Vendor moving the goal posts re fixtures & Fittings

Clutterfree

How much extra do they want you to pay for the range?

G_M

Clutterfree wrote: »

How much extra do they want you to pay for the range?

More to the point, how much less do you want to pay for the property without the range?

hazyjo

Did the property particulars actually say it was included, or was it more like 'space for a range cooker'.

I'd be niggled if the range wasn't included (and you say you'd have reduced your initial offer), but would you? I'd probably be more disappointed but wouldn't feel able to reduce the offer on that basis. Appliances aren't usually included unless built in. You may find it won't fit in their next house and they are hoping you'll say you'll buy it, but it doesn't sound like they're aware of it being part of the purchase.

I like a house with a large range at the mo. I'm hoping I can negotiate it into the price (in writing) if I buy the house, but don't expect them to throw it in without me specifically asking for it when offering.

Jx

Davesnave

If it was plumbed-in, like an Aga, I would be unwilling to let it go, but as it isn't, I'd just be a little irked that I'd need to go out and buy one straight away.

Range cookers aren't all equal, so I'd console myself with the notion that I could have the one of my choosing if gentle negotiation didn't lead to it being left behind after all.

I wouldn't put the sale on the wrong footing just for a cooker.

Stuff happens. When we completed, our vendor explained that the built-in oven had "just gone wrong." As there was an Aga too, still running, I thought the oven might have been "wrong" for quite a while! It was scrap, but in the context of the whole deal, it was irrelevant. Things the vendor said she was taking on the PIF, but actually left us, more than made up for it anyway.

warby68

Its very common for people not to pay too much attention to fine detail until it comes to the legals. The seller could easily have never 'joined the dots' with the agents description. Agents may assume appliances are fitted when not. It may be a 'tactic' as you suggest but more likely a genuine misunderstanding or something not really thought about before.

The general assumption is that if its not fitted it isn't included unless specifically agreed. If you want non fitted items as part of your offer you really should say so. Agents description is purely blurb.

Calm negotiation first - if its a few hundred quid try not to dig your heels in if you love the house. People can take the whole house buying thing so personally when really its a lot of crossed wires and hoping for the best.

As with all things 'buyer beware' is the best approach - as the buyer you should ask, check and double check and make it your responsibility to make sure the details are right and not rely on others - perhaps not altogether fair but certainly true.

csgohan4

the price of the range cooker pales in comparison to the price of the house. Do you want to argue over this so much? Does it mean so much to you that you want a second/third hand cooker when you could buy your own of your liking.


I suppose you could ask for money off, but if you have already applied for your mortgage you risk delaying things to reduce the mortgage by x amount, likely a few hundred.


Perhaps a cash settlement, but your solicitor needs to be happy about this


Life is too short

glasgowdan

I don't agree with simply saying 'life's too short'. The seller's likely trying to get away with it. Ok, so £250-500-1000 or whatever IS small compared to the price of the house, but it's still a good chunk of money in actual terms that the buyer is now going to have to spend. If you'd bought a new house from a builder that was sold with a cooker, and you saw they were trying to withhold the cooker and charge the same price, you'd be fuming.

I'd get back to your solicitor with amendments to get signed off. Nothing else for now... just send copy back to the vendor's solicitor to agree. Make sure it's clear what you're proposing because they may well just take it with them regardless knowing that you're unlikely to chase it through small claims.

Clutterfree

When we sold our house last year we told the EA that the range wasn't included but we *may* include it if we had a good offer for the house.
On our particulars it stated space for range cooker (available by separate negation).

When our buyer made her first offer, we declined but gave her a counter offer which included the cooker. She accepted.

The seller should have noticed that the range was in the listing as included.

Like I said, how much do they want for it?
If it's say £250 is it worth losing the house over?
Ditto the seller, I'm sure they won't lose a sale over a cooker especially if they are buying a home too.

PS I do miss my range cooker - I've got a crappy ceramic hob and small fan oven now. When we do the kitchen I'll get another range.

n217970

Don't pay, chances are they will leave it anyway as its too hard to move the things.

AdrianC

CockneyFox wrote: »

I know nothing is legally binding unless written into the contract, but surely I have grounds to challenge as it is in effect false advertising.

No, because it's merely an invitation to negotiate.
Their negotiation ploy is to say "the cooker isn't included". Your response to that is to either ask for it to be included, or to threaten to pull out of the purchase.

To replace it for something similar will cost the best part of a grand

No, because that would be replacing old with new - betterment.

How much is a USED range worth?

and I would not have offered what I had to purchase the house if I knew I'd have to find another grand for a range.

What percentage of the total house purchase cost is this range? House price, fees, SDLT, moving costs...?

What will walking away now cost you?

You are, it seems, at imminent danger of cutting your nose off to spite your face over what you have decided is a point of principle. This is always a VERY dangerous position to get yourself in, because rationality and logic fly straight out of the window, usually followed closely by the contents of your wallet.