Valuation Report

Keelsp

Anyone have any ideas re this please,
just moved into new house 3 weeks ago and the centrel heating system does not work. We will probably have to replace it for new combi. I am not covered under my insurance policy however the valuation report states that the central heating system is fine and there are no essential repairs needed. So I suspect it wasnt checked in the first place. So the Question I am asking is do I have any power to claim against them for the cost of this repair/replacement, when its something that should have been and wasn't identified in the valuation report
many thanks

martindow

What is actually wrong with the CH? Have some heating engineers had a look at it or are you assuming the worst?

Your survey should have checked it was working on that day but they can't predict faults developing. Unless the fault you now have is something that must have been obvious on the survey day I've no doubt that their report is full of caveats to avoid any comeback.

But your first step is to find out exactly what is wrong. Some companies like British Gas have a reputation for pushing for replacement to maximise profits when repairs are quite possible.

Keelsp

Thanks for your response, we not sure what problme is, need to get plumber round again, however I suspect it will be something that will have been obvious as the entire hot water system, emmersion heater and so on all seems to be running off an extension lead, so it well looks like a botch job

kingstreet

Is the report you have a mortgage report and valuation done for the lender, or a more in-depth survey done for you?

If it's the latter you may have a case as you have a contract with the surveyor. If the former, I would not give you good odds on a successful outcome as the lender is unlikely to take action against the surveyor for such an issue.

JQ.

I very much doubt you'll have any comeback. A surveyor is not a heating engineer, and as stated above they will have just checked it was working on the day of inspection. I'd also be very surprised if the report actually said "no essential repairs necessary" - how on earth could a surveyor actually check this without carrying a full service of the system. Would that even be legal I thought you had to be Gas Safe registered to start dismantling central heating systems.

k3lvc

We had the same as but slightly worse - vendor stated that heating was in 'full working condition' and that a British Gas Service Contract was in place although no paperwork was provided (lesson learnt here). Moved in, BG came along to do their annual inspection to find that

a) they hadn't visited the property in x years
b) no service contract existed
c) boiler was condemned and showed that 2 main radiators were corroded through

Personnally I was ready to go and extract £4.5k+ from the vendors wallet/possessions etc but a mix of weak solicitor and worry about vendors mental state let me chalk it up to experience

ETA - I've just noticed you're quoting the valuation report - it's surprising they'd say that. What did the sellers checklist/declaration say ?

MacMickster

Were any questions asked by your solicitor about whether the central heating system was in working order? If so, and the vendor said yes then you may have some comeback against the vendor.