Poorly fitted kitchen - find out on day of moving in

[HexBramble]

DD moved into her first home today.
Previous owners put in new kitchen, new bathroom. House is really, really lovely.

Washing machine arrived, and DD had paid extra for the delivery men to also plumb it up. Turns out the new pipe work behind the spit where machine should go isn't UK compliant - nice delivery chaps said that they are millimetres out, but that it can't be plumbed in. So they need a plumber.

When it came to putting the machine into place (just for now, to clear the kitchen) , it wouldn't fit. Turns out the newly tiled floor isn't even and one of the new cupboards at the side isn't sitting straight.

Then, when washing up our mugs, water started pouring out of the pipe work underneath the sink.

Fridge arrived later on. Slotted into place nicely. But, no room for the bloody doors to open. She's bought a standard sized fridge and there is only one spot in the kitchen for it to stand.

Where does she stand with this? Is this entirely her problem or can she contact the EA to ask for help?

Thanks.

did the previous owners live there and use a washing machine and fridge?

regarding the water coming out, very often people use those awful plastic hose connectors and when the pipe is taken off there is nothing stopping the water from coming out. If you temp connect the washing machine hose with a jubilee clip if that's whats fitted you at least can use the sink.

The badly leveled floor may be overcome by adjusting the feet on the washing machine. As for the unit that's wonky that should be overcome by slipping it out by removing the bracket screws at worktop or wall. Square it up and level with the adjustable feet if fitted and refit the brackets fixing screws.
Sounds like a complete bodge job but not the end of the world

Can you not overcome the fridge door not opening by fitting fridge door on opposite side~? Most fridges the door is interchangeable left and right fitting. I think it's a problem you have to overcome buyer beware

That connector will be near the waste trap under the sink, it's serrated tube.Unless you want to change it. for what is more generally used whereby the waste water hose from the machine is pushed into a vertical pipe .

Regarding the fridge door not opening, is it the unit doors catching the fridge when opening, if so have you considered the possibility of rehanging the cupboard door to open the other side. I realize that you may have to juggle several doors around in order to get the handles right.Most mass produced kitchens the doors on the units are right left hanging.

www.screwfix.com/p/sink-washing-machine-trap-40mm/12794

Is this it?

roneik, good advice.

Re fridge doors - manual states that a Samsung engineer must do the door switch if the warranty is to remain valid.

Who should pay for this?

if she has bought the place it is all her problem. That is what surveys and checks are for. Sorry.

if it is a rental, get on to the landlord.

some good advice on here - who are you and what have you done with roneik?

Her problem.

She should have checked which way to open the fridge door, and ordered it hung with left side opening. If done at the same time as delivery, it is just £30.

It goes with the territory of home ownership.

If it was John Lewis delivering the washing machine, it is pretty standard that they cant do it, they just cant be arsed, and you have to argue to get your fitting fee refunded, and then you end up with an emergency call out from a plumber. (who most likely will scratch his head and wonder why he has been called out for such a basic simple thing) I am really angry with JL for this.

What a pain but this I'm afraid is down to not measuring correctly.

There is no such thing as a standard sized fridge. If you look online you can get them in many heights and widths.

Bad luck for your daughter though.

I don't think the estate agent will help. Its the responsibility of the buyer to check that everything is in order.

Hex, sorry to say you have to pay , like others have said fridges come in more than one size. If I had been looking at that kitchen I bet I would have measured gap and spotted the unit wonky.They could have left a note to warn you about the waste fitting being open though. I once had a leather settee delivered to a house and they were going to take it back until I told them to take the wooden feet off to get it in the door .Some people do the bare minimum to get paid , so we have to be on our toes when buying or dealing with don't care delivery drivers.By the way I told the driver and his mate that I was going to give them a fiver tip , but they did not deserve it so I would have to spend it myself.

All this is extremely annoying. But if she has bought this house I don't think the EA can do anything about it at all. The only thing I could think of to do is contact the previous owners and find out if the new kitchen and bathroom are under any sort of guarantee.

If I were your daughter I would whether the company she bought the fridge from will let her swap it for one that will fit the gap and allow the door to be opened. It may cost her in extra delivery charges but be worth it in the long run.

Not really relevant to the thread but re John Lewis fitting washing machines - our delivery guys were really helpful and actually fixed a minor plumbing problem for us so that they could fit the machine. Something to do with incorrectly fitted pipe connections.

Can the fridge be returned? Fridge doors are not all the same, my one (a bosch) is hard against a wall but the door is cleverly hinged so it can open without needing a space behind it and all the drawers and shelves can still be taken out with the door just opened against the wall. Previous owners might have had one like this.

Oh dear
The house now belongs to your dd so the problem is all hers
The EA won't be able to do anything.
She needs a plumber to sort out the washer
Houses are bottomless pits

Ah blimey!
Thanks everyone for your posts. I feel gutted for her - but this will be an expensive learning curve for her (and us, clearly).

Her and her partner have at least altered the position of the bottom of the washing machine and used fairly liquid (?!) to 'grease' it into position. Plumber called for tomorrow to sort leak and look at plumbing it in.

Thanks again everyone.

The only Latin I know... caveat emptor

Fairy liquid under heavy appliances stops vinyl from ripping (sometimes) If the adjustable feet have not dug themselves into it