Fixtures and fittings and making good...rules?

laneycakes

Hi.

Are there any rules around sellers making good any damage they've caused as a result of taking items when moving? For instance wall mounted bathroom cabinets etc?

We're in the process of buying and are wondering if we're going to move in and discover patches of untitled walls and holes!

Thanks.

G_M

No real rules.

Some people fill holes when removing things, others don't.

Expect to have to do work once you move in - properties never look as they did during the viewing.

Once the furniture's gone, there'll be patches on the carpet, faded paint on walls where pictures were, holes (as you say) and much more.

Cleaning is another variable - some people will vaccuum etc after moving out, some will leave the place filthy........

It's very rare that you can 'just move in and live'.

laneycakes

Thanks... That's what I thought. Just concerned if they take bathroom cabinets we'll be left with a partially tiled wall!

joeistheone

I recall from the property information form (I think) that it just says 'take reasonable care' when removing fixtures and fittings. So I guess they may try their best, but s**t happens when moving so just be prepared to do some work before/after moving in. Bit more difficult if you're completing a sale and purchase on the same day, though.

Debtslayer

What does it state on the fixture and fittings form? Has the vendor said they are taking the bathroom cabinet or leaving it?
You seem very concerned about the removal of a bathroom cabinet and possibly having a partially tiled wall. If this does happen you could a) Re-tile or b) Buy another cabinet to put in the same place
Buying a house; a partially tiled wall is not really much to worry about in the grand scheme of things

AnotherJoe

Even if the occupants take care, there will inevitably be patches where a painting or similar was and that has faded differently to the surroundings.

ps if there is a bathroom cabinet that looks like its been tiled around (which is pretty shoddy thing to do but ....) , I would try to get the occupants to leave that. A relative of mine moved into a house and there were several massive bare patches on the wall where the occupants had left things like display cabinets in place when they painted the walls

laneycakes

Thanks all. We are trying to get them to leave the bathroom cabinets but so far negotiating hasn't worked! We're expecting to have some work to do, and that's fine but trying to minimise it if I'm honest. Stupidly thought that wall mounted bathroom cabinets in a relatively new bathroom would be left as a matter of course (we didn't even consider removing them in our last house!) but this house buying is a learning experience everytime

G_M

laneycakes wrote: »

We are trying to get them to leave the bathroom cabinets but so far negotiating hasn't worked! We're expecting to have some work to do, and that's fine but trying to minimise it if I'm honest.

I'm afraid you have the wrong mind-set.

You'll have work to do. The only way to minimise is to buy a New Build (but then you get the teething problems)

laneycakes

Thanks G_M. We do realise we'll have work to do and already have a long list including garden (needs lots of work) painting, replacing skirting boards, sorting ventilation and insulation in the roof (damp) etc-as I said these minor bits are things that frankly we could just do with minimising. We'll try again on the negotiating front as the simplest solution is to leave the things where they are.

robatwork

They shouldn't be taking bathroom cabinets any more than they should be taking fitted wardrobes. To my mind, the rule is - if the house is turned upside down, they take whatever falls.

Unless, of course, it specifies this in the particulars.

A picture would fall off the wall so it's reasonable for them to take and leave holes in the wall. But not a fitted cabinet. If a vendor took the bathroom cabinet then that's about the same as taking the internal doors - a few screws and onto the lorry.

Derboy

When we sold recently, it was a term of the contract that we had to make good any damage to walls caused by removing TVs etc. Get your solicitor to do same?