New house purchase

macman

The OP hasn't told us how there came to be a GSC. Did they request one from the vendor, was it already available from some time back? Which is why I asked if it was previously tenanted.
In most cases, the best check is to ask for a copy of the receipt for the last service.Then, at least you know that the boiler was both functioning and safe at that time.
If none is forthcoming, you can assume that it's not been maintained, and either get it inspected, or ask for more info.

Robin9

I moved into a 3 year old semi - had the boiler serviced - and condemned.  The flue had been installed back to front.

The builder met the bill.

NameUnavailable

The idea is to do all your checks before committing to buy. It's not much use getting a survey after exchange or completion because then it's too late to negotiate.

If you had a survey it will have said something along the lines of 'we advise you to have the gas/electrics inspected' but if you didn't to that then you have bought 'as seen' and the issues are yours to deal with unfortunately.

pinkteapot

Robin9 said:

I moved into a 3 year old semi - had the boiler serviced - and condemned.  The flue had been installed back to front.

The builder met the bill.

Bit different because the house was presumably still in a 10-year new-build warranty?

TripleH

@macman you're right. I should have stated the possibility was very miniscule.

The argument was that should you get in front of a judge and argued a registered gas engineer would have checked their house was safe. All ifs and buts though and still not a guarantee of success.

Copstaasty1234

Gas engineer here- the first issues (the distance) isn’t usually a ‘condemnable’ offence. Obviously I can only be vague without actually seeing it myself. 

And then the second issue depends entirely where it’s leaking from, and what’s leaking as to why they’ve said it’s dangerous. 

When the engineer you instructed came out did they physically cap the gas supply and leave you will paperwork saying so? 

Flugelhorn

hannahcolobus said:

Gas engineer here- the first issues (the distance) isn’t usually a ‘condemnable’ offence. Obviously I can only be vague without actually seeing it myself. 

And then the second issue depends entirely where it’s leaking from, and what’s leaking as to why they’ve said it’s dangerous. 

When the engineer you instructed came out did they physically cap the gas supply and leave you will paperwork saying so? 

Interesting - I suspected much the same, we moved into an old house with a splendid floorstanding gas boiler, had it serviced by BG who had been doing it happily for the previous owners - much muttering about distances and one or two other things and lo and behold they said we needed a new one.
Got local company  in to look and quote for new boiler much eyerolling and all was checked, sorted, certified and they talked themselves out of fitting a whole new boiler. Suffice to say they had our business for several years until he retired. Boiler was still passing checks when we sold up after 12 years. 

user1977

Yes, I often wonder with stories like this why people are so keen to assume it's the first person who was wrong rather than the second one?

macman

TripleH said:

@macman you're right. I should have stated the possibility was very miniscule.

The argument was that should you get in front of a judge and argued a registered gas engineer would have checked their house was safe. All ifs and buts though and still not a guarantee of success.

It doesn't matter if he did check it and knew it was dangerous: he does not have to disclose any faults to a buyer.
If he's a roofer, he may know that the roof is leaky, but he still doesn't have to tell the buyer. He is not liable for any faults, whether he is aware of them or not. It's up to the buyer to ask the questions.
In court, the judge might well give him a hard time if he had knowingly done nothing to fix a dangerous gas appliance, but he could not be held liable to the buyer.

macman

Flugelhorn said:

hannahcolobus said:

Gas engineer here- the first issues (the distance) isn’t usually a ‘condemnable’ offence. Obviously I can only be vague without actually seeing it myself. 

And then the second issue depends entirely where it’s leaking from, and what’s leaking as to why they’ve said it’s dangerous. 

When the engineer you instructed came out did they physically cap the gas supply and leave you will paperwork saying so? 

Interesting - I suspected much the same, we moved into an old house with a splendid floorstanding gas boiler, had it serviced by BG who had been doing it happily for the previous owners - much muttering about distances and one or two other things and lo and behold they said we needed a new one.
Got local company  in to look and quote for new boiler much eyerolling and all was checked, sorted, certified and they talked themselves out of fitting a whole new boiler. Suffice to say they had our business for several years until he retired. Boiler was still passing checks when we sold up after 12 years. 

It probably didn't meet the current regs (no 20 year old install would), but there is no requirement that it needs to. The regs are not retrospective.