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Original poster

Vendors charging me for smoke alarms!

30 replies

Lalotai47 · 04/08/2020 20:00

I am in the process of buying a house. The buyers accepted an offer that was about 5k lower than they wanted. I have just received their list of included fixtures and fittings. They want £100 for an integrated dishwasher that was there when they bought the place 5 years ago. They want £20 for 4 smoke alarms and £100 for 2 blinds in the dining room. Oh and £15 each for the bathroom cabinet and mirror. These are just some examples.

There is no way I am paying for the dishwasher that was mentioned in the listing! Is it normal to try and charge for these things? I feel really pissed off. I sold a house and left anything integrated and would not have dreamed of taking smoke alarms. These people are going in to a new build. Surely it will come with most of this stuff?

Would you tell them to take the stuff or pay up? I want the house but this has soured matters for me.

OP posts:
Thriceisnice · 04/08/2020 20:02

They're probably just chancers, they'll leave it anyway I bet, whether you pay or not. They won't go to the bother or removing moke alarms, surely.

isseywith4vampirecats · 04/08/2020 20:03

they can offer these items but you are under no obligation to buy them just tell them you dont want them and the chances are as they are going into a new build they will leave them behind

Luaa · 04/08/2020 20:03

I'd say you aren't paying for the dishwasher, it was in the listing. Pay for the smoke alarms, so they can take the rest, as long as there is no damage from removing the mirror and cabinet.

terriblyangryattimes · 04/08/2020 20:04

I'd get your solicitor to send a letter saying you do not require any of the items. Can almost guarantee they will not take anything but the blinds- if that. So cheeky.

KarenKarendson · 04/08/2020 20:06

If the dishwasher was in the listing then they've already sold it. Tell them you don't want the rest.

Didiusfalco · 04/08/2020 20:06

This happened to us with a house we bought earlier this year. We really needed to move and when the process started just before the election there was virtually nothing on the market. If there had been any other options I would have pulled out - even now we have been here for months I think still that. It's just not a good sign when people kick off the proceedings by acting like arseholes. If we didn't pay extra for it, they ripped it out - even down to the stair carpet, which would have come off in small unusable pieces. One of the things we paid for broke almost immediately. It's just been awful and so stressful. I'd walk away if possible.

Luaa · 04/08/2020 20:07

Oh and when we bought our first house they tried to charge us for blinds, we said no thank you and they left them anyway.

HermioneWeasley · 04/08/2020 20:07

I’m not sure they can invent their own definition of fixtures and fittings - I’d query with your solicitor.

Original poster
Lalotai47 · 04/08/2020 20:08

My stubborn side wants to tell them to take the lot but I would hate the hassle of getting smoke alarms and bathroom cabinets fitted etc.

I will definitely contest the dishwasher and state that I want any holes or damaged plaster covered up.

The thing is, their new build and already been delayed by a month and that costs me money in rent. I've not quibbled that at all. I wish they could make some allowances too.

OP posts:
FelicityPike · 04/08/2020 20:08

I wouldn’t pay.

Didiusfalco · 04/08/2020 20:09

Just to add, we had thought they wouldn't bother to rip everything out too, but I think that's coming at it from the assumption that most people are reasonable and that's not always the case.

Original poster
Lalotai47 · 04/08/2020 20:11

@Didiusfalco

This happened to us with a house we bought earlier this year. We really needed to move and when the process started just before the election there was virtually nothing on the market. If there had been any other options I would have pulled out - even now we have been here for months I think still that. It's just not a good sign when people kick off the proceedings by acting like arseholes. If we didn't pay extra for it, they ripped it out - even down to the stair carpet, which would have come off in small unusable pieces. One of the things we paid for broke almost immediately. It's just been awful and so stressful. I'd walk away if possible.
I know what you mean. It doesn't look good. When I sold, I left tools and stuff for cutting up fire wood for the wood burner. I even left beer I think the frogs as a welcome! Tossers.
OP posts:
kerfuffling · 04/08/2020 20:12

The dishwasher is built in, not freestanding - it is an integral fixture and part of the kitchen. They can't charge you separately for it, surely?

The rest of the stuff - do you actually want any of it?

Anothernamebitesthedust · 04/08/2020 20:12

Biting and fitting smoke alarms is not hassle. But a bathroom cabinet off Ikea/ Argos wherever online and out it up. Honestly, they’re taking the piss.

Also, as others have said, in more than one case when we’ve been buying the seller had tried to flog stuff and we’ve said no only to find it still there. Just say no!

Anothernamebitesthedust · 04/08/2020 20:13

Buying smoke alarms. Don’t bite them 😂.

Anothernamebitesthedust · 04/08/2020 20:13

Sorry loads of typos. May have had a wine.

Original poster
Lalotai47 · 04/08/2020 20:15

Yes dishwasher is integral and was advertised in the listing.

The other stuff, I would need to replace it but don't want to give in.

I think I feel slightly guilty that I got away with a low offer and that's what's giving me pause....but they chose to accept it.

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 04/08/2020 20:19

They can't take the dishwasher as its integrated. It's a bit like them trying to charge you for the sink!
Everything else, just tell them you don't need it.

mumwon · 04/08/2020 20:55

ahem
is it a mains wired fire alarm or is it a battery one? if mains wired than its fixtures & fittings (I have unintentionally become an expert on this -don't ask!)
How old is it (check date)some only last 5 years

Original poster
Lalotai47 · 04/08/2020 21:20

Thanks for your help with this, everyone. Much appreciated. Really don't need this petty nonsense!

OP posts:
JellyBelly78 · 04/08/2020 21:46

Honestly just say fine they can take them but they must make good any holes etc. Will be more hassle for them and I bet they’ll leave them.

When we bought our current house which had been used as a rental property they tried to charge us 5K for the carpets and curtains in living room and dining room as they were big. We said no thank you, so he removed them. We had new carpets put in the day before we moved in. Was a pain but they were horrible and saved us having to dispose of them. I was Angry at the time though!

Some people are out for every penny they can get.

TooManyDogsandChildren · 04/08/2020 22:09

I had a past vendor who tried to charge me for the radiators. I pointed out the house was sold as having a working central heating system.

PigletJohn · 04/08/2020 22:10

if they take out the dishwasher (quite an effort if integrated) they will have the effort of taking it to the tip, or paying someone to take it away. Nobody wants a second-hand dishwasher. If you are strong and have a hatchback you can have as many as you want for nothing, or £20 if you feel like paying.

Same with smoke alarms. Who'd buy a second-hand one?

What use are second-hand blinds that fit the windows in the old house, but not the new? Or a second-hand bathroom cabinet?

Make very clear that any damage or holes left by removing F&F must be made good (they won't be).

TW2013 · 04/08/2020 22:48

The fire brigade sometimes come out and fix fire alarms for free in the most appropriate places in the house. I would possibly want new ones anyway, unless wired into the mains in which case they are fixtures anyway. I would call their bluff on those. Dishwasher is listed in the contents anyway.

The blinds depends on whether you would plan to replace them anyway. I would probably call their bluff unless there was something I particularly wanted. Just say you aren't willing to pay more as you might replace them anyway so it is up to them if they remove them or not, but if they are removed then you expect the wall etc. to be repaired.

romatheroamer · 05/08/2020 07:01

I empathise OP. Like a PP, we were in a hurry to move so paid for a dishwasher which has already had to be replaced and an oven which has since needed a new fan. At least they didn't want money for all the rubbish they left!
Definitely bluff call if this situation arises on a future move.

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