Should I ask for a gas safety and electrical certificate? Vendor moved boiler himself

Albala

LadyDee wrote: »

Actually, it's more usual for the buyer to ask the seller to allow access for the buyer's electrical/gas installer to do inspections, at the buyer's expense.

Agreed, and that's what I'd do, as a buyer, in these circs.. Better safe than sorry, and better to know what you're in for. Also, the boiler may have a certificate for the move. The OP could at least take a look here for free to see when the last certificate was issued:
https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/notifications/search-for-a-notification/
If I knew a seller had moved a boiler himself, I'd definitely want my own gas inspection, and evidence the boiler had a certificate for the installation after the move.

Albala

Beenie wrote: »

I am a bit confused now. All the work we have had done in our house - electrical, gas, double glazing and high pressure boiler installation - has been done by properly qualified tradesmen who routinely give you a certificate when the job is ended and has been checked. If anyone in the future buys our house, we have proof that all work has been done professionally and satisfies FENSA, part P regs etc. I thought all people did this. I would hate to buy a house where the previous owner had been mucking about and doing his own amateur gas or electrics.

We do as you do. But you might be surprised how many people don't- they lose paperwork, don't bother to keep it because until their solicitor asks for it they don't realise they may need it when they sell, or never insist on having copies, or forget when work was done, some peopel inherit a house but the paperwork is not found...so unfortunately if you ruled out all those houses, you'd rule out quite a few. Including the one we're presently trying to buy. So a buyer just has to send in people to check safety matters, and/or seek out paperwork themselves.

Cakeguts

You pay for and arrange for any surveys, electrical checks and gas checks. Do not ask the vendor to do anything. It is for your peace of mind and safety that you pay to have these checks done by suitably qualified people.

SG27

AnotherJoe wrote: »

What certificates? There's no obligation to have these for a residential non BTL house

Not for the electrical. But the op says the boiler has been moved. In which case its either a gas safe certificate or building regs sign off.

snilloct1957

As has been stated above a gas safe certificate is essential in this situation. Also, a full survey by a qualified professional would be in order, not just the valuation survey by the bank/building society. If the report throws up any anomalies, that is your starting point for a re-negotiation of the purchase price, to make good the faults found.

Zopeeclone

Thanks for all the replies!
I checked on this link that someone provided:
(Can't post it cause I'm a new user! But it's the gassaferegister.com)

And it says there was a gas boiler under work category done 3 years ago which matches what they've told me.

The consensus seems to be I should conduct my own gas and electrical checks then? And pay for it myself. Should I wait until after the homebuyers survey has completed?

Thanks again

need_an_answer

Zopeeclone wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies!
I checked on this link that someone provided:
(Can't post it cause I'm a new user! But it's the gassaferegister.com)

And it says there was a gas boiler under work category done 3 years ago which matches what they've told me.

The consensus seems to be I should conduct my own gas and electrical checks then? And pay for it myself. Should I wait until after the homebuyers survey has completed?

Thanks again

You can get your own independent checks done at any point in the process really.
The homebuyers may tell you something in relation to the boiler or the electrics but in honesty most will usually place both items in the category 2 simply because they are not new and probably don't conform to the most up to date regulations.

Its not always something to be overly worried about as particularly electrical regulations are frequently updated and whilst yours may not conform,it doesn't always follow that they are unsafe.

Just as an example I had a full electrical rewire done 6 years ago fully documented with the correct certifications however with 2 years I understand that regulations may have changed which mean my electrics are not fully up to date.

Zopeeclone

Okay I've just rang the estate agent to ask the vendor to either supply the gas safety record and electrical certificate or I'll hire someone to go round, and they told me that they actually ask for that too!
I said will I be able to see a copy of it and he believed I could on exchange of contracts? Does this sound usual to you guys? I might ring up another day and try to speak to someone else to clarify it a bit better.

I don't know why they wouldn't let me see the certificates before I put my name to paper?

Albala

Why won't they let you see copies now? Exchange is weird- far too late, it would be pointless to see it then. You need to know the condition of the wiring etc, before you commit yourself to a price- you might need to drop it if there was anything nasty there.

mpr87

I'm in a very similar situation. I'm a FTB and the house we are purchasing had a new boiler fitted last year but there are absolutely no documents, No proof of any warranty/services and the boiler isn't registered on the gas safe register.



I told the EA 2 months ago that we want to make sure we get the relevant documents or at the least we want to pay for someone to inspect that boiler to make sure it is safe. Vendor told us it would all be sorted and docs would be sent to the Solicitors.



As of yet we have had nothing and are getting close to exchange, I reckon the EA has just fobbed us off thinking we will either forget or just exchange without. Either way once our vendor is ready to exchange we won't be signing anything until we have had the boiler checked. Not something I want to take a chance on.