Does anyone know if solar panels can be classed as 'fixtures&fittings'?

[Fortress]

We really want to buy a house that's on for a price range of 250k-275k we've already offered 255k and 257k (it needs lots of work) and the vendors have rejected those offers. They want to hold out for 265k even though they'll be repossessed in 40 days! They had a previous offer of 249.500k too because of the stamp duty.

We really want to secure it as we're completing next week and I'm 30 weeks pregnant! Ahhh

Many tia

I was told that F&F were considered items that you wouldn't take with you when you move house - ie, fitted kitchen, radiators etc. I would class solar panels as F&F. Good luck - it's very stressful, isn't it?

Oo that sounds hopeful, thanks AP!

It's so stressful couldn't sleep at all last night! Will get in contact with our solicitor.

I would say F&F as you could take them away, but are you talking solar PV or thermal PV? A new solar PV array should cost no more than £10k and the panel component of thermal PV only around £2k. If the set-up is a few years old the value could be a bit less.. so might not help much to bridge the gap

Hi Oricella, they're solar panels that heat up the hot water, I'm guessing a few years old.
Can't get through to our solicitor yet. Stamp duty doesn't seem clear cut. Maybe we could offer 249.950k and add 10k on for the solar panels. Think they still unrealistically want 15k though.
If they get no other offers in 40 days their building society will buy it from them for 250k and they'll walk away with nothing...
They're playing a risky game!

Solar panels to heat hot water are part of the heating system and would not normally be considered to be F&F, unless you would consider a boiler F&F?

Thanks for all the replies. My solicitor has confirmed that the solar panels would not be a 'fixture & fitting'. Incase anyone else needs to know!

Are they considered part of the building then, or do you mean they are considered things that the vendor could take with them?

If it gets repossessed and sold at a cheap price, the vendors will still owe the difference between the selling price and their outstanding mortgage, will they not? In which case it seems mad to reject your offer. Have you asked them straight how much they're looking for?

Hi AP, apparently they're classed as part of the building? Because they're attached.
They want 265k but obviously with stamp duty that's more. What I know is if they don't accept an offer by 40 days their mortgage will serve them notice and take it for 250k this will give them nothing as they've mortgaged themselves up to that amount. They want the extra 15k as a sort of nest egg.
Spoke to their EA today, they've got 4 viewings booked for tomorrow and a couple for Saturday. Just hoping that no one else offers...! The EA said that next week they really would need to make a descision i.e accept our offer, or hang on for a cash buyer I suppose?!

Would really like to secure it! Feel likes it's cat and mouse!