Selling a house without a heating system

jacko74

Over the last couple of years I've had my house completely refurbed to a good standard. The only outstanding job is a heating system.

I have got a multi fuel log burner in the living room and along with a plug in oil filled radiator in the bedroom this has been adequate for me since completing the refurb. (It's only a 2 up 2 down)

As I'm not on mains gas the simplest option is just some slimline electric wall panel heaters which would cost around £600.

I'm planning to put my property on the market in the Spring... is a heating system considered an essential necessity for a newly refurbed house that is otherwise in "walk in" condition and doesn't need anything at all doing to it?

It would be a bit annoying to spend that money on panel heaters only for a buyer to come along and rip them out for an alternative system such as solar + ASHP or an LPG fuelled wet system but if a lack of a heating system is going to be a huge deterrent to potential buyers then I suppose I need to spend the money even if personally I don't need them.

hazyjo

To be totally honest with you, if I was buying a house off a developer (or someone who had refurbed to sell) and they'd not installed a heating system, I'd wonder what else they'd scrimped on, and wouldn't fancy having to damage walls, flooring, or whatever else to install something.

I'd have something economical installed. If they want to rip it back out, that's out of their pocket. Their problem. Think you'd be mad to sell without.

housebuyer143

For £600 I would install them. It would probably put many buyers off knowing they have no heating.

MartaUK

I would ask the estate agent who is going to market the property. It probably depends on where it is, what the typical solution in other similar houses is, what is the price range etc. I believe if your house has a value over a million it is more likely the next owners would consider installing a heat pump, while in a house valued at £50k, they might not be able to afford such expensive solutions and may worry about not having a 'proper' heating from start. It would not be any deterrent for me personally, but I'm living now in a house that was not mortgageable due to many faults and we're now slowly fixing them all.

You could tell the estate agent that you're willing to install those electric heaters if a prospective buyer ask for them before the contract exchange.

What about the EPC rating? Have you got a new certificate reflecting the changes you've done to the property?

Happy New Year

twopenny

I sold my house with no heating system.

The boiler broke with the Artic Blast and relocation was going to cost a lot and maybe not where the buyers would want.

I got asking price offers from first viewers.

But this was down to other things, location, potential for development and large grounds for an Edwardian semi.

The estate agents said they had never sold a house with no heating system before.

So depends on estate agents abilities and commitment, location and desirability. Near city and transport. Beautiful rural location.

If it's just an average house done up you may struggle with offers. So many factors.

But you can put it on the market and see how it goes then put in heaters if that's necessary. I think in your situation I'd just put them in to start and add that onto the sale price if suitable.

prettyandfluffy

We bought our first and then our second house with no heating system.  It was a bit chilly and inconvenient but we quickly got heating put in.  The big advantage, as you mention, is that the buyer gets exactly the heating system they want.  Maybe ask a local estate agent?

jacko74

Thank you for the replies, the consensus seems to be to fit some heaters, I particularly agree it could create a question of what else has been skimped on in a potential buyers mind and I suppose an additional £600 isn't a lot in the grand scheme of a refurb that's cost £30k!

powerspowers

I’d fit the heaters especially if you are looking to attract first time buyers

theartfullodger

Storage radiators unless you want a terrible EPC rating 

Jude57

My sister lives in Cornwall and has for over 20 years. She's never had central heating in her two bedroom house even though it's supplied with mains gas which she does use for cooking and heating water. She has one portable oil filled radiator in her living room and no heating anywhere else. Most of her neighbours don't have central heating either and it's apparently the norm there.

As to EPC ratings, they're not reliable. My sister's house doesn't have one at all. My own, second floor flat, in the North East of England, in which I've lived for 17 years, is rated D because, apparently, it doesn't have cavity wall insulation (it does and it's been upgraded twice while I've been here, and it's being done again this year) and doesn't have energy efficient lighting (it does, every light fitting or lamp is energy efficient and the lighting of the communal areas was renewed two years ago, so it's all energy efficient, motion-sensing). No-one has ever carried out an internal energy survey of my flat so the rating is a guess at best.

Owain_Moneysaver

If a house doesn't have a fixed heating system it is likely to be considered unmortgagable, so that will put off a lot of potential buyers in most circumstances.

This will suffice for £60 a room. (Check suitability for bathroom.) No point spending more.