Buying a Flat but being charged £1,000 for boiler installation

Bobb12345

I'm currently in a long drawn out process of buying a flat, and at this late stage I have been informed that the block of flats I will be moving into requires a new heating system installed. The current tenant is saying that they will not pay the £1,000 charge for the heating system, and is asking me to pay this. Their argument being that it hasn't been installed yet. 

My argument, however, is that the flat was sold with no issues (the new boiler is an issue) and as such being hit with this charge is unethical and I shouldn't be paying it. 

What should I do regarding this? Any help appreciated. 

MeteredOut

Who is asking for the £1K? eg, is it a shared cost for multiple flat owners?

What is your solicitor saying as to the legalities of who should pay it? eg, is it payable at the point the decision is made to go ahead, or at the point of installation, and where does your completion/exchange lie in relation to those. That should be detailed from the deeds/service contract for the flat.

Personally, I'd be stating that the price i offered for the flat was for a working heating/water system, and had I known there was a £1K bill coming, I'd have reduced my offer by that amount.

In the end, are you willing to walk away from the purchase unless the current owner pays the cost?

Albermarle

£1000 for a new boiler is very cheap. Do you mean there is some kind of community heating system that is being upgraded, and each flat owner is being asked to contribute £1000 towards it ?

Bobb12345

It's the property management company who are asking for the £1k, it's a shared cost for multiple flat owners. 

The solicitor doesn't believe I should pay this charge. I'm not necessarily willing to walk away from the purchase over this, but it's unethical and at the very least should be shared. What else can I do in this situation?

housebuyer143

I wouldn't be paying for the boiler before completion but the seller isn't benefiting from it and definitely doesn't want it done. As it's a shared flat cost I imagine then it could have just as easily been announced a week after you moved in and you would have to pay it. 

Personally I would absorb this as a cost of buying the place. But I wouldn't pay for it until I own it. 

MeteredOut

Bobb12345 said:

It's the property management company who are asking for the £1k, it's a shared cost for multiple flat owners. 

The solicitor doesn't believe I should pay this charge. I'm not necessarily willing to walk away from the purchase over this, but it's unethical and at the very least should be shared. What else can I do in this situation?

Offer a 50/50 split as a gesture of goodwill, perhaps by reducing the asking price by £500, and you paying the £1K on completion of the installation.

DullGreyGuy

I wouldn't be willing to pay towards an upgrade that I am going to receive no benefit from... I was fortunate though in that I got a massive rebate for the water (charged to the freeholder) after moving in. Buy a property and you buy into the maintenance it's going to require going forward. 

propertyrental

Bobb12345 said:

It's the property management company who are asking for the £1k, it's a shared cost for multiple flat owners. 

The solicitor doesn't believe I should pay this charge. I'm not necessarily willing to walk away from the purchase over this, but it's unethical and at the very least should be shared. What else can I do in this situation?

It's purely a matter of negotiation.

Refuse to pay and the seller might back down and pay the £1000 (or knock £1K off the sale price)
Or they might not back down and you'll then have the choice of a) walking away or b) offering to pay £500 or c) paying the £1K

Much depends on
* how badly you want this flat
* how badly he seller wants tosell and
* who is the better negiotaror......

Bobb12345

housebuyer143 said:

I wouldn't be paying for the boiler before completion but the seller isn't benefiting from it and definitely doesn't want it done. As it's a shared flat cost I imagine then it could have just as easily been announced a week after you moved in and you would have to pay it. 

Personally I would absorb this as a cost of buying the place. But I wouldn't pay for it until I own it. 

Except it wasn't announced a week after I moved in. I think 50/50 split is the fairest way to deal with it. I appreciate the help. Thank you. 

sammyjammy

Unless you pull out if the money is payable after you complete you're kind of on the back foot

dil1976

I would be putting however much you agree to pay towards it on your offer, so they have to pay it but will get it rebated when completion goes through as they may change their mind on selling leaving you out of pocket.