Protocol on asking for service of faulty air purifier

492800

Hi there.

I was apartment hunting (to buy) and saw a property recently.

It had a air purifier and ventilation system (MVHR) but it was really noisy and definitely needs a service. 

On questioning, the seller said it needed a service.

Nevertheless loved the place and put an offer in on Monday and it was accepted.

I was expecting that with our mortgage a full survey would have been done but I've been told I am only getting a Basic one done so they probably wont find issues with the ventilation unit.

This means there will be no survey report that I can the negotiate from.

Is it too late to say to the estate agent that I would like the seller to get it fixed? Or serviced?

I'm curious of the etiquette here?

Or should this caveat have been in our initial opening offer?

Happy to hear your thoughts.

Thanks

user1977

I would just tell them you think it needs checked and get your own specialist to have a look at it - same as you would if it was a central heating boiler or the like. Or you ask them to fix it themselves and decide whether to trust them not to have a cowboy do it.

canaldumidi

Mortgage lenders never do a survey. All they arrange is a 'valuation' to ensure the valueof the property covers their loan (which will itself be less than the price being paid)..

A survey is something a buyer can choose to do if they wish.

Specialist aspects of aproperty - electrics, gas appliances and, in this case, the MVHR - would be outside the expertise of a surveyor so a buyer would need an inspection by the relevant specialist.

Whether the seller chooses to get it surviced is down to the seller. If they don't, you could get it inspected, and assuming it is safe, and functioning, you could then arrange a service once you've bought the property.

Even if you had had a survey, and a specialist reporton the HMVR, which recommended a service, I doubt that would lead to aprice reduction. The service cost is sominimal compared to the purchase price that few sellers would agree to renegotiate.

TripleH

What brand is the system?

If it has filters, have the current owners changed them at all?

We had what sounds similar in the last flat we lived in. The building management team didn't think to change or clean the filters after finishing the building work so they were gunked up with dust from that. When we got them changed it made a difference.

The existing owners might be of the same persuasion and not bothered to replace them.

ProDave

MVHR is not really an "air purifier" system.

It is one component that helps to make up an energy efficient house, so the fact it has it is an encouraging sign that this might be a well built low energy house.  Out of interest what does the EPC say?

In a normal house, ventilation happens through various trickle ventilators, uncontrolled leaks, and extract fans usually in bathrooms and kitchens.  In windy weather they are often over ventilated, and all the air that leaves the property takes heat with it, adding to your heating bills.

MVHR is "Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery"  The principle is you make the house as air tight as possible with no uncontrolled trickle vents.  Then the MVHR system ventilates the house at a controlled rate by introducing fresh air to living rooms and bedrooms and removing stale air from kitchens and bathrooms.  It does this constantly.  The exhaust air passes the incoming air through a heat exchanger meaning most of the otherwise wasted heat is kept in the building by warming the incoming air.  the air streams do not mix in this process.

The normal fan rate is very slow, and a properly functioning system will be inaudible.

They also have a boost function, which makes them run at a faster speed usually used when showering or cooking, that can be a little noisy.

If this system is noisy all the time, it is either stuck in boost mode for some reason or there is a problem with the fan bearings.

Search someone in your local area for MVHR servicing and get them to go and look at it and give an estimate for fixing it to restore normal silent operation.

theartfullodger

Use draft letter on Shelter's website for reporting repair requirements: see..
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/how_to_report_repairs_to_a_private_landlord

- calm & polite!

Slithery

theartfullodger said:

Use draft letter on Shelter's website for reporting repair requirements: see..
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/how_to_report_repairs_to_a_private_landlord

- calm & polite!

What landlord? The OP is looking to buy the property...