Movers ‘strip’ homes
House sellers regularly strip their old properties of anything of value when they move home, with light bulb fittings, toilet roll holders and wheelie bins often ending up in removal vans, a new report suggests.
But the most common items to be taken are garden plants according to the survey from Halifax Estate Agency.
More than one quarter (26%) of those surveyed admitted to digging up their favourite flora and taking it with them, leaving unsightly gaps in the garden, to the dismay of excited buyers.
Light fittings were another popular item which people often take with them when they move. 12% of people admitted to taking them out of the house when sold, and a further 8% packed up the light bulbs when they left.
The same number of people (8%) took the toilet roll holders and towel rails from bathrooms, which can often leave unpleasant holes in tiles and wallpaper.
Although anything that is fixed or attached is normally considered an integral part of the house, the issue of what constitutes a part of the property for sale is not always clear cut. It usual for the conveyancer to ask the sellers to complete a 'Fixtures, Fittings and Contents Form' to outline exactly what will and will not be left. It is then the buyers responsibility to identify and query any items which they want to dispute before for the sale goes ahead.
However, even where a seller opts to take light fittings the form specifies that they should be replaced with a ceiling rose and socket, flex, bulb holder and bulb.
Moving into a new home can also produce an abundance of rubbish – from newspapers and boxes used for packing, to all the mess created when cleaning. But 5% of people owned up to taking the wheelie bins to their new property, leaving the old house without a bin – despite the fact that outdoor bins are normally the legal property of the council, and not the property owner.
A small number of people surveyed even took the house number plaque as a souvenir. This could make things difficult when the new owners' removal company are looking for the right house to deliver their property to.
All of these statistics highlight the need to obtain a properly completed, fixtures and fittings list from the seller. This should be examined closely by the buyer and their solicitor. If items you would expect to be left at the property are indicated as being removed by the seller make sure that you raise the issue so it can be resolved before contracts are exchanged.
Colin Kemp, Managing Director of Halifax Estate Agency, said: "It would be nice to think that everybody would leave their old homes, as they would wish to find their new ones, but unfortunately this is not always the case – despite the fact that people are only saving themselves a relatively small sum by taking items like light bulbs and house number plaques."
"The key is to ensure that you have documentation stating precisely what will be left behind or taken. Also know your rights when it comes to what constitutes fixtures and fittings."
House sellers regularly strip their old properties of anything of value when they move home, with light bulb fittings, toilet roll holders and wheelie bins often ending up in removal vans, a new report suggests.
But the most common items to be taken are garden plants according to the survey from Halifax Estate Agency.
More than one quarter (26%) of those surveyed admitted to digging up their favourite flora and taking it with them, leaving unsightly gaps in the garden, to the dismay of excited buyers.
Light fittings were another popular item which people often take with them when they move. 12% of people admitted to taking them out of the house when sold, and a further 8% packed up the light bulbs when they left.
The same number of people (8%) took the toilet roll holders and towel rails from bathrooms, which can often leave unpleasant holes in tiles and wallpaper.
Although anything that is fixed or attached is normally considered an integral part of the house, the issue of what constitutes a part of the property for sale is not always clear cut. It usual for the conveyancer to ask the sellers to complete a 'Fixtures, Fittings and Contents Form' to outline exactly what will and will not be left. It is then the buyers responsibility to identify and query any items which they want to dispute before for the sale goes ahead.
However, even where a seller opts to take light fittings the form specifies that they should be replaced with a ceiling rose and socket, flex, bulb holder and bulb.
Moving into a new home can also produce an abundance of rubbish – from newspapers and boxes used for packing, to all the mess created when cleaning. But 5% of people owned up to taking the wheelie bins to their new property, leaving the old house without a bin – despite the fact that outdoor bins are normally the legal property of the council, and not the property owner.
A small number of people surveyed even took the house number plaque as a souvenir. This could make things difficult when the new owners' removal company are looking for the right house to deliver their property to.
All of these statistics highlight the need to obtain a properly completed, fixtures and fittings list from the seller. This should be examined closely by the buyer and their solicitor. If items you would expect to be left at the property are indicated as being removed by the seller make sure that you raise the issue so it can be resolved before contracts are exchanged.
Colin Kemp, Managing Director of Halifax Estate Agency, said: "It would be nice to think that everybody would leave their old homes, as they would wish to find their new ones, but unfortunately this is not always the case – despite the fact that people are only saving themselves a relatively small sum by taking items like light bulbs and house number plaques."
"The key is to ensure that you have documentation stating precisely what will be left behind or taken. Also know your rights when it comes to what constitutes fixtures and fittings."
posted by tony at 6:04 PM
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