checking boiler is ok before exchange?

honeychurch

Should we get the boiler checked out on the property we are buying before we exchange? The vendor has provided no details to say its been serviced since he's owned it, but we do know the boiler is four years old. Our solicitor suggested we should ask him to do this but he is refusing. Can we just get an inspection done or should we pay for a service (as we are buying it anyway)...what has everyone else done?? I've checked the the heating/hot water all works, and it does and seems to come on quite quickly. Are we being over-cautious?

dmg24

I would get it checked over before exchanging. Though it shouldn't be faulty after four years, if it hasn't had a service in this time then it is certainly due one.

Maybe ask the engineer to inspect it, and assuming there is nothing wrong with it, then service it. If there is anything wrong with it, then you could negotiate with the seller to get it repaired/ replaced prior to exchange?

I don't think you're being overcautious. You're going to need to get it serviced eventually, so you might as well do it now. A service will be much cheaper than a new boiler!

cattie

I wouldn't consider a 4yr old boiler as much of a concern. I've never had the boiler checked in any of the properties I've been buying before occupation.

The oldest boiler was 9yrs old, but I knew I'd be replacing it soon after moving in as part of the new kitchen install I was having done.

You've already done your own checks to ensure hot water & heating are working fine so I wouldn't worry at this point.

jaffa

We recently moved and were advised by solicitor to check that all the lights worked, that water came from all the taps and that the boiler worked. For this she suggested that checking it came on and heated water and radiators was sufficient, so you should be ok. She did say it was entirely up to us if we actually wanted to get an engineer to look at it before exchanging.

Debt_Free_Chick

Solicitors are trying to cover themselves here.

I think, as a buyer, you have to make your own judgement as to whether the state of the boiler is important to you. For example, if you had to replace it at a cost of £1,000 would that put you off buying the house?

Some people would be put off - others won't be.

No house is in a perfect condition when you buy it, but you have to weigh up the importance of these things. Don't get spooked by a solicitor who is being cautious (indeed, you are paying them to raise these things) but decide whether it's such a "big deal".

If it's no big deal to you, you should still get it checked/serviced once you move in.

Regards

Jorgan_2

To get a boiler serviced it will cost around £50, it may tell you of any problems that you may be facing. I've never had the boilers checked on any houses I have bought, doesn't mean I shouldn't have.

bel2310

I am approaching completion on a property and have today received a letter from my solicitor with replies to additional enquiries. The property has storage heating and the solicitor recomments I have the central heating system serviced prior to exchange. The property is 9 years old, does anyone have any views on this, I have seen the heaters working.

Jorgan_2

bel2310 wrote:

I am approaching completion on a property and have today received a letter from my solicitor with replies to additional enquiries. The property has storage heating and the solicitor recomments I have the central heating system serviced prior to exchange. The property is 9 years old, does anyone have any views on this, I have seen the heaters working.

Can the owner show each heater being switched on and off & working properley? I don't know how else you could check the storage heaters were working.

honeychurch

Re the boiler:
Thanks for the responses, I do feel our solicitor is being over cautious and wish she had raised this earlier (she only mentioned this when we went in to sign in readiness to exchange, then wrote to the vendors solicitors..) and am a bit annoyed this could hold things up even longer. I might have found someone who can look at the boiler next week and told the solictor that i didn't want this to hold things up but she said we can't exchange til this is done - otherwise this could go ahead today! I guess she has both of our best interests at heart, but she doesn't understand how desperate i am to move!

Jorgan_2

I don't understand why the solicitor won't exchange because of this, unless they have something in the documentation they have that states there is a problem.

They may have your interests at heart but you can still ask her to exchange contracts if you are happy to accept there may be a problem with the boiler, which you will sort out when you move in. Are you prepared to accept that risk?

november

DebtFreeChick wrote:

If it's no big deal to you, you should still get it checked/serviced once you move in.

Agreeing with the OP

If you don't have it checked before do check it before you put it on if its gas. I never even considered it - radiators all working etc. when we bought this house. System not that old. No service documentation. Solicitor never mentioned it and I'd never bought a house before.

According to Transco I am only sat here now because we had a broken open cat flap in the front door, the boiler was downstairs in the hall and I don't leave the heating on overnight. When I called them out they condemned the lot - one of the problems was no proper venting. I think the previous owner must have done DIY :mad: The flu my family thought they had was carbon monoxide poisoning.