i moved house this weekend and had agreed to purchase a washer dryer and the other items were included in the house sale, such as a heater in the bedroom and extractor fan and have today found out that the washer dryer, extractor fan, heater and immersion heater don't work and the front door locks us in which is not good for an emergency as we cannot get the door handle to open from inside. Just wondered where i stand legally? I purchased the washer dryer but the others were all in the sale
I'm afraid the principle of 'buyer beware' applies to this sort of situation. The best thing to do in these situations is to check things work before you buy, or get a professional (surveyor) to check things for you beforehand.
Thanks very much for taking the trouble and the time to reply to my question - what a wonderful site this is - only came accross it yesterday and it is brilliant!
Buildersmate is probably right, but it would be worth checking what info. was put on the precontract enquiry form by the seller about the items, and asking your solicitor whether the replies given contain any kind of implied warranty about the working order of the items.
Vendor not liable for defects in goods sold along with house. Purchaser buys "as seen" the goods listed on the Fixtures Fittings and Contents" list, form PROP 4. Clause 10.3 of the Standard Conditions of Sale states that "The buyer takes the chattels in the physical state they are in at the date of the contract", although ownership passes only on completion, so Vendor liable only if goods were OK on exchange but defects arose before completion.