Issues with home soon after moving in...

davidmcn

wannabe_a_saver said:

davidmcn said:

Didn't your solicitor explain anything around this before you got to this stage? I do wonder about what advice people are actually getting about the biggest purchase of their lives...

To be fair to solicitors, I don't think they should have to say 'are you aware that after you buy the house you will own the house?' to people! 

You'd be surprised what people need to be told...but I was more meaning at what stage the buyer takes on liability for the state of the heating system etc, whether anybody suggested checking things worked before committing themselves, etc. The answer (in whichever nation the OP is...) lies in the contract, so was that explained to them by their solicitor? Or did they just shrug and sign the wordy papery thing?

NinjaTune

Peppermint90 said:

davidmcn said:

Didn't your solicitor explain anything around this before you got to this stage? I do wonder about what advice people are actually getting about the biggest purchase of their lives...

Honestly....my solicitor was great in terms of getting things done and being responsive...but he actually hasn't even given me any documents such as searches, title deeds or anything to read through! even the fixtures and fittings form i had to ask for myself a few days before completion- and to that he said normally we only get it after completion! but from reading posts here, it seems everyone gets it before exchange stage! so no. i had no advice whatsoever. Solicitor only mentioned one covenant to me, and that was all. But he is such a lovely solicitor i couldnt bring myself to hound him with questions!

Seriously?

I provided a fixtures and fittings form within 2 weeks of accepting an offer on my house.  Equally, I received them for my purchase within 4 weeks of having my offer accepted.

RelievedSheff

Welcome to the world of home ownership. You bought the house it is now your turn to maintain it.

Get a local company out to have a look at the boiler and get it fixed. It would be a good idea to get it serviced at the same time if you don't know when it was last serviced.

nyermen

Sadly as others have said, it's yours now - I only found the hidden "boiler safety rejection" paperwork after I moved in to mine.
Point of exchange is where it happens - I think the only case of liability might be if between exchange and completion, there is a material change (not just the boiler leaking, but leaking because it's been evidently damaged between exchange and completion - but you'd have to prove that).

MovingForwards

OP, it appears you're in England, based on your previous posts.

In that case it was up to you to have the gas tested before exchanging and now it's your responsibility to fix it.

macman

What does the SPIF say about the condition of the boiler and CH system, if anything? Did you ask the vendor or EA about the condition of the boiler, if so, what was their reply?Did you ask to see a recent GSC or receipt to show when the boiler was last serviced? Did you get a survey?
Subject to that, and unless the vendor lied to you about it's condition, then this defect, and any others, (and there will be others) are entirely your responsibility.
Your consumer rights in England when buying a property are minimal: you get more protection when buying a bar of chocolate from the corner shop.
The EA will not be interested: they work for the vendor, not for you.

Doozergirl

macman said:

The EA will not be interested: they work for the vendor, not for you.

The EA works for themselves.  

The EA won't be interested because it has nothing to do with them! 

OP, your solicitor sounds interesting, to say the least, but your surveyor would have pointed out that it was your responsibility to have the gas and electrical installations checked separately.  

Peppermint90

RelievedSheff said:

Welcome to the world of home ownership. You bought the house it is now your turn to maintain it.

Get a local company out to have a look at the boiler and get it fixed. It would be a good idea to get it serviced at the same time if you don't know when it was last serviced.

Yes, good idea to get it checked and  serviced at same time...think that's what i'll have to do. Or I'll just get a new boiler in. What's another couple of grand in the grand scheme of home buying! 

AnotherJoe

Peppermint90 said:

Thanks all for your comments! 
It's not a new build...I did think everything house related will be my responsibility after completion, but when EA gave us the keys, she said 'if there's any problem, let us know' so my family is telling me to go back to EA about the boiler leaking...but I feel awkward to do that....i mean what can they do now?

i think that was similar to "how are you doing?" question that people ask upon meeting, no one expects any answer than 'fine" and certainly not "well ive got an ache in my back and ......"

and if you do go back and tell her the boilers leaking, once all is done and it turns out theres nothing to be done excpt call a plumber, she'll never make such a dumb statement again.

But no harm in telling her the boiler is leaking and see what happens my daughter had same after moving in, called british gas (the supplier) and it turns out the previous occupier hadnt yet cancelled the monthly maintenance so someone is coming out to fix it (luckily its a small leak from the condensation pipe nothing bad)

gwynlas

Look for a local heating engineer with good reviews and get them to fix the leak and service the boiller. A good boiler well maintained should last for years/