Who is responsible to boiler check prior to exchange

LLM000

Hi

We are due to exchange imminently however it has come to light that the vendors do not have copies of the boiler installation or any services since installation. We have requested that the vendor cover the cost of a boiler service prior to exchange but they have come back to us and said this is a cost we should cover.

In my opinion this does not seem right or fair to sell a house without any evidence of having a safe working boiler. 

Has anyone else had to go through something similar/ who is responsible to get the boiler check?

Thanks

bluelad1927

They are not obliged to have it serviced for you. I suggest you pay for to get it serviced by someone who who want to do it. The engineer will be working with your interests in mind and not the homeowner

El_Torro

If it's a gas boiler then it should really have had an annual check. 

Once you own the house the boiler is your responsibility, so if you move in and find out it needs replacing it's up to you to replace it. If there is any warranty left you can claim back on that. As far as I know the seller is not responsible for getting it serviced before you move in, unless you have added it as a condition of the purchase.

If you're worried about it you could always get it checked (at your expense) before exchanging contracts. Then if there's something seriously wrong with it take it from there.

FreeBear

The local council will have a record of the boiler installation (assuming it was done properly) - Just call them and ask what records they have relating to the property in question without asking about any specific works. As for getting the current condition of the boiler checked out, any Gas Safe registered engineer can issue a CP12 certificate (assuming no fault is found). Usually done as part of a service. As to who pays, I think general form is for the buyer to offer to foot the bill (same for an electrical condition report).

[Deleted User]

Hi,

you will need to use a Gas Safe registered engineer for a service.

propertyrental

No requirement for annual checks.
You want an inspection of the boiler? Pay an engineer to inspect.
Same with the electrics, plumbing, structure etc.
It's of no benefit to the seller though he has the option to agree to pay to smooth the sale if he wished.

BTW I discovered my father never had his gas boiler serviced in 35 years. It worked fine though I did insist he put a CO alarm nearby!

Oil boilers benefit more as the burners clog up and need regular replacing.

DullGreyGuy

LLM000 said:

We are due to exchange imminently however it has come to light that the vendors do not have copies of the boiler installation or any services since installation. We have requested that the vendor cover the cost of a boiler service prior to exchange but they have come back to us and said this is a cost we should cover.

In my opinion this does not seem right or fair to sell a house without any evidence of having a safe working boiler. 

Has anyone else had to go through something similar/ who is responsible to get the boiler check?

There is no legal requirement to have a boiler serviced/inspected in an owner occupied home nor is there any requirement to keep a record if you have had it done. 

You are pre-exchange and so are still in the negotiation phase... you can pull out of the sale if the vendor wont get it serviced/checked, you could reduce your offer because of the unknown state of the boiler which may trigger them to have it checked or you accept that all private sales include an element of risk and just budget for getting it checked if its a priority for you. 

The one thing not to do is threaten to pull out the sale and then dont... shows your cards and you may find that an hour before exchange the vendor suddenly wants a 1-2% increase in offer else they'll walk. 

FreeBear

DullGreyGuy said: There is no legal requirement to have a boiler serviced/inspected in an owner occupied home nor is there any requirement to keep a record if you have had it done.

But if the boiler is relatively new, the manufacturer will require annual servicing in order to maintain the warranty. No record of a service, they will void the warranty.

tacticalbanjo

Even if they offered to pay for a boiler service I would advise you to pay for it yourself. If they pay then the guy is working for them and doesn't have to give you a fair picture of the boiler's condition. If you pay you can ask the engineer then he works for you and he can report back to you about what kind of nick its in.

Flugelhorn

FreeBear said:

DullGreyGuy said: There is no legal requirement to have a boiler serviced/inspected in an owner occupied home nor is there any requirement to keep a record if you have had it done.

But if the boiler is relatively new, the manufacturer will require annual servicing in order to maintain the warranty. No record of a service, they will void the warranty.

people still don't do that - our vendors did decide to get the 8 year old boiler serviced for the first time just as she put the house on the market - nothing had been done up until then, possibly as a new house she thought it was covered by the builders - who knows 

Grizebeck

solicitors and some buyers throw up a song and dance about a boiler service!
storm in a tea cup, book a service in whilst the weather is still nice and gas engineer easy to book in