Buyer keeps asking us to go back and collect items

[Saccol]

We completed in my late father in laws bungalow 2 weeks ago. We were contacted as the buyer did not want items we had left ( believing them to be useful ). We duly collected these items as they were not fixed. They then contacted us again 3-4 days later asking us to get rid of more things again spare tiles etc which we again collected and disposed of. They have now asked us to go back again to remove a fixed coal bunker, the fixed shelves and workbench in the garage and a tool storage in the shed. The property is 100 mile round trip for us and whilst we have agreed the other items were not fixtures and fittings we are now becoming exasperated by them wanting us to go yet again and collect. The estate agent agreed they were now taking things too far and that we should block their number and that their solicitor would advise them that this was not something that we should have to do. It’s now two weeks after the sale and by no means is the property vast so they should really have listed all the items when they moved in. Do we have to remove these items as this is becoming very stressful

The buyers are being ridiculous. Block them and leave them too it.

Block them. We had buyers wanting us to pay for a skip to take out the garage workbench that WAS included in the fixtures and fittings list. This was 4 months after completing. They told us they had changed their mind about keeping them. Their prerogative, but they then pay to have it removed 🤷‍♀️

• You should have not left anything in the property, such as spare tiles, without first checking that the buyer would want them there

• The place should have been empty on the day of completion so they were completely right to ask you to come back and dispose of them

• Things like shelves/workbench however are a different issue as you could argue they are fixed items and not up to you to remove them.

Can't you get them to do a definitive or final list of everything they want removed with the agreement that there are no more requests after the agreed final removal date?

I get your thinking that you were being helpful and my sellers left me stuff I still use a decade on, but also frankly junk that I had to tell them to come and get. It's subjective so you need to clarify this between you.

Just to clarify for the people saying we left crap and old tools etc I have now attached photos of how it was left, this will hopefully filter out the posters who are assuming we left random told, fridges and god knows what else.
the ladders and bottles were removed before the sale. The coal bunker is at the back of the side picture.

I’m not sure why you are getting such a hard time. Anything attached to the property ( even by nails) belongs with the property.

The spare tiles were logically something that might have been useful if they match what is in the property.

Thank you this is really helpful. We are really just concerned that they keep asking us to go back numerous times.

But a coal bunker? Who would expect a coal bunker to be removed? It's fixed.

I sold a house early this year. I got a long list of things that had to be done before the seller took possession. This was sent from their solicitor to mine via email, together with my solicitor's response. (Can't remember the wording now,
but they tried to say that I was responsible for the cost of replacing fitted kitchen items if faulty with x amount of time. Response from my solicitor was basically "Nope", but specifically recall the words "as seen" being used.)

I do recall that it said that I had to empty the house, so I removed items that I had thought might be useful. Also checked the loft and discovered some things up there. Nearly broke my damned neck getting them out.

OP would be better contacting the solicitor who did the conveyancing rather than the estate agent, I'm guessing. (Mind you, I'm in Scotland so maybe things are slightly different here.)

Most people would leave cupboards and workbench in the garage and it would be seen as fixtures and fittings. Spare tiles are normal to leave if the tiles are still in the property and we are talking a box or less. I don't think you are being unreasonable to reply anything further is part of fixtures and fittings - after all we don't list kitchen cupboards, shelving in alcove or alcove fixed cupboards, airing cupboard shelves etc. I would also leave small amounts of touch up paint for each room in the current colour schemes.

Ignore the goady posters who know fuck all about property sales, OP. You don’t need to go back now. Block them.

Nope. If this item was fixed to the property the assumption is they are part of it and will remain unless stated as removed on the pre sale fixtures and fittings forms, so if the new owner ants to remove them it’s up to you.

@Saccol , send one last message saying everything you were responsible for has now been dealt with and so you want no further contact then block.

Your TA10 form lays out what is included in the sale and any additional items you may have considered as a benefit to the homeowner should have been listed. Look at the description of the sale made by the estate agent at the time and if the bunker was included or not.

You need the buyer to agree anything additional not listed and they do not need to agree. Refer to your TA10 form.

Don’t go back, you’ve done enough. Block them.

The spare tiles request was particularly ridiculous. Either you're keeping the tiles, in which case spares are very useful, or you're replacing the tiles, in which case one extra box into the skip makes no difference whatsoever.
I also would have left the workbench in the garage, which you said was listed anyway.
Just block. Are they FTB by any chance?

Unless it was listed in the contract, property left behind still belongs to the seller so it’s the sellers duty to dispose. They’re doing nothing wrong by expecting you to deal with your property.

However, in reality, you can refuse to go back so that it’s on them to deal with, which is lazy, selfish and shitty.

Thank you

Have you had experience

OP, you are right about the concreted-in coal bunker. That is clearly fixtures and fittings, as are the attached shelves in the garage.

I had an issue with my last sale. The contract said very clearly that all fuel should be left (heating was oil + log burner) so I did exactly that.

Six weeks later I received a threatening letter from their solicitor demanding that I pay £1270 or they would take me to court to recoup the amount they had paid to have the log shed cleared.

I pointed out the fuel clause, and never heard from them again. Honestly some people will try anything.

Definitely not a coal bunker! Honestly, they’re being twats. I’ve had stuff like tiles left behind in houses I’ve bought - I just got rid of them as part of the renovation, it’s not a big deal. And I would never have asked someone to drive 100 miles to dump them, life really is too short.

Anything that is fixed stays. Anything that is loose gets cleared.

I would block them now.

You usually state what items are being left at the property. So even if it was loose tiles, it should have been listed. If it wasn't then, they were within their rights to ask you to remove the items - something you have now done. However, a coal bunker is usually fixed, as are the other things, no one would expect you to remove these items. That's now the Buyers responsibility. I would go back to your solicitor, and ask them formally to put a stop to this.

Fixtures and fittings are for them to sort out if they don't want them. I left half a pack of floor tiles when we moved in case they had to replace one or two. Block them. Tell the estate agent that you aren't engaging further. They are idiots. Actually they are probably the sort to complain if you didn't leave spare tiles!
And when we moved to our current house the previous had left a few bits and bobs, including logs for the fire. I was fine with that.

I usually see it as what is left is my problem as I own the property now. On the whole been very lucky but last purchase, chap died, sons didn’t live close. I got rid of ALOT of shit 🙄 as for the coal bunker if they wanted it gone they should have asked pre completion. I asked for the sons to remove the greenhouse but they said no. Your buyer seems a bit naive. I’d take your picture of what you left vs what I moved into 😂

You've received your estate agent's advice so follow it 🤷