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

Mocha61

I agree with you, boilers should be serviced every year, and im sure a lot of home insurance policies request this to.

DaftyDuck

Just as an aside, I sold my house earlier this year. Gas boiler needed annual service some two months after offer accepted (3 days after marketing it). I got boiler serviced as a "goodwill gesture" that same week, and sent papers on to my solicitor. Sale sailed through - exchange in 18 days, completion ten days later. Neighbour has had failed sstc four times, number 22 at other end sstc twice so far, and counting. No other house in the immediate area has completed a sale this year. So, £56 would seem a wise investment in my case.

Small things matter. I'd do it. I wouldn't blink .....

ManuelG

Yeah hindsight says I dodged a bullet. House was empty for nearly a year before I moved in, boiler hadn't been serviced for a while, it was the first thing I did when moved in.

Luckily not much wrong except for a thermostat on water heater, total bill of £85.

I was lucky though and if I move again I'll be insisting on a boiler service before I exchange. If I could get the seller to agree to pay for it so much the better and I'd at least ask.

martindow

If I were you OP I would ask the person servicing it to not include things that your buyer could use to knock some money off the buying price.

You want a piece of paper saying that the boiler is operating safely, heating water and not emitting CO. What you don't want is a string of comments about parts that will need replacing soon or about the age of the boiler and possible difficulties getting spares.

stardust09

Davesnave wrote: »

Your message would have slightly greater impact if you could be sure yourself about the difference between carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2)

Apologies, this was an autocorrect error, now amended! Clearly CO2 gas is very essential for our survival, in the correct quantities. :wall:

Jhoney_2

Slouching_wolf wrote: »

Hi,

Had a request come through from our solicitor from our buyers solicitor asking us if we would be prepared to get someone to service our boiler before exchange of contracts. We haven't had this done in about 4 years.

Is this request expected and reasonable, or should we ask them to pay for it if they want it doing?

Thanks in advance

I think for your own safety, you are right to get it done - 4yrswithout checking what condition it was sold to you in?!:eek: or was that the last time you had it checked yourself?

Perhaps, advise that you will agree to their wishes - but suggest after exchange.

I never would risk it for £50-100, life is short and precious, but also you may lose your sale that's presumably making you £K's.

marleyboy

Davesnave wrote: »

I've never bought a house where the condition of the boiler would have been a deal breaker.

If that situation arose, I'd be worried about my attitude towards the house!

Have only EVER bought one house - so for me it was a deal breaker as I was in no big rush to buy the property, particularly one where there is a risk of spending a further fortune on boiler repair\replacement.

I liken it to buying a second hand car with no service history or M.O.T. I am not likely to pay for the service on a vehicle I am thinking of buying. Particularly if I can just go elsewhere and buy one that has had one done.

MobileSaver

stardust09 wrote: »

I know that people will alway neglect gas safety checks but I can't understand the logic of this. ...
I couldn't live with my conscience if one (or all) of my family, or neighbours, died just because I didn't pay for a relatively cheap safety check.

Do you have your electrics checked every year too?

Davesnave

marleyboy wrote: »

Have only EVER bought one house - so for me it was a deal breaker as I was in no big rush to buy the property, particularly one where there is a risk of spending a further fortune on boiler repair\replacement.

I liken it to buying a second hand car with no service history or M.O.T. I am not likely to pay for the service on a vehicle I am thinking of buying. Particularly if I can just go elsewhere and buy one that has had one done.

Houses aren't like cars. They're tied to location and that makes each one unique. The difference becomes obvious over time, when similar properties in the same condition, but in different places, realise quite different amounts on resale.

The first house I bought there was no boiler and the hot water geyser was condemned, so the BS kept a retention till I'd had a modern multipoint installed. None of that put me off though, because I knew the place was still a great buy in a location where very little came to market.

That's what I mean about not letting something trifling like a boiler stand between me and a property. Didn't then and wouldn't now. There are far more important considerations when purchasing the most expensive item one is ever likely to own.

chile_paul

molerat wrote: »

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.

The post that I had replied to had indicated that the plumber had originally condemned the boiler but had then (in their words) bodged it to allow the sale to proceed.

If the boiler had been condemned (and I appreciate that given the poster wasn't present this may have been miscommunicated or misunderstood) this indicates that the appliance was Immediately Dangerous. Quoting the Gas Safe website:

"An “immediately dangerous” installation is one which, if operated or left connected to a gas supply, is considered to be an immediate danger to life or property.

The installation will be disconnected, with your permission, and must not be used until the necessary work has been carried out to repair the defect(s). If you continue to use an immediately dangerous installation you could be putting you or your family’s lives in danger."

If indeed the plumber had then agreed to "bodge" the situation to help the sale go through - he should be reported and deserves everything that gets thrown at him…….

Anyway, appreciate we're well off the track of the OP's original post now and none of us were there when the plumber actually provided the advice now so I'll shut up