Condemned boiler in a newly bought house

vic_ter

Hello

I've just bought a house and moved in.

I knew the boiler was switched off and that I would have to get it reconnected as the previous owner hadn't been living in the house for a time.

However, when the gas engineer came out to do this he condemned the boiler. He's a friend and he knows I won't be using him to buy a new boiler, so I'm pretty sure it's for real.. he's also Corgi registered.

I'm a little miffed about this, I had asked a number of times to make sure the boiler was OK. The previous owner had recently had it inspected by a Corgi registered engineer, that appears on various paperwork I received when I bought the house.

My engineer friend disputes that, he reckons it hasn't been opened in a while due to the amount of dust and that there's a good chance of carbon monoxide poisoning if he connected it (something about a yellow flame, he's sending a report).

Anyway, I've complained to Corgi who will be sending out an inspector but they only seem to be able to force an engineer to correct any shoddy work they've done. The engineer only inspected (or not) the boiler.. as far as I know he didn't install or service it and it's only the inspection that's shoddy (as far as I know).

Does anyone know if anyone is at fault here, the estate agent, the seller, the gas company who did the inspection? I now have to buy and fit a new boiler, can I get one of the parties involved to meet the cost?

My solicitor has told me I can't do a thing as the seller had the boiler inspected but I would've thought that a contract has been broken , i.e. I agreed to buy a house for let's say £100k but have actually bought a house for £99k (assuming a new boiler costs £1k).

Any advice greatfully recieved, all parties appear to be trying to duck and avoid blame while I spend a week or so in a bloody cold house waiting for a Corgi inspector!

Thanks for your time in reading this and to anyone who replies.

Magentasue

I'd have thought:

Estate agents cover themselves by saying nothing is tested etc. There's always a clause saying you should pay for your own surveys, inspections etc.

Seller can be liable if you can prove he lied.

Gas company obviously have to do the inspection properly but that seems to be in the hands of Corgi now.

Premier_2

See your other thread you created on the same topic:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1439021

olly300

Looks like the OP didn't like the replies they where given on the first thread which followed the stance of the solicitor they used.