Gas checks

adviceforeveryone

Hi
We accepted an offer on our mums house a few weeks ago, they offered £15k less than the asking price which we agreed as wanted a quick sale.. 
Now the buyers solicitor has said he wants us to get a gas safe engineer out to do safety checks  on the boiler and oven. Also my mum had a gas fire in the lounge which when she had a new boiler was unable to work as it no longer had the back boiler, they want us to pay to find out if its possible to get it back to working ( presume not as otherwise my mum would have had it done ( she actually got £50 compensation as when they did the survey from warm front she asked if she could still use her gas fire and got told yes, but when the work was completed it became apparent she couldn't)  or for it to be decommissioned and taken out.
Is this normal? is this something we should be responsible for arranging and pay ( more the fire side than the safety checks) or is this just time wasting? I tried to get Homeserve who insure the boiler to come and do it but no one available until June...Also with the corona virus it would be me who would have to meet them and let them in and I am in the vulnerable group told to practise social distancing. Also time scales at getting some one out may waste time. 

Thanks in advance
 

AdrianC

adviceforeveryone said:

Now the buyers solicitor has said he wants us to get a gas safe engineer out to do safety checks on the boiler and oven.

Such is his prerogative.

Also my mum had a gas fire in the lounge which when she had a new boiler was unable to work as it no longer had the back boiler, they want us to pay to find out if its possible to get it back to working

Nope.

You'll be happy to give them access to an engineer to find out, of course, but at their cost.

Also with the corona virus it would be me who would have to meet them and let them in and I am in the vulnerable group told to practise social distancing.

Then simply point out that the property is being sold with the fire non-functional, and if they later find out that it IS usable, then... their bonus!

You may also wish to point out to them that there's really not much point in spending money investigating an ancient, long-disused fire, since a new one really isn't expensive...
https://www.direct-fireplaces.com/robinson-willey-visa-outset-gas-fire.html

adviceforeveryone

Thank you for your speedy response. 
I agree with you..

greatcrested

II the buyer wants to check the structure of the property, they pay for a survey.

If they want to check the condition of the boiler/gas fire, they pay for gas inspection.

Your responsibility is to provide access for the experts they send in.

onwards&upwards

If they wanted a house where they didn’t have to do any work they should have bought a new build.  

diggingdude

Offer them to send someone or instead they can send you the money immediately and you will get the checks done. I'm guessing they are leaving a rental?

adviceforeveryone

diggingdude said:

Offer them to send someone or instead they can send you the money immediately and you will get the checks done. I'm guessing they are leaving a rental?

im not sure, its an older couple from wales is all i know....
thank you all for your replies