Seller replaced some switches and sockets with plastic ones

delluver

What should I do? Half our sockets have been replaced with cheap nasty white ones and the paint job shows around them as they are too small. Some are upside down. Can I bill him?

G_M

How expensive were the ones they took off? Were they changed between Exchange and Completion.

You can always bill them - whether they pay up is debatable.

And whether it is worth suing them is debatable too. New homes always need work. Just add it to the 'to do' list, buy some new sockets to your taste and/or some paint, and settle in to your new home.

delluver

I was going to just buy ones to match some of the nice chrome ones that are left. All I know is when we viewed, they were nice and when we moved in, he took off with most of them lol. Not worth doing small claims for £100!

delluver

He took some of the Venetian wooden blinds but they're custom made? We knew he was taking those though! All these little things add up. Shame as the house was perfect and we have wasted our Easter break looking at stuff in sales lol

rachelonna

really annoying, but did he say he was leaving this in the fixtures and fittings?

I would probably write it off and replace them with nice ones too. If there is an ACE Electrical shop next to you, they are very reasonably price (better than B&Q) and are very helpful

delluver

There wasn't any agreement about fixtures!

delluver

I'm using... http://www.speedyelectrical.co.uk/1.aspx

seven-day-weekend

I would have taken them too and replaced them with plastic. As long as you leave a working socket, does it matter?

googler

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I would have taken them too and replaced them with plastic. As long as you leave a working socket, does it matter?

It matters because - "the paint job shows around them as they are too small. Some are upside down. "

This situation only happens because of the vagueness of the E&W system with regard to offers, contracts, and fittings.

The system in Scotland sets out that an offer - in writing - includes a number of standard clauses which form part of the contract of sale, a typical version being -

FIXTURES, FITTINGS & CONTENTS
The Properly 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 the Purchaser; 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 tans, 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.

Exceptions can be made. Heritable Fixtures and Fixtures are defined as - items of a moveable character that have become “heritable” through attachment to the Property and have therefore become part of the Property. (I'd suggest light switches and wall sockets fall into this category....)

Example Full version HERE

The OP wouldn't find himself in this situation if the lawmakers would standardise the system.....

G_M

delluver wrote: »

I was going to just buy ones to match some of the nice chrome ones that are left. All I know is when we viewed, they were nice and when we moved in, he took off with most of them lol. Not worth doing small claims for £100!

I repeat:

Were they changed between Exchange and Completion.

that, together with the contract & F&F agreement, is what determines what should be left.

He took some of the Venetian wooden blinds but they're custom made? We knew he was taking those though!

So that is relevant because....?

we have wasted our Easter break looking at stuff in sales lol

Sorry, that's just naive. New home = time putting it together and sorting the problems. You should be saying " We were smart enough to arrange Completion for just before the Easter break so that we had time to settle in, and sales to buy what we need cheap".

Old_Git

buy news one's then wrap up the old one's and send then to the seller saying you forgot your crap.