Vendor refused full boiler inspection

Lovelyjoolz

Sorry, but your vendor sounds like a nutter!

Can you arrange a second viewing with the EA "to measure up" and turn up with your engineer? I'm sure the EA wouldn't object to the inspection when put on the spot. Might be slightly underhanded, but at least you'll know what problems to expect.

On the other hand, if you viewed again and the house was freezing, you'll know the heating doesn't work :rotfl:

G_M

It's simple.

Refusal to allow an inspection implies a problem.

So assume the worst, calculate what the cost of repair/replacement might be (£5K whatever) and reduce price accordingly.

Then send an electrician round - you might get another £4K off for a re-wire when he's refused access too!

poppysarah

bris wrote: »

Reducing the price by 5K? I though it was only gullible people that believed everything the BG salesman told them that paid 5k for a boiler changeover.
A new boiler would be the worst case scenario, most can be easily repaired for a fixed price if they break down.

worst case scenario is a boiler system fitted by an incometant person with the most horrific bodges to pipes, gas and all sorts of strange goings on. *Just because there's a radiator in every room doesn't mean they all work or are even connected.

A whole new system might be needed and with ripping out, and installing new pipework it could approach this.

If they're being funny about it then £5k is the reduction to want.

ReadingTim

If the gas engineer suspects a problem, they have the power to shut off the gas to the boiler (and therefore shut off the vendor's central heating and hot water) until it's fixed. A 'problem' could range from the boiler being a genuine danger to persons or property, all the way down to the installation lacking a chit of paper showing who fitted it, or said document being lost.

Given it snowed last night where I am, I wouldn't be massively enthusiastic about letting in someone who could turn off my heat, especially if I had some doubts about my boiler (not suggesting it's dangerous, but in the same way as my electrics don't meet current regulations, but are perfectly safe; the vendor might have similar misapprehensions about their gas setup). Perhaps they're worried that the gas engineer will condemn their boiler, causing them to spend thousands mending it, while you pull out of the purchase?!?

It's possible they're hiding something, but perhaps they're getting a little annoying with having to wait in for the surveyor, the gas engineer, the electrician, and whoever else you decide visit upon them - and we all know what it's like having to wait in for trademen/deliveries etc, especially if they've got a job (having to take time off). Add to that a suspicion you're nit-picking or deliberately looking for faults to reduce the price, and their attitute can be understood.

Finally, a surveyor's report is usually so riddled with caveats as to be almost useless, and they'll always recommend further expert investigation, especially with older properties. While I appreciate buying a house is the largest thing you'll ever buy so you want to be sure; you do have to apply a certain materiality threshhold to surveys, so it might also be worth revising yours.

Best of luck!

N79

ReadingTim wrote: »

If the gas engineer suspects a problem, they have the power to shut off the gas to the boiler (and therefore shut off the vendor's central heating and hot water) until it's fixed. A 'problem' could range from the boiler being a genuine danger to persons or property, all the way down to the installation lacking a chit of paper showing who fitted it, or said document being lost.

Given it snowed last night where I am, I wouldn't be massively enthusiastic about letting in someone who could turn off my heat, especially if I had some doubts about my boiler (not suggesting it's dangerous, but in the same way as my electrics don't meet current regulations, but are perfectly safe; the vendor might have similar misapprehensions about their gas setup). Perhaps they're worried that the gas engineer will condemn their boiler, causing them to spend thousands mending it, while you pull out of the purchase?!?

Perhaps this is indeed the case, which is why the OP wants an inspection! This is a bit of a silly approach for any vendor

ReadingTim wrote: »

It's possible they're hiding something, but perhaps they're getting a little annoying with having to wait in for the surveyor, the gas engineer, the electrician, and whoever else you decide visit upon them - and we all know what it's like having to wait in for trademen/deliveries etc, especially if they've got a job (having to take time off). Add to that a suspicion you're nit-picking or deliberately looking for faults to reduce the price, and their attitute can be understood.

If the vendor does not want to be in then they can get their agents to facilitate access - that is why they pay them!

Finally, a surveyor's report is usually so riddled with caveats as to be almost useless, and they'll always recommend further expert investigation, especially with older properties. While I appreciate buying a house is the largest thing you'll ever buy so you want to be sure; you do have to apply a certain materiality threshhold to surveys, so it might also be worth revising yours.

Which is exactly what the OP is doing - their due diligence.

I'm sorry but are you really saying that the vendor may be being difficult because the know that their boiler could be assessed as at the end of its life but that the OP should just accept this possibility? By acting as they have, the vendor has aroused the OP's suspicions and so they wish to have further inspections.

To the OP - either insist on your inspection or deduct the full cost of a new heating system plus some extra for the hassle factor of having to get one fitted. Or walk away...

dodger1

bris wrote: »

You already know the boiler is old, so you can expect the worst, the HB report told you so. You need to factor the value with the boiler in this state, the HB report will have taken it into consideration.
Reducing the price by 5K? I though it was only gullible people that believed everything the BG salesman told them that paid 5k for a boiler changeover.
A new boiler would be the worst case scenario, most can be easily repaired for a fixed price if they break down.

Exactly, but the worst case scenario has to be used due to the vendor not allowing a full inspection.

movilogo

If the gas engineer suspects a problem, they have the power to shut off the gas to the boiler (and therefore shut off the vendor's central heating and hot water)

But user can always turn it on once engineer has left In fact, it is standard practice that engineers say that they have to mark it unsafe to comply with laws but it is up to the occupier to continue whether to use unsafe appliances.

DVardysShadow

ReadingTim wrote: »

If the gas engineer suspects a problem, they have the power to shut off the gas to the boiler (and therefore shut off the vendor's central heating and hot water) until it's fixed.

I doubt it is a power. Maybe a duty. But only if they are engaged by the homeowner. If they are engaged by a prospective purchaser, then they would have a duty to point out anything unsafe, but it would be a cheek too far IMO to actually turn the appliance off.

Sugared-frog

We had the Gas Safe engineer to check over our new house the day after getting it - he looked at the fire in the front room - said it was unsafe and that he had to CUT the gas pipe leading to the fire and seal off the end. If the person doing the check found something similar then they could be left without a boiler which in this weather I could understand their reluctance not to be in that situation. In our case the fire was only about 8 years old. (And luckily the boiler was OK).

phill99

You need to examine why the surveyor recommended the check. Its not because he thinks the electrics or gas installations are unsafe. He is doing it because he is not qualified to comment on the safety of these installations and is therefore covring himsef.

Even if the boiler was installed the day prior to the surveyors inspection and a safety certificate issued the same day and the house rewired and signed off on the same day, the surveyor will still put in a standard clause telling you to get them checked because a) he is covering his back and b)it is illegal for him to check them unless he is appropriately qualified, which he isn't.