Getting utilities turned on in vacant house for homebuyers report?

Cbcb

Hi, any advice appreciated on this,

We are interested in a property that has been vacant since at least June 2019 (trying to find out exact length of time) - has a buy to let landlord who hasn't rented since then (initially put it on market back in July for it seems too much, and is remarketing now with a different agent at lower price).

The utilities are all currently off.

It looks in pretty good condition to our eye, and generally well looked after, with some cosmetic updates and redecoration needed.

But obviously we would wish to check out whether the water, electricity, gas, heating all work ahead of exchanging or would offer less if major work done.

Does anyone know of its possible to have utilities turned on for the purpose of inspection and homebuyers report survey — if so, would the seller or buyer usually have to pay for this?

Thanks in advance!
Cb

couriervanman

Unusual for them to be turned/disconnected off by the supplier's are you sure they haven't just been turned off at the water stopcock/gas meter & electric meter if so just turn back on

Linton

It's not usual to get utilities physically disconnected. Unless something odd is happening they should all be available. It would just be a matter of turning them on at the fusebox/stopcock/meter which should be done by the vendor or his agent. So there should not be any cost.

csgohan4

I would get a boiler check to make sure, you never know what surprises on this type of property produces

phill99

If the property has been intentionally vacant. a condition of the owners house insurance is that all utilities are turned off and the CH and water systems are drained down. So this is normal procedure.


You can ask the vendor to have the CH/water repressurised but he doesn't have to agree to it.


You also need to be aware of the fact that the Homebuyers Report WILL NOT test gas, water or electrical installations. There will be a condition in the report that says you need to get a suitably qualified person to undertake a separate inspection of the utility installations.


If you want to get them tested, it is part of YOUR due diligence which you will have to pay for.

G_M

This happens with repossessions, and other vacant properties. It is down to insurance (and common sense in winter!).


Even if the gas, water etc are simply turned off at the mains rather than the supply having been terminated, it is not a straight-forward matter to turn them on. If the water has ben drained down from the heating system (as is usual to comply with insurance requirements), the system will need re-filling, all the radiators will need bleeding, and balancing etc etc


And then following your survey, it will all have to be drained down again!


So my guess is it won't happen - you will have to buy following a visual inspection only. Or walk away.


Though as Phill says above, a surveyor won't test the electrics or heating anyway as he's not an electrician or gas engineer.......

Slithery

Cbcb wrote: »

Does anyone know of its possible to have utilities turned on for the purpose of ... and homebuyers report survey

Irrelevant for a home buyers report as they don't check the gas or electric.

davidmcn

It's up to the sellers. In my experience, it's not going to happen for repossessions, but I have dealt with a relocation company who would arrange for systems to be refilled and then drained again (via their own contractors, at the buyer's cost) if asked.