Sellers change of mind after signing Fixtures document

nagendras

Hi All, Sellers signed the document that we were happy with but they changed their mind latter to remove water softner from the kitchen. Their solicitor noted in a queries document to my solicitor but my solicitor did not notify us about the change. Now the previous owners insisting to remove the softner. Is it legal as the change was not agreed by the buyer. 
Thanks for advice. 

Alter_ego

Have you exchanged contracts? Nothing is legal till you have.

Irishpearce26

Nothing is binding until exchange of contracts. Anything can change in between. You could figure out how much a water softener is and adjust for old for new and reduce your offer. They could reject it however.

LAD917

This happened to me - two weeks after submitting the initial fixtures and fitting forms, the vendors suddenly wanted to take the dishwasher, refrigerator, washer-dryer, and various doorknobs.  I said no to everything except the doorknobs (which they ended up not taking). I may have been more flexible if they had indicated these on the initial form.

The appliances were old, and I'm not sure why they wanted them as this was a second property.  I wonder if they got word from the EA that I was planning to fully refurbish?  I still needed a fridge and washing machine until I could plan the refurbishment.

The vendors then came back again on the day of contract exchange and asked to take the fireplace mantel - which I agreed to  (and got a destroyed wall as a result - lesson learnt).

Irishpearce26

LAD917 said:

This happened to me - two weeks after submitting the initial fixtures and fitting forms, the vendors suddenly wanted to take the dishwasher, refrigerator, washer-dryer, and various doorknobs.  I said no to everything except the doorknobs (which they ended up not taking). I may have been more flexible if they had indicated these on the initial form.

The appliances were old, and I'm not sure why they wanted them as this was a second property.  I wonder if they got word from the EA that I was planning to fully refurbish?  I still needed a fridge and washing machine until I could plan the refurbishment.

The vendors then came back again on the day of contract exchange and asked to take the fireplace mantel - which I agreed to  (and got a destroyed wall as a result - lesson learnt).

Did you say no to them leaving them or no to them taking them? If this was before you exchanged it wouldn't be up to you if they were allowed to take them, they would just resubmit the F&F and it would be up to you whether to proceed with the sale.

JJR45

Let them know they have got to leave you with running water in the kitchen as part of having a kitchen for your mortgage.
AFIK a softner is a cartridge so they are going to have to get a plumber in, to replace the missing section of pipe the softnern was inserted.  That may make them back down.

LAD917

Irishpearce26 said:

Did you say no to them leaving them or no to them taking them? If this was before you exchanged it wouldn't be up to you if they were allowed to take them, they would just resubmit the F&F and it would be up to you whether to proceed with the sale.

It was before exchange, and I said no to the vendors taking them.  We had mutually agreed a fixtures and fittings form - they sent it, and I confirmed acceptance.  Weeks later, they asked to change it and sent a revised form.  I said no, this was not acceptable to me, I wanted the appliances.  They honoured the original form. 

If they had pushed back, my next step would have been a choice between my offer with the fixtures and fittings we agreed, or a reduction in the sale price corresponding to the fixtures they agreed to and then wanted to remove. If they and their agents wanted to lose a sale over a few used appliances, fine with me.  I was in a strong position as a chain-free buyer with excellent financials, and I was flexible on what I wanted to buy.