Gas fire certificates

sunflowers123

Hello

I'm getting my house sale ready and had my gas fire serviced for the first time in ten years (I used it in the first year but not since). Chimney has been swept but smoke is not fully drawing up and gas engineer has deemed it unsafe and disconnected the gas. He said it probably is going to cost a lot of money to fix as some of the smoke is going into the loft.

He suggested either leaving it disconnected or replacing it with an electric fire. Obviously I don't want to do the latter due to cost but I'm concerned a buyer may request a gas safety certificate. I don't want to lie and say I don't use it because I've got central heating (which is true) knowing that it doesn't work properly. Should I get it fixed now or gamble and hope im not asked to produce a certificate?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

ThePants999

I'm sorry, but you know of a problem, and you should disclose it to potential buyers. It's not just about production of a certificate - if you claim on the Property Information Form that there's working gas heating, then even if your buyer doesn't insist on a certificate, they buyer might sue when they discover it's faulty. Who'd win that case is not obvious, though if they managed to find the engineer you use and he told them what he told you, it would pretty much definitely be them, since they'd have proof that you knew of the problem and covered it up.

Just tell the truth - your buyer might not care in the slightest. After all, you haven't for nine years! The house we bought had a working fireplace, but we didn't want it, so it actually detracted from the value of the house as far as we were concerned, for all the vendors thought it added to it.

n217970

Electric fires are not expensive. If you have a socket handy you won't even need an electrician.

I don't even have a fire/fireplace in my house.

Cakeguts

Remove it and replace it with an electric fire.

Pixie5740

I'd do neither and leave it for the buyer to decide if they want an electric fire, a gas fire, no fire, a wood burning stove, just a decorative fireplace. The world is their oyster.

G_M

Should have left well alone!

If a buyer had wanted a certificate for the gas fire he could have paid his own engineer to supply one.

Now, however, you know of the problem and must either declare it, or fix it.

Get quotes for electric fire.
Get quotes to fix chimney and gas fire.

Do whichever is cheaper.

societys_child

He suggested either leaving it disconnected or replacing it with an electric fire. Obviously I don't want to do the latter due to cost

£79.99
http://www.screwfix.com/p/sora-el1406e-black-remote-control-wall-mounted-electric-fire/9536p

Others are available . .

sunflowers123

Thanks for all of your replies which have been very helpful. It's good to hear different perspectives.

I thought it was compulsory to provide a certificate which is why I decided to get it serviced.

I think now if I had to do anything I would get an electric fire. At least if asked I can say it works and is safe.

Thanks all.

sunflowers123

societys_child wrote: »

£79.99
http://www.screwfix.com/p/sora-el1406e-black-remote-control-wall-mounted-electric-fire/9536p

Others are available . .

Thanks for looking! I've done a quick search and found an Adam Helios inset electric fire for £62. Just need the gas man to remove the gas pipe and get an electrician to fix the fire in!

Thanks again.

n217970

If the gas is disconnected and isolated (safe) I would just leave the pipe as is.

These fires come with a standard 3 pin plug on the end so you really don't need to waste money on an electrician if you have a socket near. Very easy to DIY

Its just a glorified fan heater....