Buying House: Gas Safety Record Certificate No Gas Safety Installation Certifcate

domino47

Help!

The house that my mother is about to purchase is nearing completion. However things are being held up but her solicitors insistence that a 'Building Regulations Compliance Certificate' be produced for the boiler that was installed in 2011 when owned by the current vendor.

The vendors solicitor has provided us with a 'Home Owner Gas Safety Record' which has been carried out by an approved Gas Safe registered engineer around 2 weeks ago. The vendor is threatening to pull out of the sale if my mothers solicitor continues to insist for the 'Building Regulations Compliance Certificate' which he says he has not got. My understanding is that this certificate certifies that an installation was done in accordance with the Gas Safe installation. But surely this would be checked by a Gas Safety inspection??

If is really 'Building Regulations Compliance Certificate' and cant be produced what is the best way forward give the boiler has just had a Gas Safety Inspection?

Any advice welcome!

missile

I would suggest your mother's solicitor is being over cautious. A home owner gas safety certificate should be adequate. I assume the surveyor / mortgage provider have not raised it as an issue?

Remember your solicitor works for you. Tell him to proceed without, what I would suggest is a worthless piece of paper.

When I found a problem with my electrical installation, I got the 'Building Regulations Compliance Certificate' from my local council. It was one piece of paper signed by the site agent and not worth having.

domino47

Hi Thanks for that. The building survey suggested that a gas safety inspection should be carried out which was done accordingly. As my mother is downsizing to a smaller property

My initial gut feeling is what you have said, however:
From what i understand is a legal requirement for boiler to be registered with the local authority building regulations in order for a compliance certificate to be produced? My question then is what are the implications if this has not been done?

G_M

In theory, the council could require that the boiler is inspected for BRs compliance, and if non-compliant that it is removed and re-installed in accordance with the Building Regs.

In practice
a) the council will never come and investigate/inspect and
b) if you have a 'Home Owner Gas Safety Record' then compliance is not an issue so removal/re-installation would not be required

Your solicitor is chasing paper for no good reason.

Instruct him to proceed.

The only reason he could have for refusing is if a mortgage lender has insisted on the paperwork as a condition of the mortgage.