Sold house 8 months ago, buyer claims boiler not working!

Slinky

molerat wrote: »

Which takes care of the first 5 working days, even in Scotland the liability does not run to months.

I know that it's time limited there but maybe the purchaser doesn't. There was a thread a couple of weeks back where a purchaser was going off on one about things not working, the penny dropped with the poster when Scotland was mentioned as the purchaser was Scottish, but the property was in England.

davidmcn

Slinky wrote: »

I know that it's time limited there but maybe the purchaser doesn't.

The purchaser's solicitor would though. (given the lack of reference to a Home Report I'm presuming it's not Scotland anyway).

Hoploz

This is all rubbish. I am sure you're right about the engineer wanting to get lots of work out of it. Virtually every tradesman I've ever had dealings with has sucked in through teeth and said something or other about what wasn't done right by someone else god knows how many years ago ... It's standard conversation to complain like this before getting on with the actual work, I think it must be part of city and guilds training or whatever it is these days.

Don't worry. It is up to the buyer to check things and satisfy himself about the condition of everything - this is why surveys are suggested - at the point of writing up the contracts. Once contracts are exchanged then it's final. You have to hand over the house in the condition it was at exchange. Which you did. It's called Buyer Beware. Even if this letter had come one week after moving he wouldn't have a leg to stand on, never mind 8 months!

glasgowdan

You're getting way way too bogged down in all the detail. It doesn't matter. None of those details above matter. It's the other guy's house and he needs to pay for things. Just ignore, and if they put in a small claims just state facts and forget about it as it'll get thrown in the bin instantly.

ThePants999

Sounds awfully similar to https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5497684 !

frogernoff

Thank you all for the replies, I do feel a bit better but still have to draft a reply to his solicitor. I'm worried that if he takes us to court that we'll lose and have to pay even more when we can't afford it.

With being on maternity leave with a toddler and a new baby, I don't want to have to contact (or pay for) a solicitor to deal with it from my end, I don't feel like I should!

frogernoff

Oh, it's not Scotland by the way. It's England.

sultanabran

He didn't have money a few months ago to get the boiler inspected but now suddenly has money to get everything checked out and to fund legal proceedings via a solicitor?

custardy

frogernoff wrote: »

Oh, it's not Scotland by the way. It's England.

My condolences.

martinbuckley

The sale particulars by the agent usually contain a disclaimer that gas & electric appliances haven't been tested and it is the buyers responsibility to check everything works.