Problems with gas safety cert

charliewocka

Must say that even though we asked for maintenance and service records it doesn't mean too much. We moved in just under 3 weeks ago and our 3 way valve appears to have gone (actuator I think) so will be replaced at the weekend. OH is going to talk me through it!

LEJC

I can only echo what charliewokka says....actually a GSC is just a snapshot at a particular time and really wont show up any problems regarding the age or efficiency of the tested items.

We recently purchased a flat and when we purchased the vendor saw fit to issue a GSC even though we did not ask for it ....we were buying as BTL but were very happy to arrange our own inspection....
The GSC was completed by a gas safe engineer and did fail to highlight a few issues which we had fixed by our engineer and a new GSC issued....roll on 6 weeks and the boiler did infact break down...nothing to do with the components looked at as part of the GSC but something else. In essence we had 2 gas safety certificates issued within a space of 6 weeks and still ended up with a bill to fix the boiler so actually the GSC told us nothing about the condition or age of the appliances tested
There seems to be a perception by many that a GSC will tell you far more about the age and condition of a boiler....it doesnt necessarily do that and as such its not that valuable a document for a purchaser to seek from a vendor during a purchase.

Its also worth mentioning that a full GSC will look at all the gas appliances within your property not just the boiler...so in reality if you have a gas oven or hob that will also be tested as well as any other appliance....you may also be given advice or guidance on carbon monoxide monitors which are very soon to be made mandatory in rental properties but this is still something that is overlooked in private residences
The cost for a GSC is in the region of £65

OP you dont really say how old your boiler is or how regularly its been serviced etc....is that something that might be putting the purchaser in mindset of asking for a GSC rather than a service history or details about the boilers age?

It sounds to me that you have a very cautious buyer who is perhaps asking for the wrong documentation or is being misguided by others particularly considering a GSC is not usually issued as standard on a residential property that is not rented

lizziesmum

LEJC: I know! I think they've been scared by the 3s on the survey but since our only contact with them is through the EA who seems to be on their side, I don't know quite what to do.

Quizzical squirrel: annoyingly he's retired - that was my first thought too.

Thanks everyone, this has made me feel much more confident about telling them that there's no way they're taking my kitchen apart!

Jhoney_2

HappyMJ wrote: »

What do you mean by brand? Do you mean British Gas? I wouldn't touch them or any other large company.

For the test and cert, yes I did - them and other similar big 6 company. Simply for the benefit of neutrality and the unlikelihood that they would require the cupboards to be dismantled.

marleyboy

Chances are they have already lost interest. Not only for the chance of buying a property with a risk of it having a faulty\condemned boiler, but the idea that to have one repaired or serviced means tearing apart the kitchen.

LEJC

lizziesmum wrote: »

LEJC: I know! I think they've been scared by the 3s on the survey but since our only contact with them is through the EA who seems to be on their side, I don't know quite what to do.

Have they made you aware of the items that have been classed as 3's...again with surveys they do tend to air on the side of caution and its not uncommon for a boiler over the age of 7 years to be marked as a category 3 simply because the model is no longer made or parts are not readily sourced by a mainstream route that doesnt involve going back to the manufacturer.
BTW....lots of boilers last well beyond 7 years with no problems!


If you dont know what the concerns are ask....it may be easily fixable with the correct advice and notification...or at least you will be in the position to know that your buyer intends to seek indemnities from you or question installations that whilst conformed to safety standards when they were done may not now do so if they were fitted in the same manner today.

charliewocka

Should also point out that even on a gas safety certificate, it may be overall rated as being safe for use, but may have safety advisory warnings/comments. An example of this would be in the house I just vacated - gas safety cert was issued but installations were not to current code. Still safe, but the extractor hood on the cooker should be higher up. A valve was installed a different way around, no earthing to the house (or inadequate). This freaked me out at first but it's as code changes - unless there is an immediate safety issue, the cert will be issued.


As new landlords, myself and OH have just had the gas safety certificate issued and a couple of advisory comments including the ohm readings for the earth ground were reading high. Again, still safe, just higher than normal. Vents to the boiler should be larger and at both high and low levels. But these were discussed and all appliances in the property have been deemed safe to use - just would be installed differently if done to today's standards.


I get the impression your buyers might be the sort of people who may see advisory comments as ways to amend the value, change terms etc. and may also be like this with other aspects of your purchase. Stand your ground and tell them if they don't like it, house will go back on the market. If they are FTBs it may explain?

AdrianC

Another vote for not letting 'em take the cupboards apart. If they do that, then the chain falls apart... what then? Will they be putting the cupboards back together again at the time? What if the cupboards are damaged in the dismantling?

If the cupboards are that tight up to the boiler, you'll probably find that a BG service will either flag that as a big issue or just refuse to service it - the regs have required a certain separation for quite a few years.

LEJC

lizziesmum wrote: »

He has written on his report that it appears to be in excellent condition.

But that appears different to the wording you used in your opening post.....if he has confirmed something in a written report then his buyers should take his words of wisdom as written thats different to ....then said he'd just have to tell them he couldn't do it.

lizziesmum

It is 5 years old and I have (or rather their solicitor has) the building regs compliance cert.

The 3s simply indicate that the surveyor didn't test the gas as he's not qualified to do so. They do not indicate a specific problem.