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Original poster

Selling our house - what to do about dodgy oven?

32 replies

wejammin · 20/10/2019 13:25

We're in the process of selling and buying, hoping to exchange next week.
Our kitchen is pretty old and dated, in need of new units, floor etc.
There is a big double range electric oven included in the sale, we don't need it as our new kitchen has a built in oven. Our buyers have seen the range so know it looks fairly old and there's a few buttons missing, also the clock doesn't work.
About 12 months ago the fan element stopped working, I called the manufacturer who were no use and couldn't advise anything. I called an oven repair man but his call out fee was unaffordable for me.
The oven still works fine on the non-fan setting, as does the grill and the small side oven.
I've just realised we've not mentioned this to our buyers. They've been quite difficult throughout the process and we're so close to exchange that I don't want to give them any reason to cause more issues, but I've got this niggling guilt that we should tell them.
Should I wait til after exchange? Or just leave a note when we move out? WWYD?

OP posts:
RandomMess · 20/10/2019 13:34

Wouldn't say anything it's an old appliance that needs replacing!

MoonlightBonnet · 20/10/2019 13:36

Is it included in the fixtures and fittings list? If it’s not, just get it taken away. Even if it is, the buyer has no come back over non functioning appliances. It’s just a risk of buying a house in the English system.

minniemoll · 20/10/2019 13:38

I'd say that so long as you haven't specifically told them it's in full working order the onus is on them to have checked it/had it checked. It does still work, if they say anything you just say that you never used the fan anyway....

Kallyderon · 20/10/2019 13:43

It's not on the fixtures and fittings list is it? And no discussion about it until now? Then I'd say it isn't part of the contract. And say nothing. Probably not the nicest thing to do but certainly the most pragmatic especially given that they've been difficult already. You don't want the sale to fall through because of niceness. Presumably they can see the buttons are missing anyway. And if the kitchen is generally in poor condition they have probably factored in getting it replaced if not immediately then as a priority, or have decided that it's not an issue, or, or, or ... Basically it's up to them. I would keep quiet.

mysteryfairy · 20/10/2019 13:44

Personally I’d confess to this one. If you are too short of money to replace the element I’m guessing you are having it professionally cleaned so that is the first thing I’d arrange if I was your buyer and would be so annoying to spend money on a broken appliance.

mysteryfairy · 20/10/2019 13:44

Are not!

RandomMess · 20/10/2019 13:48

It still works it's just the fan that doesn't!

Original poster
wejammin · 20/10/2019 14:28

It's included in the fixtures and fittings list.
I'm not having it professionally cleaned but was planning on cleaning it myself.
I've not said anything about it, they have looked inside it more than once, and also had a gas safety check done on it which highlighted the faulty ignition button, the electrical check didn't look at it though (they have had every survey possible done!)

OP posts:
fruitypancake · 20/10/2019 14:46

Say nothing

Finfintytint · 20/10/2019 14:50

I’m selling a house at the moment with an old cooker as part of the sale. The buyers don’t care. It’s usable and they are happy they don’t have to fork out for a new one straight away. Their view is it will do for the time being.

isseywithcats · 20/10/2019 15:28

i would just leave a note when you go, weve just bought a house with a built in electric cooker, seller had gas and electric service and check done, and the first time i went to use the cooker it blew all the electric circuit would have preffered to have known when we moved in

user1487194234 · 20/10/2019 16:00

If you want to avoid any liability then definitely don't leave a note saying it isn't working

LittleNightmare · 20/10/2019 16:41

Don’t do anything. DEFINITELY DO NOT leave a note they’ve had it checked out by two people - it should have been picked up, it wasn’t. Nit your problem. The oven works, just not the fan. They’ll get over it. Feign ignorance if they complain later & day you don’t use the fan setting (I don’t)

Honestly DO NOT leave a note or tell them.

SoupDragon · 20/10/2019 16:43

I would only tell them if they had paid for it separately.

billandbenflowerpotmen1 · 20/10/2019 16:53

My oven didn't work when I moved to my current house. I did have a survey but obviously they don't check this. I just put it down to my bad luck as I'd assumed everything is sold as seen

Original poster
wejammin · 20/10/2019 16:55

They've not paid for it, although I suspect they will complain that they would have knocked off the price of a new oven if they had known it was faulty.
We're only moving round the corner and it's a small town, I think that's partly why I'm worried because we will see our buyers loads in future, I'll have to walk past it to get to school and the park.

OP posts:
SciFiRules · 20/10/2019 17:00

When buying and moving no one quill be worried about an oven setting not working, especially as the appliance is old. Just put it out of your mind doing and think about your move.

ilovetofu · 20/10/2019 17:15

I think when you buy a house that the price of an oven is fairly insignificant. I wouldn't worry about it. Unless it was actually dangerous 🤷‍♀️

RandomMess · 20/10/2019 17:32

"Oh, how did you manage to break it?" Wink

Preggosaurus9 · 22/10/2019 10:15

Just leave it. Do not leave a note! You are way overthinking this!

user1493494961 · 22/10/2019 10:23

Don't leave a note! It still works, move and forget about it.

gilchrist168 · 22/10/2019 13:16

It's an old oven.
They know it's an old oven.
They checked it.
It cooks.
Leave things as they are.

sunshinesupermum · 22/10/2019 13:21

As long as it cooks that's all that matters. Do not leave a note!

Saucery · 22/10/2019 13:27

It’s safe, they’ve had it checked for that. Who can say when the fan broke, could have been the day they moved in. Say nowt.

WildCherryBlossom · 22/10/2019 13:45

When I bought my house it came with an oven which was so battered that the whole food came off (broken hinges). You had to wedge the door into position to use the oven. The fridge and the central heating both packed in within days of us moving in too. We knew the place was a do-er Upper and were glad we had got it cheap...

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