Boiler broke down in the house we are buying - seller asking us to pay 50% costs

Phil4432

What ever you agree to, install a new boiler to your own standards and not theirs.  They are less likely to care about the end result, than you.

Maybe the boiler is old, or they didn't maintain it over the years.
Also sounds like they need heat, and want you to pay for it.  That's not actually your responsibility, the boiler still belongs to them.

If the boiler is 10 years old, account for it needing replacing.

youth_leader

When I was selling I was very scared my old oil boiler would go on the blink, I'd been quoted £8K to replace because of the new pipework.
As the vendor won't benefit from the installation, I think it is wise to insist on installing your own boiler choice, I would also offer 50% of the cost. 

jimbog

Agree to pay half on condition that they exchange by a particular date

Grumpy_chap

There would be some vendors that would have kept quite about the boiler and made do with some electric heaters from a DIY store.

sammyjammy

I agree pay 50%, sounds like you would have had to have replaced it pretty soon anyway, definitely don't go with BG, get some local quotes, you'll save them some money as well.

I wouldn't be handing any money over until after exchange either!

numbercruncher8

TBH I think it sounds cheeky - the offer was made considering the condition things were in. Now things are not.
If it happened after exchange, what would the sellers response be if you asked for 50%?

If it's a old boiler chances are you may be replacing it anyway as you had concerns in the first place, whether that's now or in the coming years. The vendor has no motivation to get things done nicely as they won't be living with it. A similar case I have heard of is that there was a faulty gas pipe, buyer did not want to pay, seller repaired the gas pipe but the original one was not easily accessible under the floor of the kitchen, so a new pipe was run but came from upstairs and went down the ceiling, probably the cheapest way but ugly.

Isn't the best thing to simply ask for £2,750 off the price of the house and you'll sort it yourself? Unless its something complicated it is not something that will take a long time to do.

MaryNB

hounsehunterftb said:
4. We had raised boiler concerns in our query and sellers replied that they have boiler insurance and that they would get a replacement.

From this there's an expectation there would be a new boiler when you moved in so it's a bit much they now ask you to pay for half of it. If your offer accounted for an old boiler, doesn't seem harsh they ask you to pay 50% for a new one but they did say they'd get it replaced. Although, despite how stubborn I can be, I will say it might be better to just pay half of a more reasonable quote (obviously paying after exchange) and have a new boiler in place asap so you're not left without this time of year.

numbercruncher8

They said they had insurance, but it turns out they do not. Can they be trusted?

I don't think you have any comeback at all if you paid over the money and arrived at the house to find the cheapest possible boiler installed in the cheapest possible way. 

It's inconvenient but not impossible to live without a boiler for a few days - electric heaters and a massive boiling pot of water for cleaning is enough to survive. I would rather this than take chances with someone who has already been dishonest. 

Shelldean

If you've not exchanged, what happens if you pay half, then they or you pull out of the sale???

kimwp

If it had broken after exchange but before completion, the sellers would have been obliged to replace it at their cost. If it breaks after completion, then it would be your cost. How can it become half your cost when you don't own the house or have a legal agreement to own the house at some point in the future (exchange of contracts)? Also, if they have insurance, it seems a bit strange that they are asking for money, as presumably they will get the full cost from the insurance.