Gas Report from Seller was Incorrect.

Kyle_88

Hi

I completed on my first home about 2 weeks ago. As part of the negotiation process I asked the seller to get an electricical and gas report done. Both came back great with no issues.

However since moving in we have not got the boiler to work. I had had a plumber out who has stated that the boiler was in very poor condition and in his opinion hasn’t worked for many months.

Before I shell out on a new one is there any recourse against the person who did the gas certificate or against the seller as it was relied on when deciding the price and to make the purchase?

Thanks

daveyjp

When you buy a property it is down to you as purchaser to employ the experts to undertake due diligence.

For £100 you could have saved the cost of a new boiler by arranging your own gas installation inspection, which if you had a survey was no doubt advised by the surveyor.

You have no comeback on the seller as you relied on a report you didn't commission.

anselld

A gas safety test does not indicate anything about the age, condition or performance of the boiler. The boiler would have to have been working sufficiently on the day to obtain a flue gas analysis, but that is all.

Electrical report, if you mean EICR is more comprehensive but it is also limited as to what can be tested or observed unobtrusively.

DCFC79

When you viewed it (i hope you viewed it) did you test the heating ?

Sounds like its your own fault for not getting your own tests done.

Doozergirl

And you thought you were being clever by getting the vendor to pay for the inspections. You'll know better next time.

What do you genuinely think the vendor was interested in telling you?

Two words. Vested. Interest.

G_M

So you make a claim against the seller. He'll say he's not an electrician or gas engineer so he simply pased on the reports to you as you requested. Claim fails.


So you make a claim against theelectrician or gas engineer. He'll say you were not his customer so he has no liability to you. Claim fails.


Next time, pay an expert yourself to do a report for you.

martindow

Do you completely trust your plumber? Getting a boiler replacement job is much more valuable than doing a repair. It is possible that your old boiler can be repaired and carry on for some time until it really needs to be replaced.


I would be inclined to get another plumber in to give a second opinion - two plumbers if your first one is from BG who are reportedly very keen to offer fitting new boilers.

ReadingTim

The cost of pursuing any recourse which might be available to you is likely to far exceed the cost of a new boiler, so it's often simpler, quicker, less stressful and cheaper to simply suck it up, pay for it yourself and get on with your life.

Smodlet

OP, you do realise the seller was under no obligation whatsoever to provide you with either a gas or an electrical safety report? I would have told you to pay for your own reports even though I can prove when our house was re-wired, how old the boiler is and when it was last serviced. Had you merely asked for these things, I would have provided them gladly but demanding your vendor commissions and pays for reports is taking the urine, imho.

Your purchase, your risk, your obligation to employ due diligence before committing to anything.

dutchie

What did the plumber tell you is wrong with the boiler?

Did he get it going?

In my experience some plumbers will tell you that you need a new boiler even when the old one is fine or cheaply repairable. The older style boilers aren't really complicated and there is little to go wrong. Newer boilers may be more efficient, but the payback is quite long, and they're often less reliable.

Personally I would just have called the seller and asked about the boiler, saying you had problems getting it going.

TBagpuss

You don't have a claim against the person who did the report but you could try getting them to come and quote for repairs. It is possible that they know how to get it going or are familiar with it haveing serviced t in the past.

In any event, do get more than one person out before you decide.

As others have said, it's usually better to get your own surveys and checks done, as that way the electrician / heating engineer / plumber is working for you, not for the vendor.