Buying a house- re-negotiate for old/faulty boiler?

Talc1234

tbs624 wrote: »

Yes, its up to a buyer to get things checked out but note that the vendor/vendor's girlfriend appears to have given untruthful information on the boiler's age. It's a pity that the OP probably didn't get that confirmed in writing at an early stage if money is tight.
Nothing wrong with an attempt to re-negotiate. If completion is due mid Jan, the vendor may not be in a position to "laugh in your face" - their own move may be dependent on a fairly prompt sale.

This "teach you" attitude towards the other party that often seems to prevail from both buyers and sellers really does no one any favours.

The seller might have been deceitful or may have confused the expansion tank as a new boiler but there probably is nothing in writing ever to claim that the boiler was 2 years old. I am all for negotiating after survey but to try and renegotiate 3 weeks before completion sounds like a spot of gazundering on something the OP really should have checked before.

Boilers can be bought for less than £3000. A two year old boiler isn't new and doesn't warrant a new value. So maybe a £1000 discount would be more reasonable.

Shared between buyer and seller as the buyer didn't check before offering (due diligence) so that makes it a £500 goodwill offer

As a seller I would hold tight on this one

Atomix

Mmm.... Why should the house come with a brand new boiler?

It's had something fitted x2 years ago, probably been checked over at the same time - works fine....

It's like saying - buying a house, kitchen appliances are 10 years old, therefore I want brand new appliances fitted...? Err no.

If your that worried, save a bit each month as a contingency, chances are it will last another 10 years...

ACG

You can ask for whatever you want... whether you will get it is another thing.
I have seen unreasonable buyers with stupid demands and stupid sellers refusing to put right something they clearly should and losing a house sale because of it.

People quoting thousands for a boiler need to go and see a doctor.
http://search.diy.com/search#w=boiler&asug= B&Q have them for £600 or less, you then have the cost of fitting it but that should not be much more than say £150.

If the boiler is due for replacement and the price you offered assumed at had a few years left in the tank then i would be saying knock of £500 as a bit of a negotiation, maybe £750 at most.

I would not be asking them to stump up the cash, just reduce the purchase price by the amount.

If the price you offered is fair even with the boiler needing replacing, then its entirely up to you what to do.

I bought my house a year ago, it was a complete bargain. I didnt bargain for it needing the electrics doing which came back in the report... for the sake of £1400 it was not worth the hassle as it was a bargain and negotiating would have dragged it out and cost me another £400 in rent.

katejo

I would raise with them the issue of the apparent lie about the age of the boiler and make it clear that my original offer was based on it only being 2 years old. However I wouldn't want the owner to replace it as they might just have the cheapest possible (high maintenance?) one installed. I would want to use a reputable installer to install the one of my choice (based on professional recommendation)

Kazza_Monkey

our boiler was 30+ years old and worked fine for the past 9 years we have lived there. Unluckily, for us , our heating packed up a month after we got the offer on our house from our buyers and it was terminal for the boiler so we paid for a £3000 worcester greenstar replacement with 8 year warranty. And yet our wonderful buyers are still trying to knock us down on price despite this even though the damp and timber survey they insisted on having also came back clear. I guess you get mickey takers from both aspects. Hope it all works out for you, you seem more reasonable than our buyers

MysteryMe

Everything needs replacing over time, if people want brand new boilers then buy a new house.

minibbb

Thank you for all your replies......mixed opinions then!!

I hope I don't comes across as unreasonable or that I'm throwing my toys out of the pram as that's not the case- we are just a little put out that having been told it was a two year old boiler it's actually much older and has had issues! The house is priced about right for what it is and isn't a bargain as such.

It was my solicitor who suggested going back to the vendors about the issue so I'll see what the outcome of that it, a reduction/ contribution towards a replacement boiler would be a fair outcome IMO

Talc1234

minibbb wrote: »

Thank you for all your replies......mixed opinions then!!

I hope I don't comes across as unreasonable or that I'm throwing my toys out of the pram as that's not the case- we are just a little put out that having been told it was a two year old boiler it's actually much older and has had issues! The house is priced about right for what it is and isn't a bargain as such.

It was my solicitor who suggested going back to the vendors about the issue so I'll see what the outcome of that it, a reduction/ contribution towards a replacement boiler would be a fair outcome IMO

Not at all. TBH as a buyer I would have punt too if I thought I had half a chance of getting a price cut.

But as a seller I would tell you where to go.

Good luck and let us know if you are successful