Buying a house - ancient (dodgy?) boiler

simond said:

The trouble with an internet forum is that whilst you get some clever qualified people on it, you also get dim qualified people, people masquerading as qualified with very loud voices, and finally people with no qualification or experience with a lot to say. It's often difficult to know who is who, particularly if you are not in the industry yourself.

Click to expand...

Spot on and well-expressed.

Agile said:

An Austin 1100 was not expected to last many years. The last one I saw in regular use was in Bulawayo two years ago. I have not seem any being used in the last 10 years in the UK.

Click to expand...

Bet you haven't seen a Crayford estate car conversion of one. I had a 1966 one some 20 years ago and it was on it's last MOT. I sold it to an enthusiast and it's still in his barn awaiting restoration

I think that I might have seen one in the classic car dealers by Kew station.

Agile said:

PS I think its a Bermuda 552 !

Click to expand...

Spooky

OP: If the flue is "not to standard", it probably would not be "condemned". We "condemn" appliances that are "Immediately Dangerous", and ultimately will either disconnect or invoke a process whereby the gas emergency service will . (We have no right to disconnect against your instructions, the ES have a duty to do so) . If the boiler has a fault that is likely to present a risk to life or property, we will advise as such, attach a label, and turn off in a manner whereby you can take the resposibility of reinstating it. If the flue has a minor fault, we may just mention it or make a note on the paperwork.

Any pro here would strongly advise you to have the boiler serviced and checked before you use it. You do, of course, run the risk of it being found dangerous. But that is a lot better than the alternative.

So, really, the question is : would a defective boiler be a deal breaker? If so, you must insist that the boiler is checked before completion, regardless of who pays. I am not a lawyer (where is he, BTW), but I believe that it would be an offence to sell a property knowing that there is a life threatening appliance in residence.
I personally think it would be innapropiate for you to insist on a new boiler, as you are aware that the existing one is a little past its use by date, but the vendor may be happier meeting you somewhere in the middle. But you must still have it checked before use - and that is the advice I give regardless of your specific situation. If the boiler was condemned, could you cope without heating, and is there alternative sources of hot water.?

All food for thought, but I get the feeling that you actually know the answers.



For what it is worth, I beleive a 552 would be at least 25 years old, but there are many (an older models) still chugging away happily

Over the past couple of years, anyone that I know who sells their house, phones me in a flap, and tells me that they are hoping to exchange in a couple of days but need a gas certificate before this can happen. They then move in to their next house and invariably phone & tell me that the boiler doesn't work. Don't understand how they work out who knows me & who doesn't

If you agreed a price to allow for a new boiler in 2 years then surely if you replace the boiler now , your loss is only the cost of borrowing the amount for 2 years and not really worth losing a house sale over?