Things left in loft after completion

NameUnavailable

If you offer to return and clear the loft I don't see how the OP can refuse that, if there other option is to pay someone else to do it! Write back offering to arrange to clear the loft and send it recorded delivery in case you need evidence at court.

Fundamentally though you are in the wrong - it was your responsibility to ensure the property was cleared of everything that wasn't included on the forms provided via the solicitors.

gwbuk

We once bought a house where the vendor had deliberately instructed their solicitor to not include a standard 'vacant possession' clause and instead have wording that indemnified them if anything was left behind. This was no doubt because they lived a long way away and had inherited the property. They had employed somebody to clear the house but whoever that was had left a load of rubbish and real junk. It was a bit messy, nothing that a couple of trips to the tip didn't fix. It did backfire on him though as we also found a load of cash hidden about the place, enough to pay the mortgage for two months.

Mildreds_Earrings

JGB1955 said:

Mildreds_Earrings said:

When we sold our house last year, we checked absolutely everywhere, cleaned everywhere and the only items we left was wallpaper and paint already used on the walls, which would have been useful for the Buyer.  Absolutely everything else went.  

'You didn't want your junk, so you left it but you think another person wants your junk?'

Perhaps your buyers might have thought the same ......  Were they given an option?

@JGB1955 The new buyers sent us a thank you card via the Estate Agents.  Next question.

NameUnavailable

gwbuk said:

We once bought a house where the vendor had deliberately instructed their solicitor to not include a standard 'vacant possession' clause and instead have wording that indemnified them if anything was left behind. This was no doubt because they lived a long way away and had inherited the property. They had employed somebody to clear the house but whoever that was had left a load of rubbish and real junk. It was a bit messy, nothing that a couple of trips to the tip didn't fix. It did backfire on him though as we also found a load of cash hidden about the place, enough to pay the mortgage for two months.

That's fair enough, you were aware of the possibility of having to deal with clearing some stuff yourself.

I remember an episode of Location where the buyers were after a house being sold by the estate - all the deceased's belongings were there. In order to get an offer accepted they offered to buy the house including anything that the relatives wanted to leave behind, which was accepted. Apart from a quick visit to collect a few valuables it saved them a lot of hassle arranging to clear the place.

Leaving rubbish behind that isn't expected is inconsiderate.

Bossworld

gwbuk said:

We once bought a house where the vendor had deliberately instructed their solicitor to not include a standard 'vacant possession' clause and instead have wording that indemnified them if anything was left behind. This was no doubt because they lived a long way away and had inherited the property. They had employed somebody to clear the house but whoever that was had left a load of rubbish and real junk. It was a bit messy, nothing that a couple of trips to the tip didn't fix. It did backfire on him though as we also found a load of cash hidden about the place, enough to pay the mortgage for two months.

I went through all the crap left behind here and absolutely nothing of value. Was convinced one of the bags might be stuffed with twenties!

TheProfessional

Our vendors left rubbish in the loft (old suitcases etc). It wasn't professionally boarded per se but had a few bridging bits of plywood loosely arranged. The shed also had tat along with the sides of the house next to the fences (old inflatable pools etc)

It is really annoying as basically it is rubbish they don't want but are too lazy to take to the tip themselves. I haven't contacted anyone because I plan to just do a few car loads to the tip. I think more annoying because we ourselves left our house in immaculate condition for our buyers 

Irishpearce26

So you have two options here;

-Go round to the house and clear the loft yourself.

-Pay them the costs to remove the stuff.

It may not be your stuff but you didn’t take the time to check the house when you bought it or leave it vacant before you left. 

nyermen

One point on the price - if its not boarded, then extra care may be required to remove this "stuff".  A photo is a reasonable starting point (is there really so much as to fill a skip?)

When I bought mine, the executors forgot to clear the loft - I contacted them, and brought it all downstairs, and they came along to collect it all (barring a few bits I took to the tip).  I wasn't too bothered, took me half a day or so, but I was a FTB so maybe I was still dazed at finally having my own place.

Jumblebumble

Nik85 said:

My buyer has sent me a letter threatening small claims court for items left in the loft of my old house after completion. She wants £600 for removal and skip hire costs for items I know nothing about. I never used the loft as it wasn't boarded and had no electricity. I'm very upset by this as it clearly wasn't intentional on my part but she has provided no proof of said items and with the current pandemic she won't allow me access to remove them (whatever it is) myself. I'm tempted to offer her half the requested amount as a gesture of goodwill but surely no one would pay the full amount without evidence? I think she's more fired up as she thinks I've been ignoring her messages when infact I never received them due to her not actually having my new number. Any advice?

I would never pay someone anything if they would not allow me to remove the rubbish myself.
I would tell them they can wait till the pandemic ended

mrsmsebastian

ProDave said:

Never under estimate buyers.

I once left boxes of spare wall tiles when we sold a house, so if they had a breakage or wanted to do alterations, there were spare tiles of all the sorts we had used.  The very disgruntled buyer insisted we remove them which we did.

I can never understand how some people can be so illogical, so miserable and so downright obnoxious to deal with.

When we bought our property last year, the seller accepted our offer on the condition that they will leave whatever furniture left in the house when we viewed it.
There was a three seater sofa, tv, almost new fridge freezer, coffee table, single bed with mattress, double bed with mattress, washing machine and dining table with chairs.
In my head I am thinking, you are doing me a favour as I can sell all that! And yes I made money out of them.
Some people may not like the idea of it but not in my case but if they are just pure junk I will just take it to tip and not be bothered about it besides I will have to clean the house anyway.