Boiler negotiations?

IvyFlood

Hello everyone

Just hoping to get some advice on this situation or more what the general consensus is!

We are close to exchange on the house we are buying but the searches/paperwork/survey etc revealed that the current owners had never had their boiler serviced or knew how old it was in the whole 7 years they’ve lived there.

We have now paid for a full service and inspection which revealed that although the boiler is working fine and a very good model, its 12-14 years old – which I think is quite old? It did have a part replaced recently which is a common fault apparently.

With this in mind, I’m thinking we don’t really have any grounds to negotiate a reduction or allowance?

As it turns out, we were wanting to relocate the boiler anyway (it is currently in the bathroom). I have researched this and it is recommended that if a boiler is relatively old then it’s better to get a new one in the new location, rather than risk moving a new to middle aged one and lose any guarantees etc. Obviously this will be very costly though but I don’t think we can claim anything from the sellers? Or can we? I have asked our solicitor but she is on leave until Tuesday so really just wanted to see what everyone thought!

Thanks

need_an_answer

I would agree you cant really expect the sellers to pay for anything to do with the boiler

Pixie5740

IvyFlood wrote: »

Hello everyone

Just hoping to get some advice on this situation or more what the general consensus is!

We are close to exchange on the house we are buying but the searches/paperwork/survey etc revealed that the current owners had never had their boiler serviced or knew how old it was in the whole 7 years they’ve lived there.

We have now paid for a full service and inspection which revealed that although the boiler is working fine and a very good model, its 12-14 years old – which I think is quite old? It did have a part replaced recently which is a common fault apparently.

With this in mind, I’m thinking we don’t really have any grounds to negotiate a reduction or allowance?

As it turns out, we were wanting to relocate the boiler anyway (it is currently in the bathroom). I have researched this and it is recommended that if a boiler is relatively old then it’s better to get a new one in the new location, rather than risk moving a new to middle aged one and lose any guarantees etc. Obviously this will be very costly though but I don’t think we can claim anything from the sellers? Or can we? I have asked our solicitor but she is on leave until Tuesday so really just wanted to see what everyone thought!

Thanks

When you had your valuation done did it more or less match the price you offered for the property?

The boiler is working and according to you is a very good model so I don't see why you'd need to replace it just because it's getting on in years. I'd be amazed if a boiler over 12 years old was still under warranty.

You haven't exchanged contracts yet so all bets are off. You are free to negotiate but from what I can gather from your many, many other threads about buying this property, the vendors haven't found somewhere to buy yet and were going to move into rented accommodation so they're not worried about a chain collapsing. In their shoes I'd be tempted to tell you to do one and re-market.

IvyFlood

Thanks both for your input.


You have confirmed what I thought which is fine

Alter_ego

So you plan to replace/move the boiler and would like the vendor to pay for it?

IvyFlood

Alter_ego wrote: »

So you plan to replace/move the boiler and would like the vendor to pay for it?

No of course not! It was more claiming a reduction because the boiler is old and so not necessarily reflected in the price.

Davesnave

Pixie5740 wrote: »

When you had your valuation done did it more or less match the price you offered for the property?

Just browsing the thread.



You don't seem to have answered this key question yet.

diggingdude

Did you see the boiler before making an offer and note it's location ? If so no chance.

Was it advertised as having a new boiler? If so slight chance.

Pretty much any other reason I would have thought no chance

macman

How about asking for a reduction for the age of the roof? It's quite possible that it's as old as the house!
What on earth makes you think that everything in a 'used' house must be less than 10 years old? The boiler has now been serviced and is in good working order, if you want to replace it or relocate it, then fine, but why expect the vendor to pay for your improvements?

Comms69

12-14 years isn't really old either to be fair.

IvyFlood

First of all please can I make it clear that I do NOT expect the vendors to pay for any improvements, I never once said that.


All I was merely asking was whether the age of the boiler is something that could be used to claim a reduction in cost, from what I have read and understand (on here), sometimes it can. As it happens, we were told it was 7 years old but I'm guessing the vendors said this because that's how long they lived there and they didn't know its age prior.


I had a feeling it wouldn't but was just asking the question and seeing what thoughts were - don't appreciate sarcastic comments about the age of the roof.


The valuation came in fine but at the time the surveyor noted that the age and condition of the boiler were unknown. Now that I know the age that was the reason for my question.