Guarantees

021710Martin

How many people out there buy a property with full double glazing/ conservatory etc.etc. that at the time of purchase is “covered by guarantee” and then to their cost learn that when an issue arises said guarantees are personal and do not run with the installation for the lifetime of said guarantees.

Apparently within the small print of these so called guarantees there is stipulation that the guarantees are personal and unless the new owner notifies the installer they become null and void irrespective of how long they have been in place be it 6 months or 6 years or how defective the installation may have been

It seems an easy and rather “cheap and nasty” get out clause that’s hidden away. How many people check the fine print of these guarantees when buying property. They’re told by their solicitor that all searches and enquiries are satisfactory thus assuming everything is hunky dory to proceed and they do so without further thought, after all “my solicitor says it’s ok to proceed”.

MikeJXE

If you had known that would you have backed out ? 

theartfullodger

Who or what was/is the invoice from for the DG please?? That's who you have a contract with, sue them. 

If there were two invoices, one from supplier, other from fitter I would have walked away.

Have you actually had a problem with this alleged issue or just reporting on what you've heard??

MattMattMattUK

021710Martin said:

How many people out there buy a property with full double glazing/ conservatory etc.etc. that at the time of purchase is “covered by guarantee” and then to their cost learn that when an issue arises said guarantees are personal and do not run with the installation for the lifetime of said guarantees.

Apparently within the small print of these so called guarantees there is stipulation that the guarantees are personal and unless the new owner notifies the installer they become null and void irrespective of how long they have been in place be it 6 months or 6 years or how defective the installation may have been

It seems an easy and rather “cheap and nasty” get out clause that’s hidden away. How many people check the fine print of these guarantees when buying property. They’re told by their solicitor that all searches and enquiries are satisfactory thus assuming everything is hunky dory to proceed and they do so without further thought, after all “my solicitor says it’s ok to proceed”.

That is the same with almost all guarantees, the same for your phone, TV, toaster, sofa etc., he only fairly standard exception is for cars. It is also the same with consumer law, it protects the original purchaser, not someone who has subsequently bought/received the item.

user1977

021710Martin said:

They’re told by their solicitor that all searches and enquiries are satisfactory thus assuming everything is hunky dory to proceed and they do so without further thought, after all “my solicitor says it’s ok to proceed”.

Have they been told by their solicitor that their solicitor has seen these guarantees? If the solicitor has seen them and not pointed out that they're not capable of being transferred (or might be worthless because of their terms or because they were granted by an insubstantial company) then they may have a case against their solicitor.

propertyrental

Very common, though often the seller can arrange to have the guarantee transferred into the new owner's name. May be an admin fee.

sheramber

We claimed on the guarantee for the double glazing on the house we bought.

We were able to claim until the 10 year guarantee was finished.   We made three claims over the years.

021710Martin

Thank you all for your comments. This is a real case involving a member of my family and subsequent to purchase of the property we have learnt that the installer was called back at least twice post construction to rectify defective workmanship. I hear and appreciate what you all say. As for phones, tvs etc etc  I fully understand and acknowledge the situation vis a vis the guarantee, however in relation to major property works it seems a minefield. Why is it the guarantee for the cavity wall insulation runs with the property and not the purchaser of said insulation whereas for a construction with a projected life of 20 years min it does not? Using Martin’s “SAD FART” rule I would think there surely must be a case to answer by the installer/supplier if the construction fails in any way shape or form within 5 years of purchase, bearing in mind they’re prepared to guarantee it for 20, irrespective of the terms and conditions of guarantee.

user1977

021710Martin said:

...Martin’s “SAD FART” rule...

...is completely inapplicable to properties, and doesn't apply to other things anyway if you buy them second-hand.

If you want to know whether or not a guarantee is going to run with the property (and whether any formalities are needed to transfer it), you need to read it.