Who should cover an appliance repair before exchange when buying a house?

[BessieSurtees]

We are in the process of buying a property. An appliance that is included in the sale has developed a problem that will cost £250 to fix. The vendor has said they are not prepared to pay for it to be fixed as they have already paid a lot on the house sale.

Firstly I am not opposed to paying the cost when we move in. However the vendor could continue to use this appliance potentially making the problem worse. I suppose I could say don't use it and we will address it when we move in but I don't think that will be practical and I can't guarantee they wont use it.

Anyone know what the protocol is on this? I can't be expected to pay to fix it now before we have even exchanged.

it's a matter of negotiation really

You could just say you no longer want to buy the appliance?

(obviously don't pay for something when you haven't even exchanged!)

Is the appliance integrated?

If the appliance is included in the house price, it will be difficult to enforce a repair without adding it into the contract as part of the conditions of sale.

Is it worth worrying about, ie jeopardising your house purchase over?

Is it ticked as included on the Fixtures and Fittings list? Granted they could change that form up to exchange.

Our integrated oven broke a week before exchange. We replaced it with a basic oven (it wasn’t a fancy Aga or Neff to begin with anyway so it wasn’t pretty much like for like).

It is included in the sale and the price. It is ticked on the fixture and fittings. It would cost more to remove it than to repair or replace.
I won’t risk the sale over it and as I said in my post I’m not averse to paying for repairs, (after we move in) but the damage will likely get worse if it is used.
We have had an appliance suddenly needing repair/ replacement in the last month and we didn’t think twice about arranging and paying for it.
I don’t want to be in a position where the repair ends up being more expensive by the time we move in.

If you had to replace the appliance with a new one (are you able to say what it is?) how much would it cost?

I would reduce my offer by £250. There’s not a chance of them pulling out and losing a buyer over that.

Removal and replacement would cost around 4k so I'm not quibbling about the cost of repair, as I think it is minimal. However it's the timing that has me questioning who should pay. They must realise that I will not pay before completion and they have already refused to absorb the £250 cost.

You pay once you move in. Unless you are buying a tent this is such a tiny expense you’d be mad to cause a fuss over it.

Refuse to pay.

What is it that costs £4k??

What is it?

Why are you not saying what it is?

I’m guessing a boiler.

Why don’t you split the cost and pay £125 each?

A Rayburn? Aga? Fancy hob?

if it is a big thing like that that is integral to the kitchen it is not just an “appliance” like a free standing fridge….

if the Aga is broken I would definitely ash it for it to be fixed or for the 4K to be taken off the price

I would ask if they could split the cost just to get it over the line. I am intrigued what the appliance is though.

Actually Aga and Rayburn are 10k plus, eek

but another fancy cooker then?

Could you agree that they pay for it now, and you pay them back after exchange?

From a legal precedence the fixtures and fittings form in which it is included is not legally binding unless it’s attached to the contract on exchange. Items which are ticked don’t mean you have to have them. You can ask them to be removed.

Unless the item is integrated in which case that is slightly different.

There is no legal requirement to have the item repaired.

Either insist you don’t want it and have it removed or pay for the repair once you’ve completed. Or worse case you’ll have to repair and then remove if the item is condemned.

Thanks.
If we say we do not want it do they have to remove it?

This is an option that I have thought of, though it will cost them to remove it.

As they will not negotiate on price I think I may need to ask them to pay and reimburse them on completion or remove it.

In truth, as I said, we are ok to pay for the repair and keep it but it is senseless to expect us to pay before completion and unrealistic to ask them not to use it until then.

Why are you so secretive about what the appliance is