Homebuyer survey and my solicitor's responsibilities

housebuyer2010

Hi,

Not sure if anyone has any idea about this, but I just got my homebuyer survery back and there were 3 critical items raised and 1 other minor item:

Critical:
-water tank needs insultation
-electrics need testing or need a certificate to show it meets current regulations
-Boiler needs service certificate

Minor:
-Replacement windows need certificate if fitted since April 2002

In terms of the water tank, I am not too bothered as we can get the insulation done when we move in, but want to make sure the other items are legal as don't want to get my fingers burned when I come to sell the house in a few years time.

I have provided my solicitor with a copy of the survey and his response to me was "what do you expect me to do with this"? I asked him to look at the sections marked as critical at least and get the required documents from the vendor's solicitor. He said it was the surveyors job and not his and that he would not read the report.

In my opinion, it is his job, but would like to know what other people think. Should he be picking up on these items on my behalf?

Thanks in advance for your contributions.

Parham

badgeraudio

How old is the house?
Do the electrics "Look" old??

The Boiler check is only going to cost £70ish over £100 for a PIR (periodic inspection report) on the Electrics.

It it was me and the house is new ish, the elctics "look" ok etc I would leave it. But if your not sure just get a PIR done.

housebuyer2010

Hi,

The house was built in about 1920, but not sure what the state of the electrics are. My concern here is to get in there and then have to pick up the cost of rewiring and get a new boiler, but don't want to endanger the process by forcing the vendor to carry out the test?

Parham

zappahey

It's nothing to do with your solicitor. It's between you, the seller and your mortgage provider.

None of those are legal requirements, just things you might want to satisfy yourself, and your mortgage provider, about.

If you want the stuff tested, hire an expert or ask the vendor to do so but they can refuse if they want to play hardball.

goldbyron

These critical items are quite standard issues really and unless your mortgage provider is concerned I wouldn't be bothered at all about these things....

housebuyer2010

Thanks all for the quick responses....just wanted to see what others thought.

livalicious

Our homebuyers report said more or less the same, surveyor suggested getting the services checked over. Its a standard line in most surveys, but for own peace of mind, we wanted to make sure the electrics, boiler, etc were safe and in working order. We asked the vendor if they could get test certificates, they said no, we shrugged our shoulders (we tried our luck, we knew the vendors were under no obligation to have it done) and got engineers out to do it.

We got a gas safe registered engineer to check the gas and boiler for £50 and NICEIC electrician to do a Periodic Inspection Report for £120, and it was all done within a day. I think the solicitor would probably only need to see your survey if there were legal aspects that needed to be checked ie building regulations, etc.

tux900

Agree with all of the above - these are standard '!!!-covering' statements made in surveys because the surveyor is not qualified to test the electrics/boiler. (Or if he is that's not what you're paying him to do hence he won't).

The solicitor is even less qualified in this regard hence not his job to advise, although it is a shame he didn't do so in a more polite manner perhaps even commenting that such advisories would be present in every single homebuyers report.

It's up to you whether you want to get them checked. It is not something you should necessarilly get the vendor to pay for, but they certainly shouldn't object to having such tests carried out.

I personally wouldn't have them done but then I have enough of an understanding about electrics/boilers to ascertain during the viewings whether they were of cause for concern. If you have doubts you could always get someone to give them a once-over observation and only if they spot telltale signs of concern then persue it further. I seem to recall our estate agent saying they have people on their books who will do so for free - the incentive for them being there may be work available as a result so be mindful of this!

Mathew

SmlSave

Your solicitor should at least write a letter to the seller's solicitors and aks them about these matters IMO.

sharon1982

SmlSave wrote: »

Your solicitor should at least write a letter to the seller's solicitors and aks them about these matters IMO.

Yep, I agree - I asked my solicitor about getting proof of boiler service off our seller, and she is going to request it from our seller's solicitor for me.

tux900

sharon1982 wrote: »

Yep, I agree - I asked my solicitor about getting proof of boiler service off our seller, and she is going to request it from our seller's solicitor for me.

That should've been a standard part of the pre-contract enquiries.

In the absence of any service history, you'll still be in the same position as the OP. Even with any certification, it is only relevent for the day it was issued - it provides no guarantee of safety for the current condition.

Mathew