House sold - Can I take fixtures and fittings away with me?

latecomer

Personally I would take action through your solicitor but the chances of success are probably very slim. When my folks bought their house the deceased owners children removed all the original brass striker plates and door handles after the sale was completed and didn't even bother putting on replacements. My folks went round the legal circle a few times and eventually were told that it wouldn't be worth pursuing through the courts. And the worst part was they impossible to accurately replace so it wasn't even about the cost.

Unfortunately some people are just scum.

Lindsaybee

It is a shame that there are people like that out there! Gone are the days of leaving a bottle of wine as a house warming present! We are going through our solicitor it terms of communication with them but they are oblivious to the fact that they might actually be in the wrong. If they had stated anywhere in the fixtures and fittings that they would be replacing chrome light fixtures with plastic that would of been fine, and I would have expected that to of been done to a good standard. However neither of these things has happened. It is a petty matter and they have claimed it is us being petty, however I feel the action of spending time replacing light sockets to save a couple of hundred quid petty! Am so angry, it has ruined the whole moving experience for us, and this is just the tip of the iceberg!

pawpurrs

This is why there is a fixtures and fittings list, personally I see no problem with taking whatever you want, as long as its clear what you are taking.
I think you should allways leave lightbulbs, and a wire.
I have spent years sourcing antique curtain rails and antique lights, etc, so am not prepared to just leave them, but allways make this clear that I will take my antique french curtain poles etc.
My last house had no light fittings at all, I had lamps everywhere which ran off the mains, I didnt leave my lamps.

googler

Standard contract form in Scotland.... from http://www.lawscot.org.uk/members_information/convey_essens/stdmissives/

"FIXTURES, FITTINGS & CONTENTS

The Property is sold with:
(a) all heritable fittings and fixtures;
(b) all items of whatever nature fixed or fitted to the Property the removal of which would materially damage the fabric or decoration of the Property;
(c) all items stated to be included in the sales particulars or advertisements made available to thePurchaser; and
(d) the following insofar as any were in the Property when viewed by the Purchaser:
garden shed or hut,
greenhouse,
summerhouse;
all growing plants, shrubs, trees (except those in plant pots);
all types of blinds, pelmets, curtain rails and runners, curtain poles and rings thereon;
all carpets and floorcoverings (but excluding loose rugs) ,
stair carpet fixings;
fitted bedroom furniture;
all bathroom and cloakroom mirrors,
bathroom and toilet fittings;
kitchen units;
all cookers, hobs, ovens, washing machines, dishwashers, fridges and freezers if integral to or encased within matching units;
extractor hoods, extractor fans, electric storage heaters, electric fires, electric light fittings (including all fluorescent lighting, external lighting, wall lights, dimmer switches and bulbs and bulb holders but not shades);
television aerials and associated cables and sockets,
satellite dishes;
loft ladders;
rotary clothes driers;
burglar alarm, other security systems and associated equipment; secondary glazing;
shelving,
fireplace surround units, fire grates, fenders and associated ironmongery.

The Seller warrants that at the date of settlement all items included in the Price are owned by the Seller, are or will be free of all debt, and are not the subject of any litigation.

The Seller undertakes that the Property will be left in a clean and tidy condition at settlement."