No HETAS certificate for long burner installed in 2015

[Margaret Fitzgerald]

Hi all,

We are about to exchange contracts in our house sale but find that although our log burner is operating correctly, there are a few things need doing regarding the installation.

The house was renovated and the log burner fitted in 2015. The general builder fitted it and was told by The then owner that he'd get someone to inspect it and get it certificated. This never happened.

Who should be held responsible for this?

We only found out that the buyers wanted it inspected last week on recommendation from their conveyancers. We duly booked an inspection by a HETAS engineer to find that several things need doing, although the log burner itself passed the safe operating criteria.

What do we do now!!!! We should be moving in 20 days!!!

 

[blup]

Your lawyers should guide you on that, but much depends on the response of your buyers as advised by their conveyancers: do they accept what the engineer has said?, do they negotiate a reduction?, do they delay until a retrospective building regulation approval is sought and issued, do they pull out?, or something else?

Some buyers wouldn't bother, others will use it as a lever to reduce the price at this relatively late stage.

Blup

 

[Gammy leg]

Get a quote from the HETAS Engineer to do the repairs and if necessary, agree with your buyer to reduce the cost of your house by that amount and they get the work done...or not.

 

[Margaret Fitzgerald]

Thanks Gammy leg and Blup!

the buyers have agreed for us to either get the work done if we have time or get a quote and reimburse them.

 

[bobasd]

how come the issue never came up when you bought the place?

in my limited experience, the buyer's conveyancers do the "discovery" process for certifications etc early in the transaction, and any queries are directed at your solicitor not the buyer.

 

[Margaret Fitzgerald]

I know!
I will get in touch with a stroppy email.

 

[durhamplumber]

The general builder fitted it and was told by The then owner that he'd get someone to inspect it and get it certificated

So it was fitted illegally then?

 

[Margaret Fitzgerald]

Fitted by a general builder working on the property and not checked and registered by the then owner.

Not picked up by our previous conveyancers. costing us a lot of time and money when we are up against it. It has been checked by a HETAS engineer (MoT really) which has shown that it is operating as it should but not all installation requirements met.

 

[lostinthelight]

Ive removed a number of stoves, 3 from one dwelling, where vendor thought it easier to get rid rather than get retrospective certs.

 

[Margaret Fitzgerald]

God

 

[durhamplumber]

Fitted by a general builder working on the property and not checked and registered by the then owner.

Not picked up by our previous conveyancers. costing us a lot of time and money when we are up against it. It has been checked by a HETAS engineer (MoT really) which has shown that it is operating as it should but not all installation requirements met.

Should never have been fitted by the builder,he is not competant.

 

[blup]

.

 

[blup]

Fitted by a general builder working on the property and not checked and registered by the then owner.

Not picked up by our previous conveyancers. costing us a lot of time and money when we are up against it. It has been checked by a HETAS engineer (MoT really) which has shown that it is operating as it should but not all installation requirements met.

Did you have a survey when you purchased, if so it might have picked up the building regs point?

Blup

 

[Margaret Fitzgerald]

Survey says get the flue checked before using. God knows why you pay them £500 plus when they can't be assed to get up a ladder and look.

Have made three attempts to contact the builder to quote for a fitting of the chimney pot but he's ignoring us... (not sure I want him to do it anyway!!

We hope to get a quote to leave with the buyers and reimburse them. We have done the other things ourselves and are nearly £400 out of pocket without the cost of the fitting of a chimney pot!!!

Nightmare! I have the estate agent, the last owner, the builder and the last conveyancer on my list!!!!

 

[dilalio]

Might be better for your stress levels if you just cut your losses and "move on"