Go with your gut instinct. If they have nothing to hide, then why not work with you on access and dates. Get a confirmed date for access and get the trades booked in. Completion after you have the reports back from your tradespeople
If it was me I would want those things checked so I knew how much it may cost me to fix, and therefore come to an agreement with the seller on reducing price.
It seems unlikely that the surveyor was wrong about the pipe. They are expert professionals being paid to give accurate assessments/info
I would have to disagree with that, based on my own experience. They are excessively risk averse, and fill their reports with non-committal "maybes".
From what you've written, I suspect boiler is fine. Even if the fault identified by the surveyor is correct, doubt it's more than £200 to fix. How old is it and what make? If it's over 10 years old then you should probably budget for having to replace it at some point in next 5 years, although sometimes you get lucky and they keep going for ages.
Electrics more complicated. Old doesn't necessarily mean "bad" but definitely worth getting them tested.
Admittedly a bit odd that they'll seem keen to complete but not very cooperative with access. But property transactions seem to bring out the worst/weirdest behaviour in lots of people,.
Why are they moving after just one year to somewhere fairly close? Why are they preventing you from checking out the issues raise by your surveyor? Why are they rushing to complete in advance of you getting access to the property?
Assuming it is a condensing boiler the overflow pipe is probably a condensate pipe, usually plastic but sometimes copper, generally not a problem but can freeze in the winter, your plumber should/ will advise you on that (check they are gas safe registered for boiler fitting, servicing, etc ). If the boiler was inspected in January then in theory it would have been serviced as well, there should be paperwork pertaining to that.
Electrics can be old and safe but not meeting current regulations, like requiring the Consumer Unit (fuse box) to be metal clad and fireproof (non combustible). Homeowners, esp. i would imagine sellers, need a EICR (electrical installation condition report) which in essence details whether your property's wiring and electrics are safe. Your sparky will advise you, EICRS' and their contents are a Pandora's box, from one sparky to another their views on the state of an installation and work required, or not, are highly subjective. You do not need to be concerned with that right now. Check your sparky is Part P competent
For sellers, an EICR is not compulsory. I'm selling my house at the moment and don't need to obtain one. They are, however, recommended for reassurance, selling or not, every ten years or so.
For sellers, an EICR is not compulsory. I'm selling my house at the moment and don't need to obtain one. They are, however, recommended for reassurance, selling or not, every ten years or so.
@bobmunro they are involved in property, when they got last year it needed a lot of interior improvements, which they have done.
@andipandi@IdleHans thanks both, yep the EICR isn't compulsory, and I know if there are issues and upgrades needed the cost will fall to me, but definitely want to know what I'm moving two children under 10 into and want that reassurance.
@MrLargothe boiler is 11 years old and yeah, it'll be something I'd be looking to upgrade/change in the next couple of years. I've had sight of the gas service that was done in January and there was a leak fixed then, it is a Baxi combi boiler. It is as @andipandi said a condensate pipe but it has leaked enough to leave watermarks around the pipe.
As an FTB, I was probably too green initially when I went to the viewing and they said it was nothing to worry about and that's my fault. But we are here now and @fenlandaddick I agree, even if they're not willing to repair the leak then I need to know the costs and factor it in before we complete, and it has made me uneasy that they've gone away/made themselves unavailable, but still wanted to complete while they're away.
Again, thanks for the responses, I felt like I wasn't sure what I was doing and now I feel at the very least I'm trying to do the right things.
Where they arent being cooperative I'd assume the worst on the items in question and adjust the offer accordingly. If they want the full price then they need to allow access.
Depends on circumstances, of course, but that's the way I'd approach it.
It's not a leak as such, condensate pipes remove mildly acidic waste water, produced during the condensing process. Usually run into a gully, hopper, downpipe or soakaway. In this case its not been done well, not an expensive fix imo. Cant see the boiler flue for some reason, it's certainly not prominent.
Your boiler, I'd want to see a service history, but many people dont bother until something goes wrong or the thing stops working completely. A yearly serviced boiler can last well beyond it's average lifespan. I've had my boiler serviced every year since installation (2007), cost £80 last year....
@bobmunro they are involved in property, when they got last year it needed a lot of interior improvements, which they have done.
@andipandi@IdleHans thanks both, yep the EICR isn't compulsory, and I know if there are issues and upgrades needed the cost will fall to me, but definitely want to know what I'm moving two children under 10 into and want that reassurance.
@MrLargothe boiler is 11 years old and yeah, it'll be something I'd be looking to upgrade/change in the next couple of years. I've had sight of the gas service that was done in January and there was a leak fixed then, it is a Baxi combi boiler. It is as @andipandi said a condensate pipe but it has leaked enough to leave watermarks around the pipe.
As an FTB, I was probably too green initially when I went to the viewing and they said it was nothing to worry about and that's my fault. But we are here now and @fenlandaddick I agree, even if they're not willing to repair the leak then I need to know the costs and factor it in before we complete, and it has made me uneasy that they've gone away/made themselves unavailable, but still wanted to complete while they're away.
Again, thanks for the responses, I felt like I wasn't sure what I was doing and now I feel at the very least I'm trying to do the right things.
Hmm Homes Under the Hammer merchants? Even more reason to get it checked out before exchanging/completing - their 'improvements' would likely have been done under a very tight budget and corners will almost certainly have been cut.
Comments
From what you've written, I suspect boiler is fine. Even if the fault identified by the surveyor is correct, doubt it's more than £200 to fix. How old is it and what make? If it's over 10 years old then you should probably budget for having to replace it at some point in next 5 years, although sometimes you get lucky and they keep going for ages.
Electrics more complicated. Old doesn't necessarily mean "bad" but definitely worth getting them tested.
Admittedly a bit odd that they'll seem keen to complete but not very cooperative with access. But property transactions seem to bring out the worst/weirdest behaviour in lots of people,.
Electrics can be old and safe but not meeting current regulations, like requiring the Consumer Unit (fuse box) to be metal clad and fireproof (non combustible). Homeowners, esp. i would imagine sellers, need a EICR (electrical installation condition report) which in essence details whether your property's wiring and electrics are safe. Your sparky will advise you, EICRS' and their contents are a Pandora's box, from one sparky to another their views on the state of an installation and work required, or not, are highly subjective. You do not need to be concerned with that right now. Check your sparky is Part P competent
https://electricalcompetentperson.co.uk/
@bobmunro they are involved in property, when they got last year it needed a lot of interior improvements, which they have done.
@andipandi @IdleHans thanks both, yep the EICR isn't compulsory, and I know if there are issues and upgrades needed the cost will fall to me, but definitely want to know what I'm moving two children under 10 into and want that reassurance.
@MrLargothe boiler is 11 years old and yeah, it'll be something I'd be looking to upgrade/change in the next couple of years. I've had sight of the gas service that was done in January and there was a leak fixed then, it is a Baxi combi boiler. It is as @andipandi said a condensate pipe but it has leaked enough to leave watermarks around the pipe.
As an FTB, I was probably too green initially when I went to the viewing and they said it was nothing to worry about and that's my fault. But we are here now and @fenlandaddick I agree, even if they're not willing to repair the leak then I need to know the costs and factor it in before we complete, and it has made me uneasy that they've gone away/made themselves unavailable, but still wanted to complete while they're away.
Again, thanks for the responses, I felt like I wasn't sure what I was doing and now I feel at the very least I'm trying to do the right things.
Your boiler, I'd want to see a service history, but many people dont bother until something goes wrong or the thing stops working completely.
A yearly serviced boiler can last well beyond it's average lifespan. I've had my boiler serviced every year since installation (2007), cost £80 last year....
Hmm Homes Under the Hammer merchants? Even more reason to get it checked out before exchanging/completing - their 'improvements' would likely have been done under a very tight budget and corners will almost certainly have been cut.
Id assume the resistance to trade access is to avoid a renegotiation on the sale price post the visit.