Leaking boiler before exchange and completion!

mutley11

I have a combi boiler that has a small leak and I am due to exchange and complete on Friday.  Do I need to fix the boiler before then or do you think I can keep quiet and pay for the repair if they ask after completion?

I am currently looking for emergency repairs tomorrow but wonder if I could leave it?

lookstraightahead

Morally the right thing to do is to get it fixed. 

MikeJXE

Leaking what ?

Water fumes or Gas ?

mutley11

MikeJXE said:

Leaking what ?

Water fumes or Gas ?

small leak of water under the boiler.  it is still working but there is a small leak.

mutley11

lookstraightahead said:

Morally the right thing to do is to get it fixed. 

i don't mind getting it fixed, but whether I should pay for an emergency repair and travel to london where the house is but i live 2 hours away!  the leak is small and the boiler is still working and so there is no urgent need to get it fixed tomorrow but whether my answer on the seller information sheet that the central heating is in good repair means I need to make sure it is before completion.

ThisIsWeird

Make sure it doesn't cause actual damage. Eg, shut off the water supply, and/or place a container under the leak.

Inform the EA to let the buyer know, and inform them you're trying to get a plumber out to sort it before completion but are struggling to find one, but that if you don't manage, you'll cover the bill for them. 

I'd suggest that would be the right thing to do.

mutley11

ThisIsWeird said:

Make sure it doesn't cause actual damage. Eg, shut off the water supply, and/or place a container under the leak.

Inform the EA to let the buyer know, and inform them you're trying to get a plumber out to sort it before completion but are struggling to find one, but that if you don't manage, you'll cover the bill for them. 

I'd suggest that would be the right thing to do.

they may delay exchange if they are aware there is a problem with the boiler and i don't want to delay the sale.

SDLT_Geek

mutley11 said:

lookstraightahead said:

Morally the right thing to do is to get it fixed. 

i don't mind getting it fixed, but whether I should pay for an emergency repair and travel to london where the house is but i live 2 hours away!  the leak is small and the boiler is still working and so there is no urgent need to get it fixed tomorrow but whether my answer on the seller information sheet that the central heating is in good repair means I need to make sure it is before completion.

I wonder if you read the following on the Property Information Form:

"If you later become aware of any information which would alter any replies you have given, you must inform your solicitor immediately.  This is as imporetant as giving the right answers in the first place."

ThisIsWeird

mutley11 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

Make sure it doesn't cause actual damage. Eg, shut off the water supply, and/or place a container under the leak.

Inform the EA to let the buyer know, and inform them you're trying to get a plumber out to sort it before completion but are struggling to find one, but that if you don't manage, you'll cover the bill for them. 

I'd suggest that would be the right thing to do.

they may delay exchange if they are aware there is a problem with the boiler and i don't want to delay the sale.

That concern is understandable, but most folk would be appreciative, realistic, reasonable, and accepting. And it would be the 'right' thing to do.

You've since mentioned that it's a small leak and that the boiler is actually functioning fine? I can't see any reasonable person being concerned enough to delay exchange.

I guess another way to look at this is to swap roles; what would you want them to do as the seller, and how would you react to the 'news' as the buyer?

mutley11

ThisIsWeird said:

mutley11 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

Make sure it doesn't cause actual damage. Eg, shut off the water supply, and/or place a container under the leak.

Inform the EA to let the buyer know, and inform them you're trying to get a plumber out to sort it before completion but are struggling to find one, but that if you don't manage, you'll cover the bill for them. 

I'd suggest that would be the right thing to do.

they may delay exchange if they are aware there is a problem with the boiler and i don't want to delay the sale.

That concern is understandable, but most folk would be appreciative, realistic, reasonable, and accepting. And it would be the 'right' thing to do.

You've since mentioned that it's a small leak and that the boiler is actually functioning fine? I can't see any reasonable person being concerned enough to delay exchange.

I guess another way to look at this is to swap roles; what would you want them to do as the seller, and how would you react to the 'news' as the buyer?

i have realised that the boiler is over pressurised!  i put too much water into it.  i am going to drain the radiator today and see if that stops the leak as i read that the water leak from the boiler drain valve is due to too much water in the boiler.

the buyer doesn't need to move in and he is in no hurry to exchange so i will let them know when we have exchanged if i can't fix the leak but i have called someone who can come round later today to fix it if i can't do it myself with draining the radiator.

ThisIsWeird

mutley11 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

mutley11 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

Make sure it doesn't cause actual damage. Eg, shut off the water supply, and/or place a container under the leak.

Inform the EA to let the buyer know, and inform them you're trying to get a plumber out to sort it before completion but are struggling to find one, but that if you don't manage, you'll cover the bill for them. 

I'd suggest that would be the right thing to do.

they may delay exchange if they are aware there is a problem with the boiler and i don't want to delay the sale.

That concern is understandable, but most folk would be appreciative, realistic, reasonable, and accepting. And it would be the 'right' thing to do.

You've since mentioned that it's a small leak and that the boiler is actually functioning fine? I can't see any reasonable person being concerned enough to delay exchange.

I guess another way to look at this is to swap roles; what would you want them to do as the seller, and how would you react to the 'news' as the buyer?

i have realised that the boiler is over pressurised!  i put too much water into it.  i am going to drain the radiator today and see if that stops the leak as i read that the water leak from the boiler drain valve is due to too much water in the boiler.

the buyer doesn't need to move in and he is in no hurry to exchange so i will let them know when we have exchanged if i can't fix the leak but i have called someone who can come round later today to fix it if i can't do it myself with draining the radiator.

Ah, so it's not so much a 'leak', but a 'discharge' from the safety discharge pipe outside from the system being overpressurised?

I presume you managed to get it up to near 3 bar?! Lawdie :-)

If you bleed a rad, you should be able to get the pressure back down - I'd stop at, say, 1.2 bar.

There is a good chance the pipe will still drip after this, as the safety valves in boilers are prone to not sealing up fully once the pressure has dropped. But you could be lucky.

But this is even less for the buyer to be concerned about as it was seemingly an accidental 'oops'.