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

lookstraightahead

the boiler isn't your responsibility it's theirs. See how long they can go without heating for. Cheeky vendors! 

tooldle

Whilst British Gas are more expensive, there is also the question of availability. Timescales seem relatively short. What is better? Pay more and know for definite the work is complete before you move in, or take a cheaper quote from a smaller company who may take longer. If this dilemma was mine, i’d pay half after exchange on condition the work is complete.

davidmcn

I suspect the "insurance" is just one of those plans which covers the easy to repair stuff, but not the day when they suck their teeth and tell you that you need a new boiler. 

Mickey666

Given all the understandable concerns about the seller getting a good replacement job done, what about just knocking the 50% cost off the price of the house, then having the boiler replaced after the move when the OP can be in full control of the work?

NatNat77

It's possible they do have insurance and will claim on that as well as taking your half, how would you know? We've had almost £500 worth of work done on our boiler and have had to purchase a new oven since we accepted an offer on our house (obviously not a top of the range oven, but still, it was samsung and matches the microwave above so it wasn't cheap either) and I wouldn't dream of asking my buyer for half!

I can see the dilemma though, and agree with the other posters that suggest looking for other quotes and picking what is installed etc, and not paying until you've seen proof and only after exchange. Good luck! 

NameUnavailable

So they told you that they were going to claim for a new boiler under their insurance, fitted before completion, and now they find that the insurance doesn't actually cover a new boiler (just repairs presumably).

I would say that you would prefer to sort the new boiler yourself and ask them for 50% of the cost they've quoted off the price. This will also ensure they don't delay moving!

Amazonia_2

Between exchange and completing on a house sale, the property was broken into and all the copper pipework and boiler were stolen (plus significant damage too).  The vendor didn't hesitate to replace/repair everything immediately. 

Personally, I would insist they replaced the boiler before you exchange or reduce asking price by £5k.  

Marvel1

If I was the seller, the new boiler doesn't benefit me, so if 50% was declined, fair enough, but I would get the cheapest boiler replacement.

Chandler85

But if the vendor pulls out, or the sale falls through for some other reason, the buyer loses half the money for nothing.

Agree to pay (and agree a boiler choice) and give them the money on exchange, seems like the most sensible method.

caprikid1

tooldle said:

Whilst British Gas are more expensive, there is also the question of availability. Timescales seem relatively short. What is better? Pay more and know for definite the work is complete before you move in, or take a cheaper quote from a smaller company who may take longer. If this dilemma was mine, i’d pay half after exchange on condition the work is complete.

lol, there is no question of availability where BG are concerned, they are not available currently !!!!
1. They mainly use local companies, same local installer who quotes you half of BG will most likely be the person installing it for BG.
2. BG engineers (Suppliers) are currently on strike, first call out I could get for a full break down was 23/01/2021 for a call logged last week, young family , boiler failure. I had it fixed by someone local within 1 working day.
Big fan of British Gas service contracts but they have lost their way and their value I believe.