, 2 curtain poles and 2 sets of tie backs plus light fittings) I wasn't amused but my fault for not asking. I would query about radiators though as if they change them after your survey has been done, what if they don't work?

Totally agree, however our sellers did take items that were not initially listed.

Because they made an offer on the basis of what was shown to them when they viewed the property.

OP, if it wasn't mentioned that they were taking these things prior to the offer then make a revised offer (reduced by whatever you think the value of those items is to you).

As opposed have stated you are buying the house, not three radiators etc. It's their right to do that, not your right they leave them for you...Some people think they are very entitled, you're not...

No, the (alleged) vendor has appeared on the thread elsewhere though. Look for no18currentowner
Personally, I’d pull out, anyone who is prepared to go to the trouble of removing radiators and didn’t mention it upfront, i.e. before a buyer puts in an offer based on the existing fixtures is likely to lead to more grief.

I wonder if they have the old radiators that were taken out and intend putting those back in, but if In the advert for the house it showed the new radiators I'd say we need to reduce our offer if radiators are being taken. I think I'd price them and see how much to have that sort installed plus were they all through the house or just in a certain room.

When I moved into my first house the sellers had dug up and taken every single plant from the garden!