Vendor uninstalling EV charging point

Pendrive

Hello everyone - I am in the process of buying a house with an EV charging point set into the exterior of the front wall. I've just discovered the vendor wants to uninstall the charger and take it with them, though cabling will be left; and a plastic cover used to cover where the installation point had been. 

Is there anything I should ask about this, such as impact on installing a future charger, or impact on the wall? Is it usual for vendors to uninstall chargers and take them with them, while having to leave cabling behind?

housebuyer143

Pendrive said:

Hello everyone - I am in the process of buying a house with an EV charging point set into the exterior of the front wall. I've just discovered the vendor wants to uninstall the charger and take it with them, though cabling will be left; and a plastic cover used to cover where the installation point had been. 

Is there anything I should ask about this, such as impact on installing a future charger, or impact on the wall? Is it usual for vendors to uninstall chargers and take them with them, while having to leave cabling behind?

What does the property information form say about it? They can take things like this if they specifically make mention of it in this form. 

I imagine you will purchase a charger in future and have it wired in when you need it. 

ThisIsWeird

Lawdie, one of 'these' types of vendor The kind who try and keep the FIT on their PV system...

How was the CP described or shown in the selling partics? And was it mentioned at all in the SIP?

If no specific reference was made to it - or if it had been described, but with no mention of it being taken - then it surely should be considered a 'fixture' of the property, just like an outside water tap, power socket, or exterior light.

Yes, they can take any of these items, but only if it's made clear - ideally from the very beginning - but certainly in the SIP, that this was the intention.

What to do? Confirm whether it was mentioned, either as a feature in the partics (which you based your offer on), or as 'not included' in the SIP (which, if this comes as a surprise, you are entitled to negotiate on), and then decide what to do. 

How much is  the CP worth? What is the house worth? What is likely to happen if you legitimately challenge the vendor on this, and insist they leave it, or accept a suitable discount?

To answer part of your Q, it shouldn't be an issue - that I can think of - to leave the point  properly covered and isolated, and at least you'll have the cables there for what should be a quick and cheaper connection later on. But, wow, what is it about some folk?

Do they have personalised number plates? ( )

CSI_Yorkshire

ThisIsWeird said:

Lawdie, one of 'these' types of vendor The kind who try and keep the FIT on their PV system...

You must have come across the ones who dig up the plants out of the garden because "the particulars say large garden, they don't say large garden with all of my plants still there".

Pendrive

Hi - thanks for the responses - they are much-appreciated :-) I've just received the sale particulars and the charging point is mentioned as excluded on the property information form; though it was pointed out to me by the agent as a selling point during the two viewings. That may have been an assumption by the agent, though.

Given that the CP is attached to one of the walls of the property, I just wondered if there were any implications to its being removed - damage to the wall, a need to remove cables at a later date, or being compelled by existing cables to buy a certain type of charger etc. And yes - I did wonder if it was usual to uninstall one and take it with you on selling a house - would that really save much on getting a new one at the new place?

It is on the property info form and so I don't doubt it can be taken away - I'm just wondering what I may be left with, though.

Section62

ThisIsWeird said:

Lawdie, one of 'these' types of vendor The kind who try and keep the FIT on their PV system...

...should they also leave all the wall mounted TV's?

The only significant issue I can see here is if there is a planning condition requiring the property to have an EV charging point - if there is, the OP would have to arrange a replacement charging point whether they want to use it or not.

And whether they want/need a charging point ought to be the first question - if they have no need for one then where is the wrong in the current owner taking theirs (provided this is in the contract) and keeping it in use, rather than left uselessly behind?

The second question is what exactly is meant by "set into the exterior of the front wall"?  If this means it is a built in cupboard (like a meter cupboard) then I'd want to be sure the wall hasn't been affected by the installation, and that the proposed replacement cover arrangement gives adequate weather protection/draughtproofing/insulation.

A picture of the existing arrangement would be useful.

BikingBud

If they had a vintage front door they wished to remove, we would expect a level of activity to make good, the same applies here.

If they want it let them but I would be wanting to see credible evidence, eg certificate of removal by the installation company, of safe electrical isolation and the exterior wall, thermal insulation and weather protection being made good as a condition of sale. 

eddddy

Perhaps the things to check are:

• That the charging point will be removed, and the circuit isolated, by a suitably qualified electrician.
• The wiring will be left in place, so that a new charging point can be installed in the future 

I don't know how grants for installing EV charging points work - but if the sellers got a grant for installation at that property, you might not be able to get another grant in the future for re-installing at the same property (if you decide you need one).

Tiglet2

OP, it sounds as though your vendor is one of those people who like to save money wherever they can (and this is a money saving site!).  I think the vendor has decided to minimise his costs in installing another EV point at their new property by saving the £600 ish cost of a new EV charger, albeit he will still have to pay someone to install it with suitable cabling. 

We were quoted around £700 for the charger and £1200 for the installation, so I'm guessing that if the vendor only installed it a relatively short time ago, that he is trying to save having to fork out the full cost again at the new place.

To be honest, I would consider it to be a fixture and therefore to be left at the property, but I can see why someone would think not.  It might have been better for the vendor to negotiate a price with you to leave it, rather than tell you it's not included.

Good luck.

Sarahspangles

It's just one more thing to cover on the Property Information Form so you know what you are getting. People used to remove more than they do nowadays, at one time some vendors would take things like brass switch and socket covers or pendant light fittings, and if you were lucky they would fit a generic white plastic cover or ceiling rose.

Skiddaw1

BikingBud said:

If they had a vintage front door they wished to remove, we would expect a level of activity to make good, the same applies here.

A close friend of mine took her vintage front door with her when she moved (they're planning to use it as a feature internal door in their current house at some point). She replaced it with a basic door from B&Q. Not that this has anything to do with the charging point!