Using survey to bargain price

juliedee4663

H337 said:

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that as it's still the vendor's property, shouldn't it still be the their responsibility to ensure the service and test the gas and electrics are up to date? And if not, can I request they do so before sale?

No, they are under no obligation to do so whatsoever. 

Smalltownhypocrite

Its the buyers job to do those things not the sellers.

Grizebeck

Smalltownhypocrite said:

Its the buyers job to do those things not the sellers.

I wish buyers realised that. 

Bigphil1474

OP, It's not the buyers job, nor is it the sellers job. This is a negotiation - you can ask the seller to do it, they may say no. You can say you'll pull out if they don't, they might still say no. I have chosen to have gas and electrics certified when selling a property in the past just to make the sale is as hitch free as I can. They are relatively cheap things to sort if everything is in reasonable condition, so it depends how much hassle you want.

Personally, I'd want to do that stuff myself after I move in. Presumably you had a look at the boiler, consumer unit, general condition of plugs, light switches etc. etc. so have an idea of what condition most things are in and offered accordingly?

housebuyer143

What are you really hoping to gain from this? The boiler you should have factored into this so your really going to ask the seller to service a boiler you plan to rip out? 
Electrics are not going to be to current standard and no one really does an electrical check unless it's rented. So it fails and you then negotiate £500 for a new consumer unit?

I think what you will actually achieve is to delay and potentially risk the sale for very little, if any gain. 

Albermarle

The survey has come back stating that the gas boiler, electrics, and water haven't been serviced or inspected in several years and are overdue. Also that the boiler will need replacing very soon (something I knew).

If you read through this forum there are numerous threads ( mainly from FTB's), stressing over relatively minor issues raised in surveys, such as boiler not serviced and the plumbing and electrics would benefit from updating.

In fact if those are the only things the survey raised, then that is a pretty positive result.

Just let the sale progress and sort these things out when you are in situ . 

user1977

H337 said:

Also that the boiler will need replacing very soon (something I knew).

Just picking up on this - what exactly do you "know" about the boiler? We have had people here who seem to think boilers keel over and die on their tenth birthday...

Scotbot

• H337 said:

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that as it's still the vendor's property, shouldn't it still be the their responsibility to ensure the service and test the gas and electrics are up to date? And if not, can I request they do so before sale?

No. There is a requirement for rental properties to have annual gas/ electric services tested but none for owner occupied properties. 

Sarahspangles

H337 said:

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that as it's still the vendor's property, shouldn't it still be the their responsibility to ensure the service and test the gas and electrics are up to date? And if not, can I request they do so before sale?

Houses aren’t like cars, they don’t have MOTs. The sort of certificated tests that landlords are required to do - to keep their tenants safe - are optional when it comes to homeowners. Your budget needs to factor in ongoing servicing and eventual replacement of the electrics and boiler. The surveyor’s report gives you a feel for how long before the first big bill is likely to come up. 

Albermarle

Sarahspangles said:

H337 said:

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that as it's still the vendor's property, shouldn't it still be the their responsibility to ensure the service and test the gas and electrics are up to date? And if not, can I request they do so before sale?

Houses aren’t like cars, they don’t have MOTs. The sort of certificated tests that landlords are required to do - to keep their tenants safe - are optional when it comes to homeowners. Your budget needs to factor in ongoing servicing and eventual replacement of the electrics and boiler. The surveyor’s report gives you a feel for how long before the first big bill is likely to come up. 

Boiler replacement is normally quite straightforward and not that expensive, but rewiring a house is a pretty big job.
However the electrics have to be in quite a bad state for this to be necessary, and it is a job that can often be put off almost indefinitely, apart from maybe updating the consumer unit.