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?

You’re usually buying the heating system as well 😊

light fixtures are theire. Just have to leave light bulbs. Radiators and the mirror- hope the wall is made good

The sellers are also risking losing the sale by altering what is being sold after the price has been agreed.

They sound like the kind of people that don’t want somebody else to benefit from what they perceive as money they spent. They’ve probably got nowhere to put the radiators or the light fixtures but are going to take them anyway. It’s not a good sign.

Radiators is so strange and I can’t see that that would go well. May be issues which are mainly cosmetic, but also may not function as well. Push back hard on that.

I would bet a lot of money on them being the kind of people that take the lightbulbs 😆

I agree that this is unusual. Perfectly normal to take white goods, curtains, plant pots etc. But taking the radiators is definitely not normal. What next? Why not just roll up the carpets and take them too?

Definitely speak to your solicitor.

They aren't altering what is sold though. They are selling the house and telling the buyers which fixtures and fittings they are taking, which is their right. But yes, the buyers are free to pull out any time until exchange of contracts.

My apologies, I’ve just checked our TA10 and you’re completely right! I don’t remember these being on at all! I mean, who takes the loft insulation with them? *starts itching at the thought

You could argue that the central heating Is part of the house, but until it’s sold if they change the rads there’s not a lot you can do. That said, the cost of actually getting a plumber in to drain down the system, fit, install and balance new rads, as well as power flush the system (which is recommended when you change) is going to be near £1,500. It seems ridiculous but if they really love those rads…that said, as per a PP, I’d ask them to take the cost off that they were going to spend to change the radiators and let you use that budget to just buy the ones you want. If they only offer you the cost of the radiators (£80-£100/radiator) then yes they’re being unreasonable because it costs more than just the parts.

And the loo roll holders, towel rings, door handles, curtain poles, door knockers. The cheeky feckers.

Radiators would piss me off because of the installation cost and aggravation of getting new ones installed more than anything. Light fittings I can understand and would offer them extra to keep. Bluetooth Mirror… to be expected.

This is the point of the fixtures and fittings form - as least they’ve been up front about what they want to take. Now you can negotiate … either a price reduction or offer them money for the items you’d like to stay, like the radiators. I wouldn’t get upset about sellers negotiating tactics that’s just how selling is in England.

As others have said, If they are wanting to take out existing Rads, and replace my response would be that any associated damage needs to be made good, any damage to walls, decor, flooring etc, as well as system tested and certificated and state exchange will not happen until you have inspected the property.

@perfectpotato My sellers took a bathroom mirror and left a massive hole in the wall, took TV brackets and left massive holes again but what really took the biscuit was the rails in the fitted wardrobe.

I’d ask the date that the radiators are being replaced and say you want to inspect the standard of the work prior to moving any further along with the process.

People get attached to weird things!

We've got custom built in storage based on some reclaimed doors that we love. Literally, we bought the doors first and built the storage around them. They are unique, great quality and have an interesting history.

But we realise that's not going to necessarily be to many people's taste, so when we sell, we will ask the buyers if the doors are something they care about. If not we'll take the vintage doors and replace with something basic and serviceable or with nothing, whichever the buyer prefers.

We are happy to let them go with the house if the buyer geninely likes them, but if not we'd rather keep them than have the next owner just skip them.

Id ask them to put right any painting where the fixtures and fittings come away from, and you'll want to inspect

So a house with cheap radiators, holes in the walls and gaps in the decoration is “the same” as a house with expensive ones and no decorative problems. How can that be?

Im a petty person and would just pull out.
God knows what you would walk into on completion day if they are planning on taking the radiators! Who even does that!

Why not just roll up the carpets and take them too?

back in the 1980s/1990s that was very common, or the vendor would offer to purchase the carpets

Was this mentioned to you ? The radiators are fixed items and if they change them now after you make a offer I would expect to be compensated for it .

YANBU - they are fixtures, not fittings.

The rule is, if you turned the house upside down, anything that wouldn't move is a fixture, and therefore is part of the house.

I'd be negotiating a discount if I were you - cheeky fuckers.

Definitely not normal to take radiators. Id definitely challenge that. What does the estate agents particulars say about the other things?

This is an excellent point.