Buying house - boiler not serviced for 10 years. What wouldl you do?

DVardysShadow

Get a boiler inspection and report at your cost. And similarly a Periodical Inspection Report for the electrics. Before you agree to exchange contracts.

ChrisEvanson

As I said above, you really have to decide if the price you are paying is fair, based on no service for the boiler. If you don't then drop the price. If they refuse to accept the lower offer then walk away. If you aren't prepared to walk away then just buy it and if you have to replace the boiler then so be it.

Its like buying anything - a second hand car included. You want a FSH and the car you like hasn't got it but is top end but the seller won't budge. Ultimately you decide you want the car regardless or you walk away.

As I said in my post at the top of the thread, only you can decide what you want to pay. And as I said - by all means ask for the certs or pay yourself for an independent inspection if they refuse. It really is up to you.

martinthebandit

suebfg wrote: »

Primarily it's a safety concern - I don't want to move into a house with a potentially dangerous boiler. Plus I don't want the cost of replacing a boiler straightaway as the price agreed didn't reflect that.

But perhaps to the sellers your offer did?

It doesn't hurt to ask for anything but are you really willing to walk away from the property if you get an answer you don't like?

Lavendyr

suebfg wrote: »

I have higher expectations the more that I'm paying that's why. And why should I take the risk that the boiler needs replacing?

Then pay for an inspection to be carried out and remove the risk. If it then turns out that the boiler is dangerous, that's when you have a good bargaining tool. That's what most buyers would expect to do surely...although there's no harm in asking the sellers to have it done, they are under absolutely no obligation to agree to it.

Otherwise, if it's a dealbreaker and you refuse to spend the money on the inspection before exchange, walk away.

suebfg

Thanks for the advice - in the scheme of things, it isn't the deal breaker as we already have a potential one of those as posted yesterday. But it's another item we need to address.

DocProc

Tell them you are worried about the boiler just as an example, and that you think if you were to buy the property you might well be letting yourself in for some bills.

Accordingly, you feel it would be prudent to keep something in reserve and offerf them £5k less than the asking price.

Now they should be asking higher than they want anyhow, so for a good deal, the buying price really needs to be £10k less than the asking price.

suebfg

Out of interest, how do you arrive at £10k less than the asking price? Do you mean for the boiler or just in general?

cte1111

Are you a first time buyer? I've heard similar questions asked a number of times on here, but always from people who were previously renting. In rental, gas appliances must be inspected regularly by law, so they are. However most home owners don't bother unless there is something wrong, e.g. they have no hot water / heating.

My house is in great nick, fully rewired and refurbished a few years ago. However my boiler is old and hasn't been serviced in years. I did have it serviced when I moved in and every plumber that has looked at it, says that's a great boiler, don't let anyone tell you you need a new one. So we have kept it and are happy with it.

suebfg

No, I'm not a first time buyer but am currently renting after selling previous house. I admit I like the assurance that the landlord is required to have a safety certificate in place as I have a young family so safety is a priority.

G_M

Have you had a survey done? To check the condition of the rooof, th structure etc/

Why? Surely you

have higher expectations the more that you're paying that's why. And why should I take the risk that the roof needs replacing?

At this price level, the seller should pay for the survey to ensure you don't have an unexpected cost after purchase....

ps- when did the seller last have the drains inspected with cameras for blockages, tree roots/collapsed drains which might cause a blockage in the near future? Not recently?

Better get them to have a drain inspection pronto!