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?

I would be really pissed off about the radiators! And I would challenge that with the estate agents, I have never known it be a thing to do that. Additionally someone has posted an article where it says that these things are fittings and actually the removal could damage things whereas you’ll surely be expecting the house to be in the condition you purchased it. Are the sellers confident the replacement radiators will fit exactly or just botched in? Same with the lights, will the walls need repainting etc? This should surely have been written in the advert so potential buyers were aware.

Bit on the mean side to be taking radiators off the wall 😬

Or she could ask how much extra they would cost if they left them. The problem is that houses are not sold as seen. Until you get the property forms as the sale proceeds you have no idea what’s being left and what’s not, so the best option is to ask. I’ve sold a lot in the last twenty years and twice I’ve come across radiators being taken and replaced with standard ones because they were expensive and the vendors didn’t want to shell out again. They’re not fixtures, they’re fittings.

It's pointless, and in some cases actively unhelpful, to share AI generated guff. If you don't know the answer yourself then why post. Anyone can do an AI search (although they'd be wise not to given how dodgy the results currently are)

As far as I’m aware they can’t take lights and just leave bare wires, so they would have to replace with standard plastic fittings and light bulbs.

That's what the fuxtures and fittings list is for.

Agree. I pointed this out upthread and was flamed a bit for it. I’ve enough recent experience to know that you don’t just assume that things are being left - you wait for the paperwork and sort it out via your solicitor.

If they didn't state in the legal paperwork that they were taking these things, they have NO right!! I bought a house and the seller wanted the microwave a month later 🙄

I just saw the vendor has replied yesterday. Fair play to them for laying out their position, and I understand why they would want to have this go through solicitors rather than on a forum and that’s obviously how it will have to get resolved. However, perhaps they shouldn’t have posted on here at all if they didn’t want anyone else’s opinion on what they have written!

Unfortunately, just because they’ve seen other items in the skip from houses they’ve sold, doesn’t mean the purchaser wasn’t planning on keeping a lot of the fixtures and fittings. The vendor says the radiators were ‘gifted’? That’s seems such an odd thing to write tbh. Surely if you were in communication with the purchaser you could have just asked them if they were planning on keeping the radiators or not? Or if you wanted to minimise contact then I appreciate you could view the property information form as your way of asking them? However, it really does seem odd to remove them. Light fittings and the mirror are things that could be discussed, but I’ve never ever seen anyone take radiators. It really does sound like this is actually all about money and not being happy with the offer you’ve accepted (hence mentioning really irrelevant things like having the boiler flushed - I would guess you did this for previous tenants, and have since decided to sell?)

Oh no! I’ve fallen foul of not RTFT. Sorry for being so moody. I still read that as not at viewing but after. Alleged seller is reasonable there in a way and their post is definitely reasonable but should have said from the outset (if they didn’t).

Column radiators are expensive! Don’t blame them at all

But where does it end? I have expensive worktops - should I remove them if I sell?

and to be fair - column radiators aren’t that expensive for a nice feature. I have a few in my house. I wouldn’t dream of taking them out if it sold - but I understand they make the rooms look much better and that would be reflected in the price and the attractive of my home.

thinking check about are fitted blinds etc. wouldn’t occur to me that someone would take the radiators! As I said before, the seller knew they made the house look better which is why she left them in situ for the photos and viewings.

feels like a bait and switch

It would however have been far more reasonable to have made it clear that you weren’t leaving the rads at the beginning of the discussion. 1) because it impacts on the process OP might want to pay and 2) because it would have highlighted to OP that she’s dealing with someone who operates outside of the norms

That seems to be the kernel of the whole thing doesn't it, @DancingNotDrowning

Nobody disputes that a vendor can take whatever they want providing it's itemised correctly on the relevant forms, but to spring unexpected things like this once the process is well underway - and when the buyer's offered on the basis of things which can reasonably be expected to be left - looks shabby at best

If that were the case nobody would be asked to complete the F&F form.

Will they make sure the heating system is in good working order … blessing the radiators etc.

It def wasn’t and not sure that’s a thing in Scotland I’ve sold three houses and never filled one of those in.

If it’s listed on the brochure, then it’s included in the sale. Speak to the agent,before asking your solicitor, it’s cheaper if THEY can sort it out for you. You can renominate the price on that basis. Otherwise, definitely speak to your solicitor, just remember that you pay them per letter/ per them minutes of work, or however they are billing you, so watch that the cost doesn’t escalate past replacement value.

@perfectpotato regards the radiators I would threaten to pull out. Wouldn't be bothered about the light fittings.

I’d be annoyed about the radiators. I think that’s cheeky and that will be worth quite a lot of money actually. I’d say consider pulling out or at least say you’re considering it due to the radiators… the rest I think is fine. If I bought a property with period features, I’d expect to be buying the period features! x

WoW, I love a claw foot tub. But holy shit!
I would never think of destroying an essential part of a house. Can you imagine all fixure taken away. What's next? Digging up the patio, digging up trees, removing railing? Rediculous

Unless things have changed since we bought our house (some time ago, admittedly), I would have thought that anything fixed and fitted comes under fixtures and fittings and should remain? I can understand your annoyance.
Surely, it’s going to cost them to replace the existing radiators and light fittings with different ones, or are they planning to leave you completely without any? That can’t be right, surely, but if that’s the case, then, if you can, pull out and leave them high and dry - it would serve them right.

I would just call their estate agents and tell them im no longer interested in the property and wouldnt even give them a reason, their loss. Its very underhanded.

I would not expect radiators to be taken - that’s a massive expense and also a basic fixture of the house. It’s like taking the original fireplaces! Obviously radiators like that give a certain vibe to a property that is massive selling point. Not to mention the cost of resourcing and reinstalling like for like.

I would think that light fixtures are somewhere in between…I would definitely be taking my pendant and chandelier fixtures as they were expensive designer items and I consider them furniture/furnishings that I have selected to match my decoration, rather than fixtures.

Every time I have bought or sold a house I have left/been left the bathroom mirror for one reason or another - however I would not be miffed if the mirror was taken as I usually take all the other mirrors in my home when I move.

so YABU for the radiators. Other stuff meh, won’t be that expensive or faffy to replace. I’d tell my solicitor I am not happy with the radiators and not worry about the rest. If it bothers you that much ask for a reduction in price to cover the cost of replacing radiators like for like.

The whole point of the F&F form being provided before exchange is to clarify what is being left and taken so that buyer can if necessary revise their offer based on this information.

If it wasn't part of the negotiation they could just list it at the end of the contract so the buyer knows what to check for when they move in.

ask your solicitor. if it wasnt made clear these items which are fixed to the property were not included then they have to leave them i think. thats why theyre called fixtures. speak to your solicitor. check property on the day, before the contracts are exchanged.