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Original poster

Moved into a new house - fixtures and fittings issue

34 replies

Lejas2503 · 06/10/2015 23:27

Hi Mums,

My husband and I just bought a new family home, after a very very long process. To cut a long story short the sellers were going through a divorce and we gave them all the time (after they accepted our offer) that they needed to sort their personal issues out (10months!) before we completed. Even though they both owned the house, only Mrs was living in the property.

Literally as soon as we got the keys and stepped in the house, Mrs was knocking on the door saying she wanted certain things from the house (curtains, white goods and other household items). She even went knocking to a nearby relatives house as she knew we were staying their in the interim. We were accommodating and agreed that she can collect at a mutually agreeable time (even though she should have removed prior to completion!) A few days later, she turns up at the door saying she wants the goods now and had a van waiting outside. We gave her her stuff thinking it would be the end of it.

Now approx two weeks after completion she has been calling saying that she wants the blinds in the house. We feel that we have been extremely reasonable and gave her opportunity to collect what she wanted from the house, even after we completed. Does anyone know where we stand legally? Do we let her take the blinds? What if next week she wants the lamp shades on the ceiling?

To add aswell, she left a skip on the drive and went rummaging through it on the second night we were there! She hadn't arranged a collection and we had to call the skip hire company instead!

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Cheers

OP posts:
GiddyOnZackHunt · 06/10/2015 23:30

Did you get a copy of the fixtures and fittings list they filled out?

ENtertainmentAppreciated · 06/10/2015 23:31

You need to refer back to the sales particulars and then check what was in the contract for sale that you signed and exchanged.Although arguably two weeks after completion she's pushing her luck anyway.

Fizrim · 06/10/2015 23:32

As Giddy mentioned, check the fixtures and fittings form. That details what should have been left.

Original poster
Lejas2503 · 06/10/2015 23:37

Yes, we have the fixtures and fittings form. We said that we didn't want any of it, but they left everything. I think Mrs was just trying her luck at getting more money. Not to our taste and very dated but since its there it will make do while we set up the new home.

Does she still have a right to these fixtures and fittings they have left even after we have completed?

OP posts:
DingbatsFur · 06/10/2015 23:40

No. I seriously doubt she does. You own the house now.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 06/10/2015 23:45

I think in that case she has no right to them. They were detailed as 'for sale'. You declined to buy. If she wanted them then they should have been removed before completion.
We bought a house where they tried to charge for a gas appliance. We said we didn't want it and requested they supplied evidence it had been removed by a qualified person. It was still there when we moved in.

wowfudge · 07/10/2015 05:40

Anything not removed by the previous owners is now yours, whatever the fixtures and fittings list stated. You've been incredibly accommodating. If she calls again I think her behaviour is tipping over to harrassment and I would ask that she leaves you alone.

lighteningirl · 07/10/2015 07:02

Send her a bill for skip removal

specialsubject · 07/10/2015 10:07

nope, game over at completion. You've already given her more than you had to. If the items are on the F and F form they are part of the sale and are now yours.

tell her to get lost and that if she tries any more of this, you'll get legal.

Original poster
Lejas2503 · 08/10/2015 23:38

Thanks Everyone!

She's just called again.....saying now she wants the carpets too!

I'm going to tell her to go through the solicitors now! Its getting ridiculous!

OP posts:
GiddyOnZackHunt · 08/10/2015 23:49

The carpets? She's lost the plot entirely. Hopefully her solicitor can talk some sense into her.

catkind · 09/10/2015 00:03

Eh no. You can't rock up two weeks later and take things. Though you'd have been within your rights to demand she remove/pay for removal of excess stuff that the contracts said would be removed.

GiddyGiddyGoat · 09/10/2015 00:08

Don't involve solicitors - they will bill you. Tell her calmly and firmly that the house is now yours, that anything she wished to remove should have been taken prior to completion or expressly agreed in advance. Ask her where you should send the bill for the skip removal - that she left on YOUR property.

wowfudge · 09/10/2015 07:03

You have changed the locks haven't you OP? If not, do it as soon as possible. Sounds as though she is phoning you - I would block her number if you can. Tell her that she needs to leave you in peace now as it is no longer her house. Do it politely, firmly and unequivocally. Do not let her into the house.

As I posted earlier on this thread, her behaviour is tipping over to harrassment. I would seriously consider contacting the police on 101 if she tries anything else after you've told her to leave you alone. You don't need a solicitor on this though the one you used for conveyancing may give you some advice over the phone as to the position if you want reassurance.

lighteningirl · 09/10/2015 07:19

What a nut job her behaviour is harassment I would definitely change the locks. Bill her via her solicitors for skip removal note in writing the extra things she has already come back for, state she cannot have any further fixtures or fittings and in writing request that she cease and desist from all further contact with you or you will report her to the police. Avoid your own solicitor as it will cost you and you don't need a solicitor and keep a copy in fact I would send her a copy (recorded delivery) to her home address (if you have one) and the solicitors and her exdh.

wowfudge · 09/10/2015 07:52

Our solicitor gave us some advice over the phone for free when the previous occupants of our house took things they shouldn't have and left a skip's worth of junk in the cellar, garage and garden. I don't think you need to go nuclear yet though.

lalalonglegs · 09/10/2015 08:33

Around here, skips are paid for in advance so just phone the number on the side of the skip and they will remove it.

FishWithABicycle · 09/10/2015 08:49

What cheek! No you do not have to give her anything else. Everything left behind on the day of sale becomes your property.

Change the locks and warn her that you will report her to the police for harassment if she continues.

Original poster
Lejas2503 · 09/10/2015 16:25

Cheers everyone.

My conveyancing solicitor has confirmed that she is not entitled to anything and to not let her in the house (in her message she says that if we wont take the stuff out she will come in and do it).

I think seller is trying her luck at getting more money. She originally didn't agree to the purchase price, so I think her plan is that if we refuse to give the carpets and blinds then she wants to charge us. (She wanted £3k for worn out blinds and carpets in the F&f form!).

If she contacts again, I will firmly say no once and for all! Needless to say locks were changed on day 1!

OP posts:
wowfudge · 09/10/2015 19:02

Make sure you have a copy of that message! My goodness - the sad thing is that her beef is with her ex, not you, when it comes down to it.

specialsubject · 09/10/2015 19:34

very glad to hear locks are changed.

threats to 'come and take' are not good, any advice on that?

jevoudrais · 09/10/2015 20:58

So many people post the threads here and on MSE..! You can see my reply there, I cba to re type Wink

Fizrim · 09/10/2015 23:59

Not everyone on here reads MSE though? I don't!

Marcelinewhyareyousomean · 10/10/2015 00:10

Shock I thought our sellers were outrageous for leaving a loft full if crap and a sofa.

You've been extremely accommodating and she's taking the piss.

Original poster
Lejas2503 · 10/10/2015 01:33

Thanks all for the advice. She has been knocking around again at mine and a relatives house. I'm getting pretty fed up and feeling harassed now. I have sent her a firm message to say we have already accommodated greatly, we will not meet any further requests and for her not to contact me anymore.

She responds saying the she wants 'her belongings ie - the blinds and the carpets' and will call her solicitors. What does she mean 'ie', that implies now that it is much more than just the blinds and carpets!?!

I think my original suspicions are correct - she wants money out of this, as she also said 'the carpets and blinds were not included as you refused to pay the full price'. Yes, I did - but she should have kept her obligation to remove before completion! Now it would be a major upheaval for us.

I have honestly never heard of anything like this before!

OP posts: