Landlord selling property can’t produce gas certificate

Biscuitfiend

Hi everyone,

So I’m hoping I can get some advice. I’m a first time buyer, trying to buy a house that’s been rented for 5 or more years, but the seller hasn’t been able to produce a gas certificate or an electricity one.
I understand that the electricity one is only at the start of tenancy and the gas certificate will exist only because it’s rented but am I being unreasonable to ask to see them?

Also the Estate Agent has said the seller informed them the boiler is around a year old but they have no date, it’s on finance and it’s not been serviced which I’m worried will invalidate it’s warranty. In addition to this the tenant hasn’t had the heating on either time I’ve visited which seems strange as it is quite cold! I’ve been trying to get the certificates for 2 weeks now.
I understand buying a home is a big risk and I wouldn’t be getting these assurances if it wasn’t rented but I’m trying to avoid some huge fees ( like gaining a boiler on finance!) if I can.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

ess0two

Certificates or not, personally i'd be paying for my own check on the boiler.

AnotherJoe

Get someone to check the boiler.
Get someone to check the electrics.


I'd be somewhat concerned about the boiler being on finance.
I'd be very concerned there were still tenants in there. Concerned enough I'd walk away.

anselld

Electric certificate is not mandatory unless HMO or Scotland.

Boiler "About a year old"... well a new boiler installation does not require a gas safety certificate for the first year as it is covered by the Building Regulations Compliance Certificate. Make sure you get that to ensure it has been properly installed and notified to BR.

If it is more than a year old it should have been serviced for the warranty to remain valid. Gas safety cert ideally but since the tenant is presumably leaving that is fairly pointless.

Finally, check what they mean by "finance". If it is Green Deal that will stay with the property in the form of higher energy bills. If it is any other finance how is it being paid off by the vendors?

davidmcn

Biscuitfiend wrote: »

am I being unreasonable to ask to see them?

Not unreasonable to ask, but if they can't produce them because they don't exist, what do you plan to do about it? In any event they'd only prove what the position was at the time the certificates were issued, you'd be best to get your own guys in to check the current condition of the systems if you're at all concerned.

the boiler is...on finance

Do you know what exactly this means? If it's just that the buyer got a loan for it then that's irrelevant to you, you're buying the house with the boiler.

and it’s not been serviced

Does it need serviced if it's only (around) a year old?

which I’m worried will invalidate its warranty

Whether it does or not, is the warranty transferable to you?

Sambella

Electric certificates are usually for a set period, say 3, 5 or 10 years so for rental purposes they must supply a valid one on request by the Council or other authority., whilst this is not essential if you will not be renting the property it is akin to a normal electricity check carried out if the mortgage company requests one. Survey's often request that you have the electrics checked.

Gas certificates are done on a yearly basis and again produced on request by any authority. It never hurts to have one. I would want the gas checked before purchase so if they have a valid certificate it would certainly help the sale to produce one.

D_M_E

If you are worried about the boiler being on finance and any outstanding finance being passed on to you then ask your solicitor/conveyancer to write in the contract that any such finance is to be, and will be cleared on completion and make sure this is in writing and either don't sign without such a clause or walk away.

You don't want to be paying for someone else's finance and, although it's said that boiler is "only" a year old, how do you know and how long has the finance left to run - neither of which you know.

Norman_Castle

As the seller is a landlord they should know exactly when the safety check is due.

The boiler being on finance should be irrelevant to you. Make sure the boiler is bought and paid for and not something you are taking over payments for or liable to be removed due to unpaid finance.

Biscuitfiend

anselld wrote: »

Electric certificate is not mandatory unless HMO or Scotland.

Boiler "About a year old"... well a new boiler installation does not require a gas safety certificate for the first year as it is covered by the Building Regulations Compliance Certificate. Make sure you get that to ensure it has been properly installed and notified to BR.

If it is more than a year old it should have been serviced for the warranty to remain valid. Gas safety cert ideally but since the tenant is presumably leaving that is fairly pointless.

Finally, check what they mean by "finance". If it is Green Deal that will stay with the property in the form of higher energy bills. If it is any other finance how is it being paid off by the vendors?

Thanks for your advice! Sadly, about a year old is all I have from the seller so far, but from what I understand from your post if it’s less than a year they will have a BR certificate and if it’s over a year, a gas certificate. I’m definitely planning on getting it checked.

davidmcn

D_M_E wrote: »

If you are worried about the boiler being on finance and any outstanding finance being passed on to you

How could the outstanding finance be passed on to a buyer? I'm pretty sure this is just a misunderstanding by the OP and/or the EA.

Biscuitfiend

davidmcn wrote: »

Not unreasonable to ask, but if they can't produce them because they don't exist, what do you plan to do about it? In any event they'd only prove what the position was at the time the certificates were issued, you'd be best to get your own guys in to check the current condition of the systems if you're at all concerned.

Do you know what exactly this means? If it's just that the buyer got a loan for it then that's irrelevant to you, you're buying the house with the boiler
Whether it does or not, is the warranty transferable to you?

I think I’ll walk away if nothing can be produced; I think I want a copy of its installation information as the very least so I’ll know whether the warranty (if it can be passed along that is) is valid.
The EA knew that the boiler was on finance and hadn’t said previously, even when I queried it, so maybe they know what type and don’t think it’s relevant? I’ll find out on Monday I guess.
Thanks for you help