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

StumpyPumpy

Just to add my 2 cents...

A couple of years ago we moved out of our flat which still had its original boiler in fine working condition making it 34 years old. Looking at the various listings for other flats in the development there is probably a 50/50 split between those with new boilers and those with the originals.

About 10 years ago one of our neighbours had their kitchen redone and replaced their original boiler because, though it was working fine, it looked a bit "old fashioned". The first replacement lasted about 4 years, the second 3 and none worked as well as the original.

For what it is worth, the original boiler was a Potterton Netaheat (can't remember the actual model) and our neighbours first two replacements were Glow worms (no idea if the third was too). I've yet to see a flat where the original kitchen remains but the boiler has been changed which is probably a good indicator of how long lasting they are.

Would we have accepted a reduced offer based on the age of the boiler? No we wouldn't. The condition of the flat (good/bad/indifferent) was already factored into the price and everything was working when we sold up, so why would we? Sure, it is going to be a little less efficient than a new boiler but once pricing of a replacement is factored in, I doubt changing it would be worthwhile. And having a new boiler is no guarantee that the heating will actually work better or the boiler will last longer than the current one.

SP

lookstraightahead

MysteryMe wrote: »

The OP has drip fed information since my reply, my response was on the assumption of this boiler having been maintained not that it was in an empty house and the boiler had not been serviced for some time.

I'm not comparing a broken tile to a boiler either, it was just one example of what goodwill means.

I've bought and sold several properties and now mortgage free. Every one of those transactions has involved negotiation and FWIW overall I gained more than I lost but I was always fair.

You are very much mistaken if you think human reactions play no part in buying or selling a home. A home is not a business transaction in the conventional sense. You have to be aware of all elements that will be taken into consideration by the person you are negotiating with. I know those of a certain generation will find this hard to believe but it's not all about you. If you don't try to understand what is likely to motivate or trigger a reaction with the other side you don't know the best way to negotiate with them in order to get the best deal for yourself.

Just to be clear I'm probably around your age and I too have experience of buying and selling.

In a nutshell what appears to have happened here is that the seller is trying desperately hard to save money, no heating on over winter in an empty house and not servicing the boiler. Would you agree that the vendor is in it to make as much profit as possible (like all vendors do, naturally) and that 'fair' doesn't register.

I think you are probably a lovely person and it's great not to be cynical. Unfortunately I am 😬

AdrianC

PhilE wrote: »

The house Im sitting in, needed a new heating system. I asked for a reduction based on the cost of a new system, and got it.

If you or anyone would rather not ask for a reduction based on old heating, that's up to you.

Fine. Ask.


But if the vendor says "no", then what? You'd walk away?

Jumblebumble

NewB wrote: »

We've had an offer accepted on a house that we love, at the top end of our budget. In the process of getting the survey done and cross checking with the sellers questionnaire, we now know the boiler and heating system is nearly 20 years old.

I don't know at the moment what make the boiler is, nor the type - I can ask the seller, but not til the new year.

Would you say that the age of the heating system is cause to try to reduce the offer amount by a few grand? The survey hasn't brought anything major up but there are a variety of smaller jobs which will each cost a few hundred quid - air bricks, timber treatment and so on.

I'm a terrible negotiator! But I'm worried about the prospect of needing to spend another £4-5k on a boiler and heating system in the near future :eek:

Thanks.

I know a landlady who has 2 identical Flats
One has a standard boiler Myson orion which is 26 Years old
It gives almost no trouble and has had no more that £200 ever spent in parts /labour ( except for the CP12 gas safety certificates which need doing in either case)
Last month the igniter needed changing
The part is oblolete!
a decent gas shop advised that the identical part with different SKU from a Potterton could be supplied.
BritishGas would have advised that the boiler could not be repaired as this part was NLA
( true but totally irrelevant)
Total cost including fitting £80.00


The second Flat is on it's 4th Combi in the same time

For sure the old boiler will use more gas than a condensing one.
I would be in no hurry to change it at all.

Mutton_Geoff

chucknorris wrote: »

We are selling (sold subject to contract) at the moment (survey was done last week), we have the boiler on a timer for 30 mins twice a day at about 10 pm and 4 am, as you say to avoid freezing water issues.

There is no guarantee that the coldest time is in the early hours. A “Beast From The East” cold front can arrive at anytime. I would be worried 30 mins wouldn’t be long enough to warm things up properly either.

Personally I set mine to 15 degrees and leave it on 24 hours to keep the chill off the place and stop pipes freezing, damp taking hold etc.

PhilE

Some here are saying that their 35 year old boilers are out performing new boilers. Ok, fine.

However, this vendor is admitting that this old boiler hasn't been serviced. An old, unserviced boiler may very well need replacing, and worse case could be dangerous. There's no getting away from that fact.

As for combis packing in after a few years; a good combi should have a 10 year guarantee, and serviced annually.

AdrianC

PhilE wrote: »

Some here are saying that their 35 year old boilers are out performing new boilers. Ok, fine.

Nobody has said that.

chucknorris

Mutton_Geoff wrote: »

There is no guarantee that the coldest time is in the early hours. A “Beast From The East” cold front can arrive at anytime. I would be worried 30 mins wouldn’t be long enough to warm things up properly either.

Personally I set mine to 15 degrees and leave it on 24 hours to keep the chill off the place and stop pipes freezing, damp taking hold etc.

I never said that it was guaranteed! But mostly it will be, and that's good enough for me. I only live 7 miles away, so if the situation changes drastically, then I can visit and change the settings.

[Deleted User]

20 years is not actually that old for an older make. When we bought our house the boiler was 28 years old and still going. It gave up on us after 18 months and we had to get a new one but the guy who installed it said you'll be lucky to get 15 years out of a modern boiler as they don't make them like they used to.

I would keep the boiler until it is showing signs of giving up then look at replacing it.

If i was your seller I certainly would not renegotiate costs over a boiler that likely will have years of life left in it.

Plus, 4-5k on a new boiler is ridiculous. You should be able to get a new one installed for not much more than 2k.

Crashy_Time

AdrianC wrote: »

Your theories and monomania have always been to do with "something beginning with B". And ending with "it", too.


But instead of just three letters in the middle, there's five.

So in your opinion Brexit isn`t affecting the housing market (along with changes in sentiment, prices too high, interest rates and volatility rising etc.)?