Selling with NHBC cert

melanieconway

Hi

I am in the process of selling my house which is within it's NHBC guarantee.

The solicitors have asked for certificates for the boiler and electrics installation but I don't ever remember getting either of these, and I thought all this stuff would be covered by the NHBC inspection (i.e. not the fact that they are working, but that they have been installed correctly by competent people).

Am I wrong on this or should I have received some certificates?

Thanks
Mel

jaybeetoo

Yes, you should have received them. How long ago was the house built?

MonsieurFrugal

The developer should have copies of all certificates or at least details of the installers who should also have copies.

bylromarha

melanieconway wrote: »

Hi

I am in the process of selling my house which is within it's NHBC guarantee.

The solicitors have asked for certificates for the boiler and electrics installation but I don't ever remember getting either of these, and I thought all this stuff would be covered by the NHBC inspection (i.e. not the fact that they are working, but that they have been installed correctly by competent people).

Am I wrong on this or should I have received some certificates?

Thanks
Mel

Mine were in a massive pile of stuff I got handed from the builders on completion day.

The NHBC certificate arrived in the post a couple of weeks after completion.

melanieconway

jaybeetoo wrote: »

Yes, you should have received them. How long ago was the house built?

It was built in 2007. I'll have a hunt in all the bumpf I hid in a file in the garage. If I received it then it's there if not then I didn't get it.

The developers were the worst kind of cowboys (despite being a national co) so I don't rate my chances of getting the paperwork from them even if they are responsible for sending me it!

jaybeetoo

If it was 2007 then Corgi would have been administering the gas safety certificates. You can get a copy from http://www.corgiservices.com/homeowners/replacement-certificates/

PompeyPete

I don't know the answer to this, hence the question.

Who's responsibility is it to make sure that all these Certificates are issued and received after completion of New Build properties?

- Is the purchaser expected to know what to expect through the post from the Developer? Surely not!

- Is it something that the solicitor acting on behalf of the buyer should be keeping an eye on and chasing up as necessary post Completion?

If it's the latter and it's not done, then that's a real bummer to be landed with if you try to sell the property within it's NHBC guarantee period. Especially so if the Developer might have gone bust!

PompeyPete

Any offers on a reply to my posting above (#7)?

Basically, at what point do a solicitors services and charges normally cease?

Is it on completion or afterwards if there are documents, as described by the OP, which might still be outstanding but that the buyer might not reasonably be expected to be aware about?

The same thing regarding Share Certificates, where a Management Company has a say in the purchase and any subsequent sale a few years hence.

jaybeetoo

The developer should send the certificates direct to you. Your solicitor would have no way of knowing if this had been done unless you told them.

After all this time it is going to be hard proving if the developer sent them or not.

I think getting a copy is your only option. That is assuming the developer did register the installation with Corgi. If the developer didn't do it and they no longer exist then I assume you'll need a Gas Safe plumber to inspect the installation at your expense.

PompeyPete

jaybeetoo wrote: »

The developer should send the certificates direct to you. Your solicitor would have no way of knowing if this had been done unless you told them.

But how do you the client know that there might be important documents to follow after completion? Does the Developer tell you, or should your solicitor tell you what might outstanding and that it's then the clients responsibility to liaise with the Developer?

If it's the Developer, then he might forget(?) to tell you, and you won't realise until possibly years down the line.
And with your solicitor, well as he/she has earned a tidy sum from the client shouldn't he/she bear that responsibiltiy to tell the client about post-completion documentation?

Johnandabby

Or you make sure you ask your solicitor and developer for a full list of documents that you are expected to receive, and then check them off as you receive them.

My experience with solicitors, accountants and the like has always been that you can't expect to be spoon fed, you have to take an active role in asking questions. Not for new builds, but we have had to chase solicitor for final completion documents after every house purchase.