What to do about gas oven (difficult buyer)

BikingBud

Help1234 said:

The annoying thing is we wanted the guy to fix it who fixed the handle but he said it was not possible. That we would have to order the parts from the manufacturer and couldn’t just pick them up from B&Q 😞

So why didn't he? Could have advised the buyer and explained that they will be changed once they come in.

Ms_Chocaholic

Can you put a bit of gorilla glue on it to hold it in place

deannagone

The guy who repaired it should enable the repair of the damage he created.  I had this situation with an oven I cleaned as part of a flat cleaning job.  I broke the glass on the oven door.  The LL demanded I replace the glass and I did, even though it meant I made no money from a very long two days of work (it was my first flat cleaning job, I didn't pursue that as a career after what happened, realised I didn't have what it takes - I put it down to a lesson learned lol). 

I'd chase up the repair guy, insist he replaces these clips or refunds the £50 you paid him.  Then tell the buyer what arrangements have been made.  Or you could contact the manufacturer by phone tomorrow (shouldn't take too long - have the oven model number to hand) and sort out what parts you need for the repair.  I wonder if the repair guy wasn't that good, which is why the problem occurred and he couldn't be bothered to do anything about it.  I wouldn't have paid him for causing more damage to the range.  But its a learning experience, you tried to do a good thing, probably on the cheap lol.., and it could cost you more money.  Lesson learned the hard way unfortunately.  

But if the glass doesn't feel secure, you really do have to tell the buyer.  It could be dangerous not to, and they won't have a clue what is needed to remedy the situation.  I realise there's a little bad blood there, but you don't want them to injure themselves even so.

Or you could just leave them a note, apologising, explain what happened and point out it was a free oven, let them decide what to do.  But take on board their response might be a solicitors letter.  However, I don't believe they will be able to force any more money out of you as it was a free gift.  But you do need to warn them.

Help1234

I am happy to leave a note explaining, I am just wondering does anyone know for sure whether this situation could arise in the buyer taking action where I may need to give more money. I don’t want the headache of it.

MysteryMe

Regardless of what your perception of the buyer is, leaving them a broken oven door is not great.  On the assumption that whatever bodger you got in is not going to do anything I'd order the clips so that the door can be fixed.

Help1234

I’ve ordered some replacement clips

TripleH

We had a range in our last rental property.

One of the internal glass panels on rhe oven doors kept slowly sliding down so we had to slide it back up. Not too much of a hassle. On a new oven I'd be miffed but on an old one it wouldn't bother me.

I wouldn't choose a range, hated the unevenness of cooking temperature. Much prefer electric ovens or Agas.

RogerBareford

Help1234 said:

I am happy to leave a note explaining, I am just wondering does anyone know for sure whether this situation could arise in the buyer taking action where I may need to give more money. I don’t want the headache of it.

Well, I've always been under the impression that when you buy a house you are buying it in the condition that it was in when contracts were exchanged so as this happened after exchange they have the right to the clips being fixed.

But considering that the person who fixed the handle broke it, then surely they would be offering to come back and fix it for free?, so you could tell the buyers this and they can arrange a suitable date and time for the issue to be resolved.

andy444 said:

As the oven is being offered free I wouldn't bother to inform the buyer. The oven is still functional and the buyer must be aware that the oven isn't in the best condition otherwise you wouldn't have offered to leave it for free.

But it's not exactly "free" it's included in the purchase price of the house.

Ramouth

Help1234 said:

I am happy to leave a note explaining, I am just wondering does anyone know for sure whether this situation could arise in the buyer taking action where I may need to give more money. I don’t want the headache of it.

I happened to mention to our solicitor that we had been left with over 100 rawl plugs to remove and fill when we moved in.  She said that legally we could go after the vendors for not leaving the property in the correct condition as stated in the contract but the costs would be significantly higher than any potential recompense so it would not be worth it.  This would certainly be the case with your oven as you have given it to them for free thereby stating the value as zero.  

Providing them with the necessary spare parts and contact details of the person who can fix it is a nice thing to have done.

GDB2222

Help1234 said:

I’ve ordered some replacement clips

Can you just fix the replacement clips when they arrive? if the glass is not secure, it would be necessary to warn the buyers, so they don’t get hurt. If you can’t fix the replacement clips yourself, and can’t get a man in, then you have no choice but to leave them for the buyers to fit.