Should we push for vendor to get gas and elec safety checks?

rosie383

We are in the process of selling and buying. We had a homebuyer's survey done on our new property and even though the homeowner told the surveyor and estate agent that he has had the boiler etc serviced every year, he was unable to produce any paperwork.
I'm about to post all the paper work off to the conveyancer. Do we just go ahead and keep pushing him to get the check done? We are getting the feeling that the vendor will have money once they get the proceeds of the sale but are cash poor at the minute due to being unable to work for a while due to ill health.
We are trying to come to an arrangement with them where we will take some of their furniture which they aren't taking with them, and then we will erect the fence which has fallen down, that kind of thing, so that no actual money is changing hands.
So do we make sure that the gas and electrical safety certs are done before exchange, or take the risk and get it done ourselves?

pinkteapot

Typically the buyer would do any checks they want done - i.e. you'd pay for reports by a gas engineer and an electrician if you want them, just like you paid for your survey. When we sold, I certainly wouldn't have paid for these myself.

You could try asking though - you might get lucky if it was a difficult-to-sell house and the seller is desperate...

JencParker

I think you are confusing it with rented property where there is a legal requirement to have these checks done. It is not necessary when selling a house. As has been said, if you want them done, then you would pay for them yourself along with your survey.

4nnabella

Our vendor agreed to split the cost of an elec safety check 50:50 when we said we wanted one done.

bmunky7

Can't hurt to ask them to pay or share cost but I guess they'd be reluctant if they have had boiler etc serviced but just didn't keep paperwork. Do you have reason to doubt the gas and electric is safe? Probably something to get done when you move in, it's what we plan to do, and doesn't cost much.

agrinnall

bmunky7 wrote: »

Can't hurt to ask them to pay or share cost but I guess they'd be reluctant if they have had boiler etc serviced but just didn't keep paperwork. Do you have reason to doubt the gas and electric is safe? Probably something to get done when you move in, it's what we plan to do, and doesn't cost much.

The check won't cost much, but what if it finds that a new boiler is required and the whole house has to be rewired?

Poppet2014_2

Homebuyers report will recommend checks regardless of any real need so often sellers won't foot the bill.

That said we decided to pay for gas safety as we had an old boiler and in return they paid full amount for furniture they wanted.

As for electrics what age is the house?

G_M

The sellers have lived there happily using the boiler, and plugging in the vacuum, without any problems (presumably). Why should they now suddenly get inspections done? They are leaving!

You are moving in (perhaps). So if you want peace of mind, pay for inspections.

bmunky7

agrinnall wrote: »

The check won't cost much, but what if it finds that a new boiler is required and the whole house has to be rewired?

It's extremely unlikely that a new boiler and whole house rewiring would be required, especially if other than recommending safety checks the surveyor raised no other concerns with these elements. Frankly the safety checks are for peace of mind. If you have had safety checks done which recommended new boilers and whole house rewiring please let me know, I'd be very interested to hear about it.

agrinnall

bmunky7 wrote: »

It's extremely unlikely that a new boiler and whole house rewiring would be required, especially if other than recommending safety checks the surveyor raised no other concerns with these elements. Frankly the safety checks are for peace of mind. If you have had safety checks done which recommended new boilers and whole house rewiring please let me know, I'd be very interested to hear about it.

I've never had any checks done before buying a property, and I've never needed to have them done after moving in either.

But given that boilers do fail and properties do need to be rewired it's pretty obvious that the checks may find something. And as we have no idea what sort of survey the OP had done it would be naive to suggest that problems might be flagged up in advance.

bedfordshireboy

Your call. However I'm in the same position and my sellers seem in a similar position to yours.
I've requested a service of the boiler to be done before completion and I won't exchange until I've got that in writing.
They too advised me it was serviced annually however have no evidence to back it up. So they now have to foot the bill to get it done.
If they refuse, I might just delay exchanging for a few weeks which would be most inconvenient for them (as they are desperate to move) and cost them a lot more than the £100 for a service... as harsh as it sounds, their personal situation is not your problem.
A verbal declaration was made that they have had it done, and your offer is based on that plus many other factors, if they can't evidence it you shouldn't have to pay... that's my personal opinion.