Gas boiler query

marksoton

Evening all,

I'm in the process of a FTB( No help to buy etc ) and all has progressed well. My solicitor has forwarded me the contract/searches and having a look at it i have one query.

The gas boiler. I've not been supplied with any evidence of either a gas safety certificate or a gas service record. On the standard LS form it says the boiler was installed in 2004.

The lack of paperwork and the fact that year is a precursor to new legislation has flagged for me. I've instructed my solicitor that i'm not prepared to go to exchange until the vendor has proven/carried out a full gas service.

Is this standard procedure or am i being unreasonable? To date we've both seemed happy but i'm not prepared to expose myself to potential large financial risk.

All opinions welcome.

Hoploz

You can arrange for your own engineer to check the system over, or you can do as you suggest and ask the seller to get a check/service done. They may say yes or no, so be prepared to pay for it yourself, if you have concerns.

Innys1

A vendor is not obliged to provide either a gas safety certificate or an evidence of regular service. Indeed, even a landlord is only obliged to provide the former annually.

Personally, I think annual services for boilers are a waste of money. My present boiler has been in situ for 10 years, been serviced once, three years ago, and has never had a fault. Annual services during that time would have cost well over a grand.

If you are that concerned about the boiler, either replace it yourself as soon as you move in, or don't buy as you're clearly unprepared for the financial consequences and/or responsibility of doing so.

maninthestreet

Gas safety certificates are only required for rental properties.

marksoton

Hoploz wrote: »

You can arrange for your own engineer to check the system over, or you can do as you suggest and ask the seller to get a check/service done. They may say yes or no, so be prepared to pay for it yourself, if you have concerns.

Agreed, which is the course of action i'm planning on.

marksoton

Innys1 wrote: »

A vendor is not obliged to provide either a gas safety certificate or an evidence of regular service. Indeed, even a landlord is only obliged to provide the former annually.

Personally, I think annual services for boilers are a waste of money. My present boiler has been in situ for 10 years, been serviced once, three years ago, and has never had a fault. Annual services during that time would have cost well over a grand.

If you are that concerned about the boiler, either replace it yourself as soon as you move in, or don't buy as you're clearly unprepared for the financial consequences and/or responsibility of doing so.

Point taken. And annual services do seem excessive but no paperwork for 11 years and 2004 seemed too convenient. The vendor has no paperwork to show in this case to mitigate my concerns.

I have no specific concerns about the boiler but i'd be an idiot to expose myself to the risk of 2K for a new one if it did go wrong.

The fact i'm asking these questions would suggest i'm pretty prepared and indemnifying myself against the risk would it not?

wwl

Just because it's safe doesn't mean it won't conk out next week.
Probably at least as important to check if it's a model that parts are still available for.
And bear in mind a modern boiler may pay for itself in a few years in efficiency savings.

Innys1

marksoton wrote: »

Point taken. And annual services do seem excessive but no paperwork for 11 years and 2004 seemed too convenient. The vendor has no paperwork to show in this case to mitigate my concerns.

I have no specific concerns about the boiler but i'd be an idiot to expose myself to the risk of 2K for a new one if it did go wrong.

The fact i'm asking these questions would suggest i'm pretty prepared and indemnifying myself against the risk would it not?

The fact you were not aware of the irrelevance of a GSC and the questionable benefits of a service indicated to me that you may have been uncertain of the risks of home ownership.

It's not unusual - those who rent are often blissfully unaware of what is involved when you own a property.

marksoton

wwl wrote: »

Just because it's safe doesn't mean it won't conk out next week.
Probably at least as important to check if it's a model that parts are still available for.
And bear in mind a modern boiler may pay for itself in a few years in efficiency savings.

Indeed, and you're latter point is relevant too. Thank you.

marksoton

Innys1 wrote: »

The fact you were not aware of the irrelevance of a GSC and the questionable benefits of a service indicated to me that you may have been uncertain of the risks of home ownership.

It's not unusual - those who rent are often blissfully unaware of what is involved when you own a property.

Alright, i'll take that one on the chin!

And the inputs been very helpful. Again, thank you.

The vendor has been great to this point but their lack of candour over the boiler troubles me. I'd rather any costs were dealt with now before exchange.

G_M

They have been candid. They answered your questions about paperwork.

You can, of course, ask them to get the boiler either inspected (for safety) or serviced, and they might agree. I wouldn't.

Have you had a survey done? Who paid? You or the seller? Why? And why should checking the boiler be different?

If you buy a brand new house, you expect everything including the boiler to be brand new. If you buy a 2nd hand house............