Buying a house with 18 year old boiler - renegotiate price?

csgohan4

PhilE wrote: »

You definitely need to allow for the cost of a new heating system. You need to get it checked for asbestos also, your looking at a couple of grand alone for the extraction of high content asbestos.

If this has already been factored into the asking price fine. If not, then re negotiate. I insisted on re negotiation, based on an old heating system. I own the house now.

Some here are claiming that old boilers last ages. Without knowing the make of the boiler, if it has been serviced, you can't make that assumption. The boiler could make it another 10 years, or pack in next week. What is clear, is that there is the possibility of the boiler failing, much more so than say a 5 year old Worcester combi.

Saying, 'Well its an older boiler, but hey old boilers are better than new ones,' is crazy.

the time for boiler checks should have been done before offer, the OP risks losing the house for the sake of 2-3 K for a new boiler when it doesn't need one yet.

Why would vendor install a new boiler at their cost for you?

PhilE

If the buyer finds out that there is a factor affecting the value of the house during the buying process, he/she has every right to adjust the offer accordingly.

An offer is made subject to survey, and searches down by the buyers conveyancer.


A survey or further research may reveal something, previously over looked.

The house has an 18 year old boiler. The price should be adjusted accordingly, if it hasn't been already.

Norman_Castle

NewB wrote: »

It hasn't been serviced, was planning to arrange that as a follow up to our survey so we know what to expect / budget for. Am cheered to hear of old boilers going for years though!

Ask about previous servicing and repairs. They may have used a gas engineer who is happy to repair rather than replace which is why its lasted 20 years. Their contact number would be useful for future problems.

warehouse

NewB wrote: »

We've had an offer accepted on a house that we love.

So why would you risk alienating the sellers for what is probably less than 1% of the house price?

csgohan4

PhilE wrote: »

If the buyer finds out that there is a factor affecting the value of the house during the buying process, he/she has every right to adjust the offer accordingly.

An offer is made subject to survey, and searches down by the buyers conveyancer.


A survey or further research may reveal something, previously over looked.

The house has an 18 year old boiler. The price should be adjusted accordingly, if it hasn't been already.

By All means OP can ask for reduction, but I wouldn't expect one as Vendor doesn't have to oblige and simply market to someone else if needed, as they could be thinking what else the buyer is going to come back with to reduce the price or further gazundering

PhilE

Anyone with common sense will re negotiate a price based on an 18 year old heating system.

csgohan4

PhilE wrote: »

Anyone with common sense will re negotiate a price based on an 18 year old heating system.

As mentioned above you can jump and shout and negotiate, the vendor is under no obligation to agree. Their house their price

You can't force nor justify what you offer and why the vendor should accept

By all means Op can try, but they may risk losing the house as they will be seen as more trouble than good, as what else they will ask to reduce


If it was something like a leaking roof found on survey or structural damage then fair enough

AdrianC

PhilE wrote: »

Anyone with common sense will re negotiate a price based on an 18 year old heating system.

Anyone with common sense would have looked at the boiler before offering.

PhilE

Well, you can jump and shout behind your computer. A house with an old boiler is worth less.

PhilE

AdrianC wrote: »

Anyone with common sense would have looked at the boiler before offering.

Right, so you think the OP doesn't have common sense. So why post then?