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Appliance broken before completion

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sturgeon
sturgeon Posts: 396 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
edited 22 January 2016 at 10:41PM in House buying, renting & selling
Probably a silly question but I'll ask anyway...

I'm completing on my sale in just over a week and this evening it seems that my main oven isn't heating up (the top oven/grill is fine). I very rarely use it and it was 'luck' that I happened to heat something up tonight and discovered, so it could have easily not been discovered.

I imagine that I need to repair it to working order before I complete? I'd do it out of pure courtesy even if I wasn't legally required to, I'm asking out of curiosity as it's obviously irksome this has happened at this time! If my fridge, dishwasher and washing machine coincidentally all broke down and need replacing I guess I'd need to shell out £1000's for new appliances or are certain things expected to reach the end of their product life anyway?

One more question, I'm unsure if I can accommodate a repair person coming in the next 5 working days as I can't take time off so I'm concerned when I can get this fixed in time. Would it be a possibility to let my solicitor know and deduct the fixed repair cost from my completion statement for the buyer to arrange at their convenience?

Comments

  • Slithery
    Slithery Posts: 6,046 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 22 January 2016 at 10:48PM
    You need to make sure the oven is in the same condition it was at exchange.

    The same thing happened to my oven last week. It cost about 14 quid for a new element.

    Just google for your oven make and model + element and you should find what you need. It should only be a few screws to swap out the old one.
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 18,867 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Remember that if your appliances are more than 2 years old and are not top of the range, they are worth very little. If you did go down the "replace appliance" route you only need supply an approximate equivalent of what the buyer is expecting e.g. it is OK to replace a non-working 5 year old 6 cu ft larder fridge with a working 5 year old 6 cu ft larder fridge.
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • Nobbie1967
    Nobbie1967 Posts: 1,666 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    In your situation, I'd just leave it and give the buyers £50 to fix it once you've exchanged. Not worth going through the solicitor for this IMHO.
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    If it's going to worry you, look on eBay at similar models and give a sensible amount to the purchaser as compensation, but don't entertain any ideas from them about paying to have it fitted etc.

    The chances are they may just get the element changed anyway, but you could probably do without that sort of hassle at present.

    When we moved into our current property the oven had just packed-up. The vendor told us, but having left a gigantic freezer and a large amount of electric fencing equipment, she probably thought that suitable compensation. We weren't bothered; a direct eBay replacement was £40.
  • csgohan4
    csgohan4 Posts: 10,600 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    My Vendor broke the washing machine before completion. But I wasn't bothered anyways, they probably were going to repair it cheap and flood the kitchen a few months down the line.


    Bought a new one instead, much better and modern one.


    Give the buyer an option either way, they might not be bothered
    "It is prudent when shopping for something important, not to limit yourself to Pound land/Estate Agents"

    G_M/ Bowlhead99 RIP
  • SmlSave
    SmlSave Posts: 4,911 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Legally, yes you should fix it.

    Ask your buyers if they want it fixed before completion or if they are happy to get it fixed afterwards and you'll pay
    Currently studying for a Diploma - wish me luck :)

    Phase 1 - Emergency Fund - Complete :j
    Phase 2 - £20,000 Mortgage Fund - Underway
  • Slithery
    Slithery Posts: 6,046 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Davesnave wrote: »
    ...but having left a gigantic freezer and a large amount of electric fencing equipment...

    En garde ???
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Slithery wrote: »
    En garde ???

    Sort of. With sheep, you must always be ready for their next suicide attempt. ;)
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