fitted appliances not included in house sale?

rosemarypancakes · 2020-12-07T14:43:30+00:00

We're buying our first home and have hit a bit of a wall and I'm honestly not sure if I'm being unreasonable or not! The kitchen of the house has fitted appliances (we're talking extractor hood, hob, oven, microwave), all embedded into cabinets and the solid quartz worktop. The seller has turned around and said they want to charge us over 1k for the built in appliances - I had presumed as they are all built in (and would cost loads to replace!) they were included in the sale. Anyone else had experiences like this? As its our first home I'm not sure if I'm being naive or if the sellers are just trying it on!

SocksForceFive · 07/12/2020 14:49

I've just sold my flat with a fully fitted kitchen and left everything.

What on earth are they going to do with used appliances anyway?

I'd push back firmly - you're now on notice that your sellers are going to be a pain in the arse!

Finfintytint · 07/12/2020 14:50

I’d expect them to be included and it made very clear early on in the process if they were not. Are the appliances newish and of a good brand? A grand may be a bargain.

Loofah01 · 07/12/2020 14:51

They're being dicks.
You can play the same game by telling them fine but you're dropping the offer by 5k. Seriously though the solicitor should have immediately flagged to the other party as being unreasonable. They're fitted and therefore part of the house.

Africa2go · 07/12/2020 14:51

Have a look at the sales particulars, what did they say?

Original poster

rosemarypancakes · 07/12/2020 14:58

@Africa2go I was never sent a brochure/sales particulars, but having just requested this from the agent it says fixtures and fittings are not included unless specified - however this seems like a very generic part of the t's + c's .... I'll admit I didn't check that they were included but the fact that they're fully fitted made me not even think it would be an issue

OP posts:

Original poster

rosemarypancakes · 07/12/2020 14:59

@Finfintytint it definitely wasn't made clear, nothing was mentioned at the viewing or at any time in the process, up until now

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Original poster

rosemarypancakes · 07/12/2020 15:01

@SocksForceFive I really can't imagine what they'd do with them, by the sounds of it they're moving into a newly renovated house so they're certainly not going to be refitting them - I suspect that they know that it'll cost us a heck of a lot more than 1k to get new ones so are hoping we'll roll over and just pay it

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PigletJohn · 07/12/2020 15:01

have you fallen out with them?

if they try to sell second-hand appliances they might get £5 to £50 each. Large appliances like dishwasher, cooker and washing machine are fairly unsaleable as they are so heavy (have a look on ebay) and people are very suspicious of used fridges and freezers. It is hard work or expensive to take them to the tip. Round here they are often advertised as free if you take it away. Two strong women and a van are usually needed.

I sold a fridge and a freezer for £5 each and gave away a cooker for nothing. I sold a microwave for £15 (not too heavy to carry in a car). I bought an espresso machine for the office for £20.

Findahouse21 · 07/12/2020 15:01

Just say that you don't want them so don't want to pay the estra. Bet they leave them behind - if not they'll have to pay to dispose of them, they won't fit elsewhere.

RedMarauder · 07/12/2020 15:02

@Loofah01

They're being dicks. You can play the same game by telling them fine but you're dropping the offer by 5k. Seriously though the solicitor should have immediately flagged to the other party as being unreasonable. They're fitted and therefore part of the house.

This. And they can make good all the worktops and surrounds when they do take them.

NoSquirrels · 07/12/2020 15:04

Say you made the offer on the basis that the built-in appliances were included in the sale, and would be happy to pay £1,000 for them but will be dropping your offer by £1,000 in compensation.

They sound charming. There's no way they really want to take the fitted appliances, because it would be a PITA to remove and they've no guarantee they'll fit in their new place.

Unless the appliances are less than a year old and high-spec, I would not budge.

NoSquirrels · 07/12/2020 15:06

We did pay our vendors for the dishwasher, oven and fridge, but they weren't built-in and we gave them something like £100 for all 3, I think. Totally different if it's built-in appliances.

DobbieFreeElf · 07/12/2020 15:10

Are they written in the advert? My understanding is if they are then they are included as I had a similar situation with some built in bookcases.

Amimissingsomethinghere · 07/12/2020 15:11

They are taking you for a ride.
You're a first time buyer and they are trying it on.
Put your foot down OP. Stand up to the greedy bullies.

RosalieDene · 07/12/2020 15:18

I had this - but when I checked the text of the particulars it said "kitchen with integrated oven" etc so I refused point blank - I said my offer was made on the basis of those items being included so I would be dropping my offer by the amount to replace and make good.

They backed down immediately.

Original poster

rosemarypancakes · 07/12/2020 15:28

@PigletJohn

have you fallen out with them?

if they try to sell second-hand appliances they might get £5 to £50 each. Large appliances like dishwasher, cooker and washing machine are fairly unsaleable as they are so heavy (have a look on ebay) and people are very suspicious of used fridges and freezers. It is hard work or expensive to take them to the tip. Round here they are often advertised as free if you take it away. Two strong women and a van are usually needed.

I sold a fridge and a freezer for £5 each and gave away a cooker for nothing. I sold a microwave for £15 (not too heavy to carry in a car). I bought an espresso machine for the office for £20.

have no idea what we could've done to offend them lol

this was my thought - they'll get pennies if they try to sell them/get rid of them, I suspect they're just throwing the idea at the wall and seeing if it sticks

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silkiecat · 07/12/2020 15:30

Anything fitted is normally included as part of the sale and I would go back and say your offer was made on the basis they are included. I would say they are trying it on.

ramblingsonthego · 07/12/2020 15:45

You made your offer based on quartz worktop. Even if it doesn't include the appliances they will have to make good the quartz worktop which will cost them a hell of a lot more than 1k. Call their bluff and say you don't want any of the appliances but you expect anything to be made good when they are removed. I guarantee you, they will back down. They will realise they are cheeky fuckers.

Gazelda · 07/12/2020 16:01

@ramblingsonthego

You made your offer based on quartz worktop. Even if it doesn't include the appliances they will have to make good the quartz worktop which will cost them a hell of a lot more than 1k. Call their bluff and say you don't want any of the appliances but you expect anything to be made good when they are removed. I guarantee you, they will back down. They will realise they are cheeky fuckers.

This.

DiesalFive · 07/12/2020 16:04

That's ridiculous! Just say no thank you, and I'd be tempted to reduce your offer as you thought they were included.

Witchlight · 07/12/2020 16:28

Go on to the John Lewis website and put a basket together of replacement items. Tell them they are welcome to take them if they are attached to them, as long as they make good any and all damage from taking them out.
Let them know that you are reducing your offer by the amount of your John Lewis basket (send a screen shot of it,) as your offer was based on them being present.

I think they may then drop the matter.

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 07/12/2020 16:37

A freestanding one, yes, an integrated appliance? No, it is assumed, and rightly so, that it is included with the house. What next? They are taking the toilets?

I am surprised that your solicitor hasn't pushed back to their solicitor along the lines of can I just check that your clients want to charge for integrated appliances?

I would tell them no thanks but you want it in the contract that they have to make good the worktop if they choose to remove them and you will be seeking restitution should there be any damage.

A previous buyer tried to sell us the shed, the one with an electrical supply to it. We told them no thanks but we expected the electrics to be made safe should they wish to dismantle a what would cost £300 for a brand new shed.

JacobReesMogadishu · 07/12/2020 16:42

@Findahouse21

Just say that you don't want them so don't want to pay the estra. Bet they leave them behind - if not they'll have to pay to dispose of them, they won't fit elsewhere.

I had this and said the same. Bloody seller removed her 15yo heap of shit gas oven because I wouldn’t pay £100 for it. She tried to get me to pay and I said no thanks. Then she said she’d leave it because it would cost her £50 to have it removed. And then when I moved in there was no oven! I wasn’t impressed.

Smallgoon · 07/12/2020 16:43

@ramblingsonthego

You made your offer based on quartz worktop. Even if it doesn't include the appliances they will have to make good the quartz worktop which will cost them a hell of a lot more than 1k. Call their bluff and say you don't want any of the appliances but you expect anything to be made good when they are removed. I guarantee you, they will back down. They will realise they are cheeky fuckers.

Am I being thick, but how would removing appliances affect the worktop? The only one I can think of is the hob, but surely that would just lift out?

EmmaGrundyForPM · 07/12/2020 16:44

I would think.this is unbelievably cheeky but we once bought a house where the vendors took the built in oven.

We also.once offered on a house where the vendor wanted us to pay £1000 for the really stained and old fitted carpets. I said no. The sale fell through in the end, which was no bad thing as I think she would have been a nightmare to deal with