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

Petriix

That's very generous of you. I would have been reducing my offer by £1000 if they weren't replacing it, not contributing to a replacement that I didn't want.

HampshireH

hounsehunterftb said:

Its worth pointing out that how much ever we would have preferred to get the work done ourselves or get the type of boiler that we want, the seller were still living in the house with two children and without boiler it just isn't habitable. 

But also not your problem. Did you end up paying upfront? 

Glad your happy with your resolution

NameUnavailable

hounsehunterftb said:

Its worth pointing out that how much ever we would have preferred to get the work done ourselves or get the type of boiler that we want, the seller were still living in the house with two children and without boiler it just isn't habitable. 

So what do you think may have happened if you had declined their offer to contribute to the cost of a new boiler?......

youth_leader

Good luck, I'm glad you've reached a mutually acceptable decision. 

hounsehunterftb

HampshireH said:

hounsehunterftb said:

Its worth pointing out that how much ever we would have preferred to get the work done ourselves or get the type of boiler that we want, the seller were still living in the house with two children and without boiler it just isn't habitable. 

But also not your problem. Did you end up paying upfront? 

Glad your happy with your resolution

No no. We have agreed to pay  on the completion day itself and have added a clause to get the boiler fixed, documentation sorted of the works done, relevant certificates and warranty before exchanging. 

hounsehunterftb

NameUnavailable said:

hounsehunterftb said:

Its worth pointing out that how much ever we would have preferred to get the work done ourselves or get the type of boiler that we want, the seller were still living in the house with two children and without boiler it just isn't habitable. 

So what do you think may have happened if you had declined their offer to contribute to the cost of a new boiler?......

I think they would have still replaced the boiler anyway as they have young kids. I didn’t believe they were one those looking for quotes and checking options. They just were content with the British Gas quote and would have gone anyway. However as a good will gesture and also the fact that we would be getting a brand new boiler with 5 warranty now we decided to give in and put this matter to bed. It’s been stressful back and forth with emails. 

amandacat

If the house I’m selling needed a new boiler prior to exchange I’d be gutted but I’d suck it up and pay for one, particularly if I was getting 15k over asking price. That said I’d purchase the cheapest boiler available and that could be a disadvantage to the buyer. 

It’s better this has happened now not a few months after completion where you’d be stuck paying. 

There’s a couple of considerations here, you pay half but say what boiler you want and only agree to refund half after exchange. Or you refuse, in which case they will have to replace it anyway because I very much doubt they’ll go without heating for long and no one else will likely offer on a house with a broken boiler or if they do they will offer substantially less. I’d be surprised it they don’t let you buy if they have to pay it all as I can’t see what advantage they will have in remarketing the house. But as I said they will likely get a budget boiler. 

So it’s about weighing up what’s most important but I do think they’re cheeky.