Fixture & Fittings form - vacating home before sale completion advise!

[BellaLDN]

We are handing over the keys to my flat tomorrow to the new buyers.

Said buyers started off nice, then dragged things out, lied about their finances and the time frame it would take. To the point we were bent over a barrel so to speak. Had two buyers waiting to be second or third in line should the first buyer not adhere to the time frame agreed, price etc etc. They manoeuvred the whole sale to suit them and called all the shots AND then demanded 5k off the price this week, days away from our simultaneous exchange and completion day knowing full well it would break our chain and get us into hot water all round. And here I am wishing I didn’t go with the originally nice seeming nice couple who fell in love with the flat who seemed so decent to begin with and went with the slightly rude but straight to the point cash buyer property developer in the queue behind them!
Anyways being the decent human I expect most to be I included all made to measure blinds etc in fixture and fittings form. Things friends are telling me now that they would have taken. Well, it’s too late for that. But there is a lovely made to measure radiator cover which set me back a good 170£ which isn’t mentioned in fixture and fittings form. It’s freestanding, not bolted to the wall. And I’m not feeling very inclined to leave it as I can make use of it in new home. Behind is a rather ugly prehistoric radiator and let’s just say they’ll need to replace the radiator cover to match in with the Uber modern flat I lovingly created to sell. Everyone is saying if it’s not stated on fixture and fittings form like carpets blinds appliances etc were, then to take it?
My partner is ready to snip the cords in the Venetian blinds. It’s petty but we both feel the pain of what they’ve done and I feel him. It will make us feel less of the mugs we have been all through this god damn long drawn out sale. I mean who’s to tell the blinds were fully working when they viewed? They were in the flat all 10 minutes. I’m on the fence about the blinds :D but I do love our lovingly painted radiator cover ill only have to shell out for another in our new place.
All very petty but wondering where we stand on this if not in fixture and fittings form. God, I’d love to plant rotting fish beneath the floorboards for what they’ve done but instead I’ll have to refrain!!

Take it. It isn’t on the list, it doesn’t belong to them.

I'd take the blinds too. Any post on here about crap being left in houses, stuff being on the F&F form and not being left behind etc will tell you that most solicitor's will say to buyers finding themselves in that situation it isn't worth pursuing and to just forget about it.

Fingers crossed for you that they don't drop their offer again on exchange day. I wouldn't put it past them from what they've said.

"From what you've said", that should read!

Okay thanks. It’s my first sale so I was hesitant. It seems there’s a loophole in every step of this whole process I didn’t want to have to drive back 5 hours with taken items or risk being chased for them and they’re cost later and all that stress. Tomorrow is hopefully the end to what has been the worst experience of my life. Will run it by my solicitor in morning, even though she rarely gives her opinion. Exchange/completion is tomorrow. I’ll get her to mention to buyers the blinds were packed off in removal van by accident and broken anyway or just not mention at all.
I know they won’t risk price decrease again as tomorrow they’ll be without a home to move into and already moved out of theirs and apparently love this flat so much. Pffft. They’ll likely regret it like I did the day I bought this god forsaken flat anyways after a few weeks, communal building has its own issues, parking a nightmare and the noise in the evenings due to local hotels is something nooone ever realised until later. A little bit of karma for them.

Just take it all!
Serves them right!!

not on the list, it goes.

and next time dont do same day exchange and complete, it is so much extra stress and just asking to be pissed about.

If the radiator cover is not glued or screwed to wall then probably counted as a fitting and you could take it.

But if blinds are on the Fittings and Contents List then that’s part of the sale Contact and would need to be left. Up to you if you want to take it, and if they want to dispute it then you might receive a letter from the Solicitor. If they don’t know your new address then it might be worth taking the risk,as I had similar on a house move and had an abusive angry man knocking on my door demanding things back!!

I’ve purposely set up postal redirection to new address. Only Royal Mail know that. I doubt and due to privacy policies these days, that is obtainable Ipsy anyone without our say so. And said we’re relocating to the Middle East - and will update postal address in due course. Obviously a white lie.