Gas and Electric certificates?

Paul_Masson

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could help. I'm in the process of buying a house (first time buyer). The survey has been done and come back saying the electrics are not up to standard and I need a gas certificate to make sure all that's ok. These were both graded as a 3.

The survey recommended I get a report for both gas and electrics which the vendor won't pay for, because the estate agents have told them it could be a tool to negotiate a lower price. I really just need the reports to see how much the work might cost (ie, the electrics needs a new junction box and associated re-wiring which could run into thousands). Is it up to me to pay for these reports even if they can't provide a gas and electric certificate to say they have both been serviced and are up to standard? Does anyone have any other advice? I'm really close to just dropping out of this!

Thank you kindly!

HouseBuyer77

More or less every survey will list both gas and electrics as a 3 saying further inspection required unless the surveyor has seen up to date certificates.

Most people don't bother getting their boiler serviced yearly or an EICR (electrical check) conducted every 10 years so lack these things. It may be nothing to worry about.

Do you know how old the boiler is? Did the surveyor say anything about the electrical installation? It could be worth giving the surveyor a ring for an informal opinion (perhaps it all looks fine, perhaps they've spotted some genuine causes for concern).

House buying is a negotiation, so either party could pay for the reports but it's almost always the buyer that does it (this is better for you anyway as the people doing the reports will be answering to you, not the vendor).

Kynthia

The vendor doesn't have to have their boiler serviced or get their electrics checked, apart from at installation or any major works. The vendor probably feels both are safe as they are living there and using them. You want these checked to see if you want to continue buying the property or if any works needed will affect the price you want to pay. So guess who has to pay for them? Sometime if a seller is desperate the buyer can convince them to pay but generally it's up to a buyer to do whatever investigations they feel necessary to check they want to buy a place (searches, survey, etc).

Do you have any reason to think there's anything wrong with the heating or electrics? Not up to current standards means nothing as standards change every year or two and they don't apply retrospectively. All you need to know is that they are safe and are any essential works needed anytime soon. Some people decide not to bother with checks as they want the property anyway and do any checks once they move in, others pay for a safety check. It's up to you.

Paul_Masson

Hi, thanks both for your replies.
it's good to know that this is the kind of thing that comes up a lot on surveys, I've been panicking thinking this is going to cost me thousands!
I think there is something wrong with electrics but the gas just needs checking to make sure it doesn't need anything doing to it. I think I'll probably just sort out an electrician to cost up anything that needs doing.
Thanks so much for your help, you've made me feel better about it!

tberry6686

Just remember that if a house is more than 2 years old the electrics will probably not meet the current standard. Doesn't mean there is anything wrong with them, just that the standards change every few years

Brown_Eyed_Girl

Out of curiosity and not specific to this case - if the seller was a landlord, would they have to have a certificate for the electrics as well as the gas safety check?

G_M

Brown_Eyed_Girl wrote: »

Out of curiosity and not specific to this case - if the seller was a landlord, would they have to have a certificate for the electrics as well as the gas safety check?

No. The electrics must be 'safe' but there is no legal requirement for a LL to inspect them/get a certificate each year as is the case with gas.

Fil57

Hi Brown eyed girl,

Just wondered if it's legal about these gas safety certificates? My solicitor or conveyancer is asking in anticipation of the buyers requesting this. I have supplied an up to date annual service and the boiler is seven years old. He wants me to get an imndemity insurance.

kinger101

Fil57 wrote: »

Hi Brown eyed girl,

Just wondered if it's legal about these gas safety certificates? My solicitor or conveyancer is asking in anticipation of the buyers requesting this. I have supplied an up to date annual service and the boiler is seven years old. He wants me to get an imndemity insurance.

If you've provided the service record already, just tell the vendors to pay for their own inspection if they want anything more. If they request it (and you've lost it), you can also get a replacement installation certificate here from Corgi (for installations between 2005-2009).

http://www.corgiservices.com/homeowners/replacement-certificates/

I wouldn't insure what will be their boiler any more that I'd insure their car.

camptownraces

"Just wondered if it's legal about these gas safety certificates? My solicitor or conveyancer is asking in anticipation of the buyers requesting this. I have supplied an up to date annual service and the boiler is seven years old. He wants me to get an imndemity insurance."

Only landlords need to provide Gas Safety Certificates to their tenants. Owner occupiers don't need to have them done.

If your buyers are planning to let the property, indemnity insurance isn't going to make place safe or legal - they'd have to get a GSC commissioned before letting the place.

A GSC is valid for 12 months, so if you could show a valid certificate expiring in 6 weeks, then what?

Kynthia

Fil57 wrote: »

Hi Brown eyed girl,

Just wondered if it's legal about these gas safety certificates? My solicitor or conveyancer is asking in anticipation of the buyers requesting this. I have supplied an up to date annual service and the boiler is seven years old. He wants me to get an imndemity insurance.

An indemnity against what? Rather than talking about a gas safety cert or boiler service history, are you missing the boiler installation documentation as that's something different?