Multifuel/wood burner issue during house purchase

Dhabsinbc

Hello!

We are buying a house with a newish burner installed in the last 6 years.

There was renovation to the property and the burner was part of this.

On final inspection it was discovered the burner was too big and needed a permanent vent.

To avoid further delays we were given 2 options that the burner could be removed for inspection and put back in after and have the chimney swept etc.(which we ageed)
Or replaced with a smaller burner for regulations afterwards.

Since the burner was not part of the inspection and actually does not appear on the fixtures/fittings list although the wood for it does(wood & woodshed), although is mentioned and photographed on the EA listing. And we do have emails about the situation too. I am just wondering how best to make sure the informal agreement is followed.(worried my solicitor will have a nightmare about it since our process has been a little less than straightforward!)

Perhaps I'm being a little too cautious but I'm useless really and trust everyone when I probably shouldn't! Lol! Plus I just want to get this process over with!!

Advice/scoldings/opinions welcome!lol

need_an_answer

Do you plan to install a vent when the burner is repositioned?

Your post seems to suggest that you may not be too worried about complying with regulations and plan to have it put back in after an inspection is carried out.


Forgive me ...but I was under the impression that woodburners come under the umbrella of requiring regular inspections because of c02 emissions….if you really aren't worried about it google it


It can be a killer...and you would be foolish to ignore the safety requirements in your home.

FreeBear

wood stoves require building control approval, so there should be an installation certificate provided. This could be from a HETAS or similar body that has approval to self certify an installation. Your solicitor should be advising what your next steps should be.

Dhabsinbc

Ah yes, we are aware of the regulations etc governing burners and by no means new to them. Have had them most of my life even pre 2006!

There are hard wired CO monitors etc and it was professionally installed with new chimney/flues etc in original fireplaces in an old property.
We will decide once in if we wish to put a vent in or change to a smaller KW burner. Thanks for your concern though!

Mojisola

need_an_answer wrote: »

Forgive me ...but I was under the impression that woodburners come under the umbrella of requiring regular inspections because of c02 emissions….if you really aren't worried about it google it

Never heard of that!

need_an_answer

Dhabsinbc wrote: »

Ah yes, we are aware of the regulations etc governing burners and by no means new to them. Have had them most of my life even pre 2006!

There are hard wired CO monitors etc and it was professionally installed with new chimney/flues etc in original fireplaces in an old property.
We will decide once in if we wish to put a vent in or change to a smaller KW burner. Thanks for your concern though!

Then perhaps you could reclarify what your query is?
I'm unsure I understand why you would have had a burner removed so that some inspection would be carried out,clearly resulting in a "pass" rather than a "requires ventilation response"...and then you want to ensure the burner is returned to you within the sale of the property for you to have refitted knowing it does not comply.


Madness.

How do you make sure your informal agreement is followed...well you could ask your solicitor to put it in writing to the vendors solicitor.
The burner would be treated the same as any request to leave a fixture and fitting in a property.

need_an_answer

Mojisola wrote: »

Never heard of that!

sorry my mistake I meant to refer to sweeping and the fact that as a solid fuel would need co2 monitoring.

Zanderman

need_an_answer wrote: »

sorry my mistake I meant to refer to sweeping and the fact that as a solid fuel would need co2 monitoring.

CO monitoring. Not CO2 monitoring.

babyblade41

If it has the Hetas plaque next to it shouldn't it be safe ??

Just opening up some old fire places in our jiggery pokery house and they will be installed by a HETAS engineer with the necessary regs .

I'd be inclined to go ahead and get the relevant people to re-install if no paperwork.

I've never had mine checked over the years as a CO monitor is hard wired in

AdrianC

This wood burner fails sign-off because it needs ventilation.
"Right, well if I move it out the way when you inspect, then put it back afterwards (still without the ventilation), it'll be right..."

Davesnave

You might worry over this and then find, like we did, that the stove isn't that great.

We replaced our original 7-8Kw monster with a 5Kw fully compliant Woodwarm 3 winters ago. Although we've made other improvements, it's now possible to stay warmer using about half the amount of fuel we used to chew through annually.

If I were buying another country house, I'd not care too much about the stove that was in situ if it wasn't a known good brand, fitted correctly.



I also think your vendor is unlikely to renege on the arrangement, given that secondhand stoves fetch relatively little on the Bay. I got £50 for ours....and no way was it a 'bargain!'