Absent gas meter! Advice needed...

potato_dog

The flat I am hoping to buy does not have a gas meter. British Gas have no record of it being removed, but are happy to install another for free. However, the vendor (also the managing agents for the block in which the flat is located) are refusing to authorise it being installed until we have exchanged contracts.

This means we cannot get the boiler or central heating tested, which was recommended in the survey. Apparantly "the boiler is new" (according to the EA...) so I have asked for some proof of this, and copy of any guarantee/warranty that came with this.

I don't understand why the vendor would refuse to get one installed, and am wondering what to do. Should I ask for a reduction in the price, threaten to pull out, or am I being melodramatic, and should I just go along with it and wait for exchange to get the meter installed and hope for the best? We really like the place, but I don't like the idea of being bullied by a managing agent. We have so far paid for a homebuyers report and (I think) some searches etc. But in the long run I am prepared to lose this money and wait for the right place for us to come up rather than take a risk on a place which potentially could have problems with the boiler and central heating.

Thoughts would be appreciated!

BobProperty

If the "boiler is new" then the installer will have filled in a blue? installation document saying when it was installed and tested.(I think, I'm not CORGI reg. and don't do Gas CH) If they tested it then there must have been gas there. If they can't produce the book then tell them you want the cost of someone to check it and approve it taking off the price, and the cost of any remedial work they find necessary if it isn't up to standard. There's no point saying "it's new" if you can't prove it. That's a bit like selling a car and saying it's had a new engine but I've no receipts for it and you can't run it.

star1_2

I agree with bob, it's a little questionable if the vendor and EA claim the boiler is new and they can't produce a receipt or any trace of an instalation certificate.

Unless there was specific reference by the EA or Vendor at the time of sale when you made your offer, I think you are going to have to realize this is par-for the course when buying a non-new property (without specific gurantees), you'll just have to attend to any issues after competion.

On the otherhand .... if it was specifically advised to you at the time of sale (that the boiler was new and there is an install cert), this forms part of "contract" - I would tell your Solicitor that you want the vendor to either a) produce the receipt & instalation Certificate or b) arrange (at their cost) a independant check on the gas instalation, and CH at the property.

Doozergirl

Is it a conversion flat? Sometimes the meter can be inside a neighouring flat.

Just a thought...

potato_dog

Doozergirl - it's purpose built. Definitely been removed, but thanks for the suggestion. Thanks also to Bob and Star. Anyone else got any thoughts?!

tonyivb

Stupid question maybe, but if it doesn't have a meter how have they being paying for their gas?

Could it be that the block of flats just has one communal meter and the gas bills are being payed through the 'Service Charge'?

Friends of ours live with an arrangement like this... hot water & heating is supplied via a central boiler and the gas bill is divided up amoung all the flats.

potato_dog

No - it's definitely missing unfortunately! There is a pipe leading up to where it should be, and a pipe leading away from where it should be....

I am starting to think that it's not a major concern compared to what could have come out of the survey, and we do really like the place so maybe I could live with the uncertainty of not knowing if the heating will work!

Doozergirl

It's either a reassurance thing for your vendor that they may need you to talk to them directly and let them know that you are still desperate for the flat but need to know that it's safe as your surveyor has recommended. Sometimes a direct conversation will fix a sticking point like this.

Otherwise talk to your solicitor and ask if they can have a clause regarding testing of the heating put into the contract that will cover you if it fails. I would hope that your vendor's solicitor would then advise their client to just get the work done ahead of exchange, rather than risk breaking the contract.

david29dpo

i would be a little concerned. why has the meter been removed and why on earth would the vendor refuse one to be put back for free? there has to be a reason. find out!

clutton_2

the document you want them to produce is the blue "Benchmark" booklet/certificate, which will have been completed by a CORGI registered gas engineer when it was first installed - if they know who installed it, i see no reason why they cannot approach him and ask for a copy.

it is often hard to establish if a heating system works prior to buying a house. If you love it , as you say, dont get too hung up on it.

HOWEVER, my concern would be your safety - i would get the vendor to produce a CORGI gas mans report saying that it is safe. As Long AS British Gas has removed the meter it will be safe, - but if the vendor have taken it out for non-payment purposes it may not be at all safe !!

ben500

I would be very concerned, do I understand correctly that the meter has merely been removed from the existing supply network? ie pipe in blanked off then a gap and pipe to services blanked off? If so this type of work can only be legally carried out by Transco and they should have a record of the de-installation and the reasons why, there would also be some kind of seal left on the equipment, tape or lead wired for instance and a notice secured to the actual building in the region of any alteration stating the reasons why, I have never heard of a meter being removed in such a manner!