To negotiate on this? Help!!

This is is weird. Say they demanded a grand or two, got a shonky boiler at discount, then it packs in as soon as the property is yours? It's their boiler. Plus they/EA lied about age of boiler. You could say you only wanted the house at that price as you took it a 10 yo boiler would last 5 more years? Like as if they would withdraw the sale over this. Just refuse. Can they just leave the old boiler in then you'd need to fully replace it? Or are they legally obliged to sell with working boiler?

That’s good news well done @Springisnear4 !

Just be aware that if the seller ends up paying for the boiler, they will get the cheapest one they can. You may find it preferable to choose one you like, and pay the difference.

Hard no. No. No No No No No, heeeeelllllllll Nooooo. They are dicing around in a dodgy market for the sake of a few hundred pounds? The fridge and washing machine are immaterial. Just tell the EA no and don't elaborate.

I wouldn't contact the seller, pass the request to your solicitor with a no from me.

All the best.
please update us!

@isawTheSkids thats hilarious! Who pays towards a carpet they didn’t choose and most likely will change

I would also decline the boiler “offer”. It’s tough shit and January so they probably need to crack on with sorting it sooner rather than later. It’s a tough property market on the whole and not a sellers market so l doubt very much they will pull out of the sale

Shouldn’t this stuff be communicated via the solicitor if you’re nearing exchange? Why is the EA the pivotal contact?
Agree you shouldn’t pay, but, as a PP said, would consider a commensurate reduction in the asking price and you get a (good) boiler installed after completion.

I'd contact the seller, being honest if you leave to them they'll put the crappiest boiler in and it'll cause you problems. If it was me I'd see if they can keep it going until you move in and you can then put a new one in that you choose, worth the money in the long term. Worth approaching them and just getting more info.

I really wouldn't try a DIY approach on this, @Springisnear4. Dishonesty from an EA is almost what I'd expect, but you've no reason to suppose the sellers are any better

Basically the EA just wants it sold to get their commission, so if they're clear that you won't be paying any more it's actually in their own interests to talk some sense into the owners

Don’t contact the seller. Just say that you are unable to increase your offer, and you expect a working boiler.

when we bought our last house there was an item that the seller refused to fix. I’m the end the estate agent paid to get it done - they wanted their commission without having to go back to the drawing board.

This - and especially since you've paid over the asking price

They may even get someone to fit a secondhand, barely serviceable boiler (I've known it done) and you're much better off keeping some control over what gets fitted

Well either way, they have chosen to replace it, their bill

No. Although I would prefer to have money off the house price and install my own boiler. Otherwise they might try a cheap repair job or a cheap new boiler.

We don't know its broken.
The engineer might have suggested an upgrade. You need to see the inspection. Report or ask for another opinion but you're right, it's their boiler.

No. You bought the house with a working boiler. Its since broke, its their issue to fix & pay for unfortunately

You agreed to purchase the house along with a working boiler. The boiler now needs replacing, this is their problem not yours. They will not pull out of the sale. Not only would they lose the money paid over their asking price but they would also still have to replace the boiler at a cost of their own.

I would say no because you haven’t even exchanged yet, it’s their bad luck.

Obviously the risk is that they choose the cheapest boiler they can get away with as a replacement.

No way!
Not a chance

Say no. They are extremely cheeky to even ask. If the boiler broke a couple of weeks after completion, would you ask them to pay 50% of the replacement costs? They won't pull out at this stage especially when you are paying over asking price in a falling market, where completions have fallen hugely.

Say no.
You have ALL the cards in this situation.
If they were to pull out based on this:

• the seller has to go back to the drawing board and may not get as good an offer. Plus loss of time
• any new buyer will never agree to this upfront unless they are out of their mind - as they'd know about it from the start
• so they'll have to pay for the whole new boiler themselves

The EA is relying on pressuring you and you feeling worried about losing the sale/panicking They are acting for their client, as they should do, but it's really a stupid play on them and the seller's part as there's no way this works out where the seller doesn't have to pay for their own boiler, unless they get you to panic and act irrationally.

Cheeky mare ! . If she decides to pull out, she has to pay for the brand new boiler herself and might not end up in the fortunate position of someone willing to pay over the odds for the house.
I would also be asking for a second opinion on the sick boiler.

Stuff that, you've been lied to! I'd tell them as others said, you've paid over asking, you were told it was a decent boiler so you expect that under these circumstances ... I would hold fire personally