Sold house. Boiler not working.

PipandCrumble

I recently sold my house (14 days ago). Last week my solicitor got in touch to say that people who purchased the property had claimed the heating system was acting up ( lack of pressure, leaking valves). They had got their own engineer to look at the problem and he agreed that valves were leaking (although he may need to look further into it.) In the time we were in the property we had never noticed any problems other than occasional drop in pressure. (7 year old boiler operating 40 year old system)I had arranged for an engineer to attend to look at the problems but due to Easter they couldn’t attend till after holiday weekend. I received information today saying that the system had completely stopped. Where do I stand regards liability of this. Home report states that “modern system operating some radiators of an older vintage and there is no service agreement in place and consideration should be given to this”

davidmcn

What do your missives say? Standard clause says you warrant that the heating is in working order - but also that the buyers have a time limit (usually 5 working days) to intimate any problems to your solicitor, so did they comply with that? Speak to your solicitor if in doubt.

("Working order" doesn't mean tip-top modern quality, just working and no more.)

PipandCrumble

Original email from solicitor states that “in terms of missives, services have to be in working order”

This was most definitely the case when we moved out.

The buyer made contact with their solicitor after 4 days and this got relayed to me on the 5th day.

Car1980

Not your problem. They should have had the boiler checked themselves before exchange.

I had arranged for an engineer to attend to look at the problems

Why? It's not your boiler any more.

Tell your solicitor it worked fine on the day of completion and that is the end of the matter.

Owain_Moneysaver

If it's completely stopped, why? Low pressure and boiler cutout probably, if there are any leaky (radiator) valves? in which case all they need to do is repressurise the system, which is usually done by the user and not requiring an engineer.

If repressurising the system and resetting the boiler gets it working again for another week that probably fulfils your responsibility to the buyer.

davidmcn

Car1980 wrote: »

Not your problem. They should have had the boiler checked themselves before exchange.

That might be the correct approach in England & Wales, but that's not where we are...

dunroving

I'd guess either (a) it's a completely random occurrence (stuff breaks down eventually, and laws of probability are that for a small number of buyers it will happen shortly after purchase), or (b) the buyers are responsible for it not working.

I'm not a boiler expert so can't begin to think what they might have done, but it's pretty normal that new buyers will be unfamiliar with all the systems in the house and their foibles. Whereas you will know not to do X, Y and Z to system A, because it will have some negative effect, the buyers will not.

In my house, for example, I learned within 6 or 8 weeks of moving in that running the washing machine and dishwasher at the same time causes an overflow (but only sometimes).

I had it looked at and was told that when both machines are emptying at the same time, the drainage pipes can't cope (they both run into the same drainage pipe).

I could have got mad at the seller, but instead I just learned how to use the two machines appropriately (i.e., not both at the same time).

My gut tells me the buyers fiddled with the system and somehow messed it up.

PipandCrumble

Buyers now saying that there is a gas leak and boiler has had to be shut down. In the time we where in the property never once touched the boiler (other than the user controls) and never had any issues.

New owners (or engineer)have removed boiler cover and now gas leak has occurred.
My gut is that the buyers have caused the issues themselves. Solicitors are being non-comital

HampshireH

PipandCrumble wrote: »

Buyers now saying that there is a gas leak and boiler has had to be shut down. In the time we where in the property never once touched the boiler (other than the user controls) and never had any issues.

New owners (or engineer)have removed boiler cover and now gas leak has occurred.
My gut is that the buyers have caused the issues themselves. Solicitors are being non-comital

Was it your boilerman that has advised this.... i ask as you said you agreed to get someone round... or theirs?

Ask for the full report not just a verbal say so. Then ask what has happened between the original recommendation and now the system has wholly failed.

Arm yourself with all the facts

davidmcn

PipandCrumble wrote: »

My gut is that the buyers have caused the issues themselves. Solicitors are being non-comital

You can certainly argue that it was in working order when you left it. These things tend to go nowhere unless buyers are convinced they have a good case (and a huge bill).

[Deleted User]

I think unfortunately, you may be right but could still be in a dodgy position because they did let you know there were problems within the specified time.

A 7 year old boiler however shouldn't just fail. I suspect as you do, that someone has done something wrong. I think in your position I would be sending in a properly qualified engineer to figure out what has caused the problems and if at all possible, when. Preferably someone familiar with the boiler make. Then it might be down to some negotiating. I doubt you will be able to get away with paying nothing.., but who knows?