They're taking the curtain poles and fitted units. Is this normal?

[ThePurpleCarrot]

We're buying our first house and I've just received the property information form. I'm shocked that it says the sellers are taking their curtains rails/poles/pelmets.

It says they are also taking their fitted units from bedrooms, hallway, living room, dining room.

Are we dealing with difficult people or is this normal behaviour in London area?

ThePurpleCarrot - have you decided what to do?

Yes, OP, what have you decided?

Like Echt we have been lucky, we bought privately once (pushed leaflets through doors of the street we liked and found a retiring couple willing to sell) and they have been absolutely fab.

Our current house had been empty for a long time. We weren't fussed about the state of the rooms as we gutted it anyway. The sellers were nice, too. The garden was maintained until we moved in. We met the sellers on the day we got the keys and they told us a lot about the history of the house (they grew up in - they are siblings in their 60s). They sent a card and flowers round on the day after we moved in.
When I read some of the answers here I cannot believe how lucky we were.

The fitted unit thing will depend to a certain extent on whether its actually built in or just bolted to the wall. For example in DS' room there is a chest of drawers, a bunk bed and two book/ toy cases all fastened to the wall. I'd still take them if I moved.

A lot if people have flat screen TVs which are screwed to the wall, it doesn't make them a fixture which should be part if a house sale!

I would be annoyed about removing units which are actually built in to the house, but everything else wouldn't worry me at all but it seems a silly excuse to pull out.

Mmm the tv fitted to the wall thing is going to become more and more of an issue... Great big holes for a tv support, right in the middle of a feature wall, and I bet no one will make-good, or even think of it til they take it off the wall. One to remember!

18 years ago, when we left dh's flat just after we got married, we asked if the buyers wanted the (free-standing) gas cooker - no charge. They said no. This was a bit of a pain, as it meant we had to pay to get the gas board in to take it away and then shut the gas main off properly, but we did it nonetheless.
A week after moving, we got a very shirty letter from their solicitor demanding that the gas cooker be returned forthwith and the gas main re-connected at our expense.
Told them not very politely to shove it and fortunately the estate agent could verify the exchange where we offered the cooker and their refusal of it.

Thanks for the support everyone. I've just found out that they are also taking all the light fittings. I got the list emailed through to me and the I couldn't make it out clearly. I've now managed to download the original form from the internet. It's all just kind of taken the wind out of us that people are so unreasonable.

We're still considering what to do.

Are they leaving any light fitments or just taping the live wires up?

Sounds like a major piss take, repo properties I'd expect this but not a straightforward sale.

I'd certainly let the agent know you're thinking of pulling out - gives the vendors a chance to re-think...

I reckon that they want you to offer to buy them.......

Our sellers were lovely, I have carpets, curtains, cushions, light shades, even the free standing fridge.

We were VERY lucky.

I'd threaten to pull out, most of the stuff will be useless at any other house...

If they take the light fittings (which they are perfectly entitled to do) they need to replace ceiling lights with a basic cable-and-bulb-holder fitting.

It's just leaves a bad taste in the mouth doesn't it. An experience that is stressful enough anyway which if everyone was just decent, would be much better for anyone.

Fluffycloud - I don't know all it says on the form is that light fittings are to be excluded from the sale in all rooms and landings. They're the type that are going to take lightbulbs too aren't they.

Yep, and the light switches.

Would you consider a newbuild?

Fluffycloud - no, wouldn't consider a new build.

It says they are taking the "telephone receiver". What is that?

I'm moving...and taking stuff from the garden . I'm a keen gardener, and its taking me years to get some of those plants going, not to say the cost...

However, am leaving all curtains, carpets, fitted cupboards, lampshades, bulbs, locks, oven, bath loo and sink. Who the hell takes fitted cupboards, cba to move them

Yes, it's in my contract. Tbh, I'm more concerned abut my plants than the house stuff. My overriding concern is getting them replanted and settled. The rest can look after itself....

OP you really need to get over the whole people must do as I would or they can't be decent! The sole reason this form exists is because it is normal to take some of these things with you.
I am just about to buy again for the 4th or 5th time. I want my vendor to take all of these things. I want all the curtains, poles, light fittings and carpet gone. They are not to my taste and it will cost me time and money to get rid.

Yes, I agree with Daisy. Your vendors are being very straight with you by saying what they want to take. I think it would be reasonable though- if they are taking things which are truly fitted, which normally would be included- to negotiate a price reduction- talk to your solicitor.

Purple - why have you still not discussed this with the vendor? Being reasonable and decent in a house sale/purchase is a two way process.

Weh I view a house I always assume that fitted cabinets such as kitchen and wardrobes (i.e.. built in, not just screwed on, like a bathroom cabinet might be) will be included, and that anything else (curtains, curtain poles, bathroom cabinets, mirrors and light fittings) will probably not be included. If they have anything I'd particularly like to keep then I will factor that into my offer, and so first offer might be a bit low, and my second offer will go up a few thousand on the understanding that they agree to leave all the light fittings or curtains or whatever - but only if I like them and want them.

When you read the estate agents details they will usually mention things that will stay, as they are considered permanent features that are selling points (fitted wardrobes for example.) So unless they make specific mention of something and say 'this room comes with fabulous chandelier' then always assume these things are not included but may be up for negotiation.

The point about fitted wardrobes and kitchens, and fitted carpets etc is that they are rarely of use in another house as they have been tailor-made to fit a certain space, and won't come apart and go back together terribly well in a different space.

Light fittings (and quite often curtains and curtain poles) are a totally different matter - they can usually be made to work anywhere, so if people can use them then they will.

I'd have said it's all about give and take, and telling people exactly what will stay and what will go. Ripping out fitted units sounds bizarre to me, as others have said - they're fitted for a reason: that's where they belong and they're measured for the space!

When we moved into our house in London, the owners (or someone on their behalf, it had been let out for a few years to a nutter a slightly strange woman) ripped out the central light fitting. Literally ripped out. Leaving a hole and live wires dangling

In our next house, the owners tried to make us buy their range cooker for £1500, which was almost the full price of a new one. It wasn't new. So we said no, they could take it with them, we'd get our own cooker. They then backed down and left it. They were moving into somewhere rented; they'd just hoped to foist it onto us at an inflated price to get extra ££.