Junk left on completion

TrixA

We completed on our new house today.

As part of the conveyancing process we requested that the seller remove certain items from the property - a broken fireplace surround that was dumped behind the front garden wall, a child's slide and swing set and an old barbeque that was in the garden shed. The seller originally listed these in the fixtures and fittings list as included in the sale but we didn't want them and our solicitor sought, and received, assurances that these items would be removed by completion.

We arrived today to find the barbeque still in the shed, and the other items dumped in the front garden. Do we have any redress? The fireplace in particular, is very heavy and difficult to move. We're feeling generally a bit disappointed because the seller left the house in a horrible mess.

Belindav123

Hi

You can :

1) Get your sols to contact them, and give them a deadline for removing it.

2) If they don't comply, remove it yourself or get the council to remove it and send them the bill again via your sols

3) If they don't pay, your next option is take them to small claims court as they are in breach of contract, however they might end up being more costly than 2

Unfortunately for you, some people just don't care about the new owners of a house. You live and learn hey.

Hope you get it sorted out soon.

MoneyMate

We had the same problem 18 months ago, contacted our solicitor to complain about mess left, solicitor would contact our seller at extra cost we decided to hire 6 Yd skip instead.
JOB DONE so frustrating we cleaned our old house B4 leaving :eek:

Ms_Chocaholic

If it's an old fireplace any chance you could sell it on a local selling page. Someone might come and collect it and give you a few ££ for it into the bargain.

The same goes for the swing and slide, are they in a saleable condition?

[Deleted User]

You could also put a lot of the things on freegle

Davesnave

TrixA wrote: »

We're feeling generally a bit disappointed because the seller left the house in a horrible mess.

That's the important sentence.

People are frequently disappointed when they enter their new house and see it, warts and all, for the first time. Like you, they may also find that others don't do what they say they'll do, so the whole experience is deflating.

As previous posters have pointed-out, you have options, but some of these just prolong the negative experience.

Personally, I'd go with the fastest, most certain route to putting this behind me. That certainly wouldn't be legal action.

pinkteapot

Thanks. Agree with the last post - bite the bullet and get it cleared. I'd hire a skip and be done with it.

At one house our sellers realised they couldn't find the patio door keys so we had to get a locksmith out the day after completion. There's always unexpected costs.

Your seller was a t&sser. Forget him/her and enjoy your new home.

pinkshoes

Try your local FB freecycle group. Just upload a photo and see if anyone wants the items.

We did this when selling and was amazed what people would take!!

brightonman123

any retention held back, against possible removal costs?


Give them a couple of days to take away them gumtree/freecycle it!

bris

My local council give us 3 free uplifts per year, does yours offer any kind of service? Some charge a nominal fee, around the £15 mark so any talk of small claims court at this stage is pretty pointless tbh.

BitterAndTwisted

Find out where they've moved to and dump it in the front-garden of their new home