Yes, you can take shelves when you sell your house, as long as the fixtures and fittings form says you are taking them. Shelves fixed to the wall sit in a grey area, so say on the form whether they stay or go.
This guide covers the form and what it means for wall shelves, then how to plan shelving that can come with you next time.
Can I take my shelves when I sell my house?
Conveyancers following the Law Society’s Conveyancing Protocol use its Fittings and Contents Form, known as the TA10. It lists common items, from curtain rails and shelving to white goods and carpets, and for each one you tick included, excluded, or none.
The form matters because it becomes part of the contract. Laura Gill of Lawrence Stephens, writing in Today’s Conveyancer, says the TA10 “is annexed to the contract and forms part of the contract of sale”. If you take something the form lists as included, you may be in breach of contract.
Decide before you fill in the form. If the shelves are coming with you, mark them as excluded and tell the buyer early. If you are selling in Scotland or Northern Ireland, ask your solicitor how fittings are listed there.
Are shelves fixtures or fittings?
Fixtures are things securely attached to the house, such as built-in kitchen units and radiators. Fittings are things that are not, such as furniture and freestanding appliances. A common test is to imagine the house turned upside down: anything that falls out is usually a fitting.
The test doesn’t settle shelves. They are screwed to the wall, but often with only a few screws. Property Reporter, in a piece quoting solicitor Louise Ainley, puts wall shelves in a grey area alongside curtain rails and blinds, and says they are often treated as fittings. The TA10 covers shelving, so you say on the form which way it goes.
If shelving was built in by a joiner, scribed to the walls and painted in place, think about whether it will fit anywhere else. Joinery made for one alcove may not suit another room, so leaving it and including it in the sale can be simpler.