How to put questions to vendors

esmy

DD is in the process of buying a house (ftb). She has some questions she wants to put to the vendors re most recent boiler servicing etc. Does she do this directly with the agent, via her solicitor or another way?? Vendors don't live in the property so can't ask them directly.
It's years since we last bought a house, as you can probably tell! 

hazyjo

Things like that I'd ask the EA to find out.

Carrot007

hazyjo said:

Things like that I'd ask the EA to find out.

And be prepared and be reasonable for the enevitable. Not a clue/never. Which is to be expected for such things. (it's a boiler. only concern is age. over 10? may need repalceing and certainly should not be serviced (maybe a safety check though gas is fairly obvious on that).

Redwino222

I went through my solicitor for this and got a gas safety certificate.  It is a question, I think, that is on the questionnaire the home owner will fill in.

Flugelhorn

the property information document usually includes a question on the most recent boiler service. Boiler in house we bought last year got serviced for first time (9 years) vendor was confronted by the form and realised she really should have done something 

hazyjo

Unless it's a rental, absolutely no requirement to service or get a safety certificate. Although some may choose to.

esmy

Redwino222 said:

I went through my solicitor for this and got a gas safety certificate.  It is a question, I think, that is on the questionnaire the home owner will fill in.

hazyjo said:

Unless it's a rental, absolutely no requirement to service or get a safety certificate. Although some may choose to.

We believe it was a rental so should have had an annual check. It isn't mentioned on the property information form. 

Redwino222

Are are you sure the vendor hasn’t been asked when they last serviced the boiler.  It was certainly a question I was asked, and it spured me into action to get a service done quickly! 

fishfingerbutties

Flugelhorn said:

the property information document usually includes a question on the most recent boiler service. Boiler in house we bought last year got serviced for first time (9 years) vendor was confronted by the form and realised she really should have done something 

Yeah, was just gonna say this when I had to fill this in. Although I usually always ask anyway at viewing. 

OP for simple questions it's often easiest to ask the EA who will pick up and phone the vendors. For anything that needs a legal response, then via the solicitors. It's not a legal requirement to have a boiler service though.

esmy

Redwino222 said:

Are are you sure the vendor hasn’t been asked when they last serviced the boiler.  It was certainly a question I was asked, and it spured me into action to get a service done quickly! 

No, the property information form states no guarantees etc on the heating system and vendors have answered not known to last service. I think she will request that the vendors arrange a boiler service via the EA. If they won't / don't then she will before exchange. 

pinkteapot

If the vendors didn't say "We had the boiler replaced three years ago!" when viewing, assume the boiler is 10+ years old and may be heading towards replacement age. Vendors will soon point it out if it's quite a new boiler as it's a selling point. I've never bothered getting a boiler serviced before exchange. I just assume it could need replacing and am happy if/when it doesn't.