To negotiate on this? Help!!

[Springisnear4]

Buying a house. Nearly at stage of arranging exchange date. EA rings and says boiler has been serviced and needs to be replaced and this is happening Monday and seller wants me to pay 50% of the cost. On viewing property, EA said it was 10 years old and had been serviced every year, when searches came through it is 15 years old. I paid £4000 over asking price for this house. WWYD? Seller is including washing machine and fridge freezer in sale.

I'd just say no. What's the worst they can do? They could relist and hope to get 4k over the asking price plus the cost of half the boiler, but it's a lot of faff..

I'd just explain I won't be exchanging unless there's a working boiler, but that you're already paying over the asking price so aren't prepared to pay any more.

I'd say no.

Yeah my worry is the seller will pull out and I love this house and my current housing situation isn't good.

Say no.

They aren't going to pull out at this late stage. Hold your nerve.

I wouldn't pay, its still their house and their boiler, did the ea show you the service details, how do you know it needs replacing. Sometimes a new boiler causes other issues if it's a different type, water pressure etc.

“My offer was over the asking price, and I made it based on what I was told - that the boiler was about ten years old and regularly serviced, so I was not expecting to have to replace it. I’m afraid I’m not able to increase the offer at this late stage. So my offer stands, and I’m happy to exchange once the boiler has been replaced and all the paperwork has been completed”.

No,

It would cost a lot to remove and get rid of a fridge freezer and washing machine so don't think that is a benefit really.

A boiler should last a lot longer than 10 years - we are currently having ours replaced after 26 years of heavy use! I would definitely say no.

I think this is a really good reply - it’s clear and polite, and sets out your situation well.

Without seeing the report how can they expect you to even consider this, it may well still be working, have the vendors still got water water and heating. Who serviced it, why does it need replacing, is it unsafe or leaking.

If the boiler had broken down after completion the seller would be saying “well that’s unfortunate, not our problem”. But because it’s the last few weeks for them in the property they want you to cough up

a regularly serviced boiler of that age shouldn’t really be irreparable so I might be calling bull on their claim.

they won’t pull out at this stage … house prices are currently stagnant at best.

All very well to say no but you’re getting a new boiler… Make sure, whatever happens, that any guarantees warranties and service contracts are able to be enforced by you.

Say no; they're just trying their luck. They're not going to pull out at this late stage.

This. They aren’t going to pull out. You offered on the house thinking boiler was regularly serviced and 10 years old. This has now changed.

I mean, if it had broken down 1 week after completion, would they be happy to pay half? They're being cheeky.

Do you know what you’ll be charged? A more than cheeky request, but if it’s going to more trouble than it’s worth to pull out….?

I’d definitely tell them you’re going to have to think it over - for a good few days!

If you already paid 4k over asking price you’ve already paid it . I think seller is greedy

I'd just say that my offer was based on a house with a working boiler and that is what I want to have at completion. Their problem. As pps have said, if it broke down after completion, then it would be your problem.

They'll probably replace it with the cheapest boiler they can, so I wouldn't expect it to last that long anyway so wouldn't be happy paying half towards a boiler that I wasn't choosing.

Tell them you will reduce your offer by 50% of the repair cost.

It’s a tricky one, because had they of left the boiler in working, would I be asking them to pay for it?

a basic fridge/freezer and washing machine are a combined £400, and they are brand new, unlike what the sellers are leaving.

I would get the solicitors to get it exchanged asap and not agree to anything

Sadly not anymore.

I would negotiate on the price and get my own boiler - they will blatantly just choose the cheapest possible thing.

Look, it's their house, their boiler, their problem. You are not the owner. Until completion there is no absolute guarantee that you will ever be the owner.

This is ridiculous. Just say no.