Awkward buyers

StandingInTheSun

I think these are unreasonable requests.

The boiler is old - so what? It's either safe and it works, or it doesn't.

As for the electrical safety check, I'd only consider it if it said the electrics were actually unsafe. Renting regulations are a different matter entirely.

Tell them you won't renegotiate on this basis and it's over to them whether they pull out or not.

pinkshoes

abbarry said:

 the boiler is old so they want it replaced which they want us to pay half for. Also the electrics don’t comply with new renting regulations and needs a new consumer unit which has been quoted to cost £450. They are asking us to pay the whole bill for the electrics.

The electrics I would consider getting done (or offering a reduction of £450), because to be fair it's not an easy one to spot when viewing a house and making an offer. We had to have ours done when we did our kitchen as we fitted an induction hob and had needed a higher current loop for it which our ancient consumer unit could not accommodate.

As for the boiler... well DUH! This was fully visible when they viewed, and is generally one of the first things that people consider e.g. how old it is and does it work. I would absolutely NOT be willing to contribute anything towards this, nor get it changed before they move.

All the above depends on how many viewings and offers you had obviously... if this was your only buyer then you might want to consider being flexible.

powerful_Rogue

Buyers always seem to bang on about the age of a boiler. When I was selling end of last year, my boiler was 14 years old. Serviced yearly and everytime told it's in top working order and what a good boiler it was. The amount of viewers that trotted out the line 'The boiler would need replacing due to it's age' used to make me roll my eyes and pray they didn't make an offer.

The house I purchased had a 10 year old boiler, again got it serviced when I moved in (belt and braces) and told it's a good quality boiler with no issues.

steampowered

In my experience, a recommendation to update the electrics seems to come up on pretty much every survey for every property!

Electric regulations have been updated a lot in the past few years. Unless you are buying a new build the electrics are probably not going to be up to current standards. I wouldn't entertain a price reduction for that.

I wouldn't entertain a reduction for an old boiler either. Old boilers are totally normal and not a problem if it is working well and being regularly serviced. Are you able to provide receipts/records showing that the boiler has been serviced properly? 

IAMIAM

I find this so annoying. I am the type of seller, who withdraws and foots the bill and sells again. In fact, I would go as far as to tell the EA to mention to any potential buyer, don't bother negotiating the price down two weeks before anything and suddenly make a whole chain collapse to get 5k knocked off, as I will re-market or put on rent or withdraw from the market. It's a sellers market at the minute.

Newnoel

Your response needs to be very clear... The agreed price reflects the value and condition of the property as it stands.
In most parts of the UK it is a sellers market, so you can afford to play hard ball. If you re-list, the next purchaser may well pay well above asking.

IAMIAM

Newnoel said:

Your response needs to be very clear... The agreed price reflects the value and condition of the property as it stands.
In most parts of the UK it is a sellers market, so you can afford to play hard ball. If you re-list, the next purchaser may well pay well above asking.

This is spot on and to be frank, sealed bids is now becoming the norm and open day viewings. So couldn't agree more.

Crashy_Time

Newnoel said:

Your response needs to be very clear... The agreed price reflects the value and condition of the property as it stands.
In most parts of the UK it is a sellers market, so you can afford to play hard ball. If you re-list, the next purchaser may well pay well above asking.

The price doesn`t seem to reflect this to the prospective buyer? and the next valuation could well be a "down-valuation". it is a risk the OP will take if they lose this buyer.
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-mortgage-lending-slumps-april-over-stamp-duty-uncertainty-2021-06-02/
The property "boom" off the back of the stamp duty stunt is like a holiday in Portugal, one minute it is on the next it`s gone!

Lavendyr

It's all negotiation at this point as others have said. If you don't want to front the cash for the boiler etc (and personally I wouldn't - no guarantee they still wouldn't pull out if works done pre exchange) then say you'll drop the price accordingly. 
If your house is in an "in demand" area then you could play hard ball and stick to the asking price plus refuse to chip in on the cost. If you are looking to complete prior to the SDLT deadline that might not be the best idea since house prices have been inflated by the SDLT holiday.
Unless you have other proceedable offers, I'd suggest offering to lower the selling price. It's not a huge amount after all, in context.

Grumpy_chap

Looks like the OP did not get the answer they wanted.