Being chased for seller's bill

ldm84

Hello, long time lurker here!

We completed on our first house this week. Before exchange we had a gas check completed and found that the boiler wasn't working. We insisted it was fixed before completion, and this was done.

The vendor used the same company as the gas check for the repair. So they have our details.

Three days after completion, and the vendor is about to leave the country (tomorrow) when we get a phone call from the boiler repair company.

They say the vendor hasn't paid for the repairs and therefore we must, as their parts are now in our working boiler. They say either we can pay or they can remove the parts.

Any advice where we stand on this? They called after 6pm this evening when solicitors/estate agents are closed.

hcb42

ldm84 wrote: »

Hello, long time lurker here!

We completed on our first house this week. Before exchange we had a gas check completed and found that the boiler wasn't working. We insisted it was fixed before completion, and this was done.

The vendor used the same company as the gas check for the repair. So they have our details.

Three days after completion, and the vendor is about to leave the country (tomorrow) when we get a phone call from the boiler repair company.

They say the vendor hasn't paid for the repairs and therefore we must, as their parts are now in our working boiler. They say either we can pay or they can remove the parts.

Any advice where we stand on this? They called after 6pm this evening when solicitors/estate agents are closed.

tell them to chase the seller.

ldm84

They say his phone is off and he's leaving country tomorrow, so they reckon we are liable for the bill.

artbaron

They can't take the parts and they can't force you to pay. The bill has nothing to do with you. Tell them to go screw themselves.

Hedgehog99

You didn't own the house when the repair was done. The fact you now own the parts is irrelevant.

Someone's trying it on - either your seller had no intention of paying or the company has been paid once and is trying to get the cash out of you as well.

ldm84

Thanks artbaron.

Came out of the blue and wasn't the friendliest of phone calls to take!

freeisgood

Absolutely nothing to do with you. You bought the house including the boiler and all its parts. If the boiler company bother you again, I would deem it as harassment. Just tell them it is between the old owners and them.

ldm84

Hedgehog99 wrote: »

You didn't own the house when the repair was done. The fact you now own the parts is irrelevant.

Someone's trying it on - either your seller had no intention of paying or the company has been paid once and is trying to get the cash out of you as well.

Thanks, it's been a bit of a nightmare week. He left pretty much all of his belongings in the house, and now this!

ldm84

Thanks everyone. I'm not going to call them back, but will ring estate agents and make them aware of situation.

moneyistooshorttomention

My thoughts are "You and whose army is going to break into my house then to recover those parts?"

The sellers responsibility and this firm is trying to treat you as the fallguys on this.

In your position, I would send them written proof as to completion date (ie the date as from which the house was mine and my responsibility) and point out the date on which the job was done (ie prior to that date) and "re-confirm" that the job was done before you took ownership of the house and had been booked by the seller and offer them any contact details you have for them to contact the seller.

It's a try-on by them.

ldm84

That's great advice, thanks. Will do that tomorrow.

They still haven't sent us our invoice for the gas check, despite us asking for it.