PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.

Selling House - Broken Appliance responsibility

We're hoping to exchange in the next week or so but have come back from a weekend away to find our dishwasher is broken. It's very old as it is, so even if we were staying a replacement wouldn't be high on the priority list. 

As we included it on the fixtures and fittings form (for no charge) where do we stand? 

We have someone coming to look at it tomorrow but if it isn't repairable (or economically it's not sensible) do we *have* to replace it? 

I have contacted our solicitor to ask but as it takes them a while I thought I'd ask here 🙂

Our buyer has been slow and tricky on negotiations so I'm reluctant to just ask them for fear of them taking another few weeks of back and forth.

Just in case it matters, it doesn't by any means look new, we paid £40 second hand a good 5 years ago so it's done well! 
«13

Comments

  • user1977
    user1977 Posts: 17,492 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    You don't have to do anything if it's in the same condition at completion as it will be at exchange...maybe leave the buyers £40 (along with a bottle of bubbly) as a post-completion surprise.
  • saajan_12
    saajan_12 Posts: 4,894 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Strictly you could leave it, at exchange its broken so as long as it remains so upon completion, strictly you've done nothing wrong. 

    Practically, it'll be a question of proof.. if they raise an issue post completion, and take it to court, and if the judge doesn't believe it was already broken, then you could owe the cost of a 2nd hand one. That's lots of 'if's so you could decide its too unlikely.

    Or you could try to evidence the fact by letting them know its broken now, saving them having to figure out via inspection. It would be silly for them to renegotiate or pull out for a 2nd hand appliance, but sometimes people do.. Up to you whether you're willing to take that risk / back and forth. 
  • Katapolt
    Katapolt Posts: 291 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Thanks both, it would be easy to prove it's already broken as I've got emails to the repair person and they're coming tomorrow so they will be able to back it up, but of course I don't want it to come to that. 

    I'll see what they say tomorrow re repairs but if it's not viable at least I know I can just tell the buyer the situation and leave it there. They've already had a few K off so I'd like to think they get on with it. 
  • Mstty
    Mstty Posts: 4,209 Forumite
    1,000 Posts First Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 14 August 2023 at 4:42PM
    They may be looking to replace it anyway, might as well be up front about it and dispose of it if that's what they want.

    Leaving it in situ, broken and not telling them, is poor imo
  • TheJP
    TheJP Posts: 1,949 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    Just inform the buyers the dishwasher that you are leaving is now broken, they will either;

    1. Demand a new one and be outraged by this despicable act
    2. Ask you to remove it
    3. Pull out of the sale due to this heinous experience of buying a house

    Tongue in cheek, just tell them and get on with the sale. Depending if they are seasoned or FTBs will determine how annoyed they will be.
  • eddddy
    eddddy Posts: 17,837 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper

    Generally, this is the kind of thing that the estate agent should get involved with.

    It's part of they job to 'smooth-out' problems like this. They should phone the buyer and explain what's happened - and if the buyer is upset, calm the buyer down, etc.

    That's generally better than the buyer finding out through a terse letter from their solicitor.


    Assuming you're using an estate agent that gets paid on exchange/completion, it's in their interests to get this sorted as calmly and painlessly as possible - so there's no risk of them losing their fee, or having to wait longer for it.   


  • tealady
    tealady Posts: 3,846 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Mortgage-free Glee!
    Personally I would tell EA appliance is broken.
    Then offer 3 options
    1) you will pay for repairs
    2) you will dispose of broken dishwasher and pay a token amount towards a replacement
    3) you will pay a token amount but not dispose of dishwasher

    Then leave it in their hands (oh and get a response in writing)
    Find out who you are and do that on purpose (thanks to Owain Wyn Jones quoting Dolly Parton)
  • Ditzy_Mitzy
    Ditzy_Mitzy Posts: 1,931 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Probably useful to find out what the buyer thinks first.  Some people don't want dishwashers thus would be happier with the thing gone and the water feed capped.  
  • Slinky
    Slinky Posts: 10,944 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    It would be courteous to remove a broken appliance rather than leave it for the vendor to dipose of, considering that may cost them money to do.
    Make £2025 in 2025
    Prolific £229.82, Octopoints £4.27, Topcashback £290.85, Tesco Clubcard challenges £60, Misc Sales £321, Airtime £10.
    Total £915.94/£2025 45.2%

    Make £2024 in 2024
    Prolific £907.37, Chase Intt £59.97, Chase roundup int £3.55, Chase CB £122.88, Roadkill £1.30, Octopus referral reward £50, Octopoints £70.46, Topcashback £112.03, Shopmium referral £3, Iceland bonus £4, Ipsos survey £20, Misc Sales £55.44
    Total £1410/£2024  70%

    Make £2023 in 2023  Total: £2606.33/£2023  128.8%



Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.3K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.8K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.2K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.3K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 597.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.6K Life & Family
  • 256.3K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.