Sold House - Now Boilers Broke

[abc1234]

We've sold our house and are due to sign next week, however have now discovered the boiler has broke.

Had a plumber round today, explained the situation ans he's said we need a new combi boiler which will cost us between 2-2.5K

I'm not sure what the best option is. I know legally the boiler needs to be in good working order but begrudge forking out 2.5K as we have already reduced the asking price on the house.

It is a Glow worm 52B super. The plumber said theres a leak and its all corroaded .

Is there any way it can be patched u to work for a few months. Failing that why has he quoted a combi? What is the cheapest boiler out there?

 

[xr4x4]

Throw some leak sealer in there and see what happens.

 

[expertgasman]

Is there any way it can be patched u to work for a few months.

Probably not, and finding someone to do it is even less likely


Failing that why has he quoted a combi? What is the cheapest boiler out there?[/quote]

Sometimes a combi fit is cheaper and quicker than a heat only boiler. It depends on the state and age of the rest of the system.

 

[abc1234]

Annoyed because spent £500 on a new water tank 6 months ago.

 

[Boilerman2]

If you are a Home owner then you should be prepared to have things serviced/repaired - from your description it sounds like your existing boiler has recieved little or no maintenance and now you are p***d that you are going to have to spend just as you are about to leave!!!
Tough innit!!

 

[Agile]

You say you have "sold your house"!

Then you say you will sign next week!

So the reality is that you have NOT committed to any sale yet.

You have already ( for unspecified reasons ) reduced the price.

I would suggest you either try another engineer to find one who will fix it.

Or

You tell the prospective purchasor whats happened and offer them a £500 payment to continue with the purchase without prejudice to the non working boiler.

The reality is they are probably just as keen to complete the purchase as you are to complete the sale.

Of course your "plumber" seems to be quoting a cash cow high price. Even using a quite good boiler make I can usually replace a heat only for about £1500. Using a cheap one I could probably do it for about £1300.

Tony Glazier

 

[expertgasman]

Of course your "plumber" seems to be quoting a cash cow high price. Even using a quite good boiler make I can usually replace a heat only for about £1500. Using a cheap one I could probably do it for about £1300.

Tony Glazier[/quote]

Given the age and state of the boiler, I suspect some remedials will be required to comply with Part L. Which was my point.
Tony, what right have you got to automaticaly assume the guy THAT WAS THERE is trying to rip off the OP. And we wonder why this trade gets a bad name.

 

[Tipper]

This happened to us when we were selling Father-in-Law's house after he died.

My Sister-in-Law very carefully cancelled all outgoings including the boiler repair contract. You've guessed it, 2 weeks later boiler sprung a leak in mid winter when we wanted to keep the system running and the house dry, just before we signed contracts to sell it too.

We decided the best way forward was to come clean with the buyer and reduced the house price by £1k.

This made him a happy man as he was going to replace the boiler anyway and we both went away smiling!

 

[Agile]

Given the age and state of the boiler, I suspect some remedials will be required to comply with Part L. Which was my point.

Tony, what right have you got to automaticaly assume the guy THAT WAS THERE is trying to rip off the OP. And we wonder why this trade gets a bad name.

A quick look at Ebay will show just how desperate some RGIs are to do some work.

There are several quoting less than £1500 to install Vaillant ( more expensive ) combis.

Even several offering complete new heating systems with new boiler and seven rads for under £2000 !

 

[gremlin16]

You tell the prospective purchasor whats happened and offer them a £500 payment to continue with the purchase without prejudice to the non working boiler.

The reality is they are probably just as keen to complete the purchase as you are to complete the sale.

Of course your "plumber" seems to be quoting a cash cow high price. Even using a quite good boiler make I can usually replace a heat only for about £1500. Using a cheap one I could probably do it for about £1300.

Tony Glazier

Am I missing something here ? £££notes maybe.

The house has been sold for an agreed price. (reduced)
The buyer may well have visited the property whilst the boiler was in working order.

Now when he/she moves in they find the boiler is u/s.

Now Tony is estimating a boiler change for £1300-£1500 or offer them £500 to complete the purchase.
If my maths is right the buyer is now £800 or £1000 out of pocket.

If it was me buying the house, there would be no contest.

 

[expertgasman]

Given the age and state of the boiler, I suspect some remedials will be required to comply with Part L. Which was my point.

Tony, what right have you got to automaticaly assume the guy THAT WAS THERE is trying to rip off the OP. And we wonder why this trade gets a bad name.

A quick look at Ebay will show just how desperate some RGIs are to do some work.

There are several quoting less than £1500 to install Vaillant ( more expensive ) combis.

Even several offering complete new heating systems with new boiler and seven rads for under £2000 !

Er, what has that got to do with you critisising the guy on the spot! And even I could "quote" £1.5K, and then ramp up the ante, when actually surveying. It's simple, if the OP isn't confident of his 1st plumbers integrity, then get someone else to quote.

My initial statement merely pointed ouity that sometimes, with an ancient system, it is quicker and cheaper to fit a combi, than a heat only plus new infrastructure. At that point, he hadn't disclosed that he's spent £500, presumably on a new cylinder.

 

[Agile]

"""£1379

We can supply and install a new Vaillant Pro 24 combi boiler , we swap your old boiler and replace it like for like for the new Vaillant combi boiler, fully fitted within one week of purchase or whenever you need to suite you.

All site surveys and estimates are completely free of any charges

The boiler is suitable for houses or flats with upto 3 bedrooms.

Our offer covers all of the Northwest, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire. Please call to check your area is covered within our standard delivery and installation charge. Please call 01782322013.

We cover other parts of the uk, please check before purchasing as this could involve an extra travel surcharge.

We only use our own workmen and do not contract out, so I can guarantee the workmanship and the professionalism of the work."""

Thats one example of a combi. A heat only is normally less to buy.

Its more expensive to convert to a combi syhstem. I quote a budgetary unseen price of £2200.

In the circumstances, the OPs requirement is the cheapest option and that would be a heat only boiler at around £1500.

An offer to the purchasor of an ex gratia payment of £500 is very reasonable.

I am not going to suggest anything to the OP which is not in his own best interest. The OP is "my client" and so I give him the best advice for him!

Tony

 

[gremlin16]

Fine Agile, but your sums dont add up.

Seriously, as the buyer would you be prepared to pay for a new boiler.

 

[expertgasman]

.....................We only use our own workmen and do not contract out, so I can guarantee the workmanship and the professionalism of the work."""[/color]

Thats one example of a combi. A heat only is normally less to buy.

Its more expensive to convert to a combi syhstem. I quote a budgetary unseen price of £2200.

In the circumstances, the OPs requirement is the cheapest option and that would be a heat only boiler at around £1500.

An offer to the purchasor of an ex gratia payment of £500 is very reasonable.

The OP is "my client" and so I give him the best advice for him!

Tony[/quote]

You are trying to avoid the point, Tony, as usual. You have no idea of the house layout, or the condition of the infrastructure. It may well be a clapped out gravity system. YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE!! (or have you...)

And in any case the company that you quote have been incorporated for less than 2 years. they haven't filed ANY accounts, and are currently late in filing.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/combinationservicesstaffordshireltd

http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/864dc498ab721f59638daae33d9b37a8/compdetails

I would not be confident that they will call around and do a good job for the "quote" suggested. And they must be REALLY desperate to guarantee the job within 7 days (or was that actually the "guarantee")

If they want to conduct themselves in that manner, that is up yo them, butr don't have a go at people who may want to present, and conduct, themselves proffesionally. And charge accordingly.

 

[Agile]

Fine Agile, but your sums dont add up.

Seriously, as the buyer would you be prepared to pay for a new boiler.

I think that they do!

I am sure that I could act for either party in this dispute ( or both as a mediator ).

The original situation was the house was being sold with an old clapped out boiler which was overdue for replacement. Any switched on purchasor will have known this and included replacement in his purchase plans.

The boiler was so old that it failed even before the contract was signed!

The seller wanted a bodge job to comply with the sale terms. He could call me and tempt me with £300 to get it going again. Then the purchasor takes the house with the same clapped out boiler.

But my suggestion of a £500 payment means the purchasor gets a good contribution towards the new boiler he probably already plans to fit. So he is very happy indeed! Far better off than having the old boiler bodged!

If it helps the OP, I would even offer free to make a call to the purchasor to explain the situation and see if he will agree!

Tony