Buyer requesting we service our boiler prior to exchange - reasonable?

DRP

A service document isn't necessarily evidence that the boiler isn't knackered.*

We have a service dated the week before we moved into this house - less than 2 years later we're having it replaced as each service we have had done has/will cost ridiculous amounts.

*I'd say a service history might be more valuable

Marktheshark

Personally I would reply, no, you want the boiler servicing, you have it done when you move in.

G_M

Slouching_wolf wrote: »

... This is what our sols sent to us in an email yesterday;

As there is no up to date service record for the boiler, the buyer has requested that you have the boiler serviced, and provide a copy of the inspection report, prior to exchange of contracts. Are you prepared to do this?

Your solicitor is not advising you to do it. Or to not do it. He is simply passing on a message.

moneyistooshorttomention

Personally, in the buyers' shoes I would be feeling astonished that the boiler hadn't had its yearly service - and for the last 4 years at that.

Everyone knows boilers are supposed to be serviced annually.

I didn't ask re the boiler servicing on my current house for the simple reason I could see it wasn't a proper modern set-up anyway (like everything else in the house then....) and I knew it needed to be replaced right away to make sure the house was standard modern mains set-up.

However, on coming to do the first of its annual services, the engineer commented that my guarantee on the boiler would be invalid if I missed doing those annual services. I think my boiler guarantee is a 10 year one??? - so maybe the buyer is concerned from that viewpoint as well (ie that they may not be able to claim on the boiler guarantee if you haven't had your annual services done).

As stated - its not going to cost that much (less than £100). Get it done - or the buyer is likely to start wondering whether such a service would reveal that the boiler was knackered and that's why you are refusing to do so and knock money off you anyway (ie on the assumption that this lack of servicing is concealing a dud boiler).

spirit

Having it serviced and/or saftey certificate is pretty much meaningless anyway.

I bought this house (14 years old, original boiler) 7 months ago and had asked for a safety cert. I took about 2 months to come through. I now know why.

Moved in early Feb, heating came on ok day 1, day 2 it wouldn't. Rang the plumber who did the safety cert. He had told my seller that it was knackered and needed replacing and in fact condemed it at first (house had been empty since the July). Seller said, no, not replacing it, just bodge it for the sale.

So plumber did that - eventually, and then was able to issue the safety cert.

I had to buy a new boiler.

chile_paul

If you were selling a car which hadn't been serviced in 4 years you wouldn't get full market value for it - can't see any difference myself

GwylimT

To be honest if I found out the boiler hadn't been serviced in four years I would be concerned about what else had been neglected in the house. It would put me off buying, so really it depends on how much you want to move.

chile_paul

spirit wrote: »

Having it serviced and/or saftey certificate is pretty much meaningless anyway.

I bought this house (14 years old, original boiler) 7 months ago and had asked for a safety cert. I took about 2 months to come through. I now know why.

Moved in early Feb, heating came on ok day 1, day 2 it wouldn't. Rang the plumber who did the safety cert. He had told my seller that it was knackered and needed replacing and in fact condemed it at first (house had been empty since the July). Seller said, no, not replacing it, just bodge it for the sale.

So plumber did that - eventually, and then was able to issue the safety cert.

I had to buy a new boiler.

You should be reporting the plumber to gas safe in that case!

Davesnave

spirit wrote: »

. Seller said, no, not replacing it, just bodge it for the sale.

So plumber did that - eventually, and then was able to issue the safety cert.

I had to buy a new boiler.

That's what I'd do too in this scenario. I'd say, "Phil, get the thing going and give me a bit of paper saying you've serviced it."

And Phil would, because he's a nice chap.

All a pointless exercise, but not something to lose a sale over. The purchaser should really get their own person to do it, whatever the perceived problem.

molerat

chile_paul wrote: »

You should be reporting the plumber to gas safe in that case!

Why ? As long as the boiler is repaired to a safe standard there is no problem. Whether the repair is going to last and the boiler will break down again is not a problem as long as the forseen breakdown will not present a safety hazard. I hope you never fly if you expect everything to be done perfectly with no temporary repairs to get by, exactly the same scenario.