Should I Get Independent Gas and Electrical Checks Before Selling My House?

Plainview

My house is for sale, and the buyer's report flagged that electrical and gas installations need an independent check. The buyer asked about it. Should I spend a few hundred pounds to get it done? Companies charge quite a lot for electrical checks. One company does it daily, sends one engineer, and refunds if things fail. Is it common for sellers to pay for the checks, whats a reasonable ballbark? Any advice is most welcome.

TBG01

The onus is on the buyer to get them checked, but you're not obliged to do so.

If the buyer is still adamant that they want them checked, you can ask them to do it at their own expense. 

propertyrental

Up to the buyer. He wants to know if the roof is sound? He pays for a survey.
Wants to know if the boiler is sound, pays for a gas inspection.

Of course, if he makes an issue of it and might walk away, then worth youpaying to keep the buyer sweet, but not really your problem.

As for " buyer's report flagged that electrical and gas installations need an independent check" they ALL do as surveyors are not qualified to comment on gas!

When was the boiler last serviced (if ever)?

user1977

They're not going to be "independent" if you've instructed them.

eddddy

user1977 said:

They're not going to be "independent" if you've instructed them.

On that basis, they're not going to be "independent" if the buyer instructs them either.

If you wanted to take things to extremes, I guess buyer and seller could each arrange a report - and see if they agree. 


(But TBH - if I was selling, I might 'jump-in' and instruct a report 'on my terms', before the buyer has a chance to instruct a report 'on their terms'.)

ThisIsWeird

No onus on you to have these surveys. 

If, however, your boiler hasn't been serviced for a few years, that might be worth doing; folk are very 'emotive' about boilers, and a recent service will go down well...

user1977

eddddy said:

user1977 said:

They're not going to be "independent" if you've instructed them.

On that basis, they're not going to be "independent" if the buyer instructs them either.

I think the point is that the buyer will want reports which are independent of the seller - so it's likely to be a waste of money for the OP to instruct them if the buyer isn't happy with the OP's choice of contractors, or if the reports aren't going to be addressed to the buyer (so they can rely on them).

Unless the OP just wants to be forewarned about any problems and maybe get them fixed before a buyer gets overexcited.

TripleH

Ideally evidence of regular boiler services would be presented to buyers. You'd have it done to emprove efficiency (?) At least getting it serviced will highlight issues you can get fixed or that there are no dangerous issues present.

Electric reports will most likely say the electrics do not meet current standards (most houses don't) really only worth it to show they are safe or give you a guideline of present condition so you can factor remedial work in your sale price.

Jonboy_1984

Had an EICR electric check done on a property we sold last year as there had been a shower installed without paperwork 10 years earlier.

It flagged everything as safe except for a couple of issues that would be resolved by a replacement consumer unit. Buyer left it until a week before we were due to exchange (some 16 weeks after it was sent over) to demand it was done before completion….

Next time I would leave it to the buyer to sort themselves if they wanted it done.

They have also been left without the benefit of any guarantee on the work.

EndlessStruggle

I asked and paid for a gas check as my sellers didn't want to do one, just for piece of mind.

I wouldn't bother, if they want it done they can pay for it but they might ask you to pay for any repairs, if they are needed.

badger09

There is no legal requirement for you to provide these but it’s reasonable for buyer to want reassurance that electric & gas installations are safe & working. 

If you have recent service reports for boiler, gas fire etc, that should be enough. If you’ve had relevant electrical work done without the required completion certificate, it’s probably wise to have the work checked. 

As with most things in house sale/purchase it’s a matter for negotiation.