No certificate for stove - can it derail the sale?

[lecce]

We had a multi-fuel-burning stove installed a few years ago and now need a certificate in order for the sale of the house to procede. Dh, who dealt with the whole thing, can't remember having had one and is trying to contact the company who installed it to get a replacement. Dh did speak to someone the other day and he said he was going to come round. He did not turn up.

I am now worried that there is a problem and that the stove is 'illegal' or, even if it's not, that we are not going to be able to prove it.

Advice please?

Not a legal expert, but I think if you offered an indemnity insurance in lieu of the certificate that would be fine.

Your Solicitor should be able to discuss this and arrange it for you.

I would have thought that you could get someone out to certify it (like a registered gas/electric person but equivalent for fires).

Can't imagine it could derail a sale at worst they may request extra ventilation (airbrick in wall) and a monitor (carbon monoxide?) which they stick to the wall.

If it was fitted by a proper company they should have records and should be certified so may just need to visit again.

I've got 2 stoves but nothing has been mentioned about them on my house sale (so far not exchanged yet). Perhaps it will come up.

What you need is a HETAS certificate - it basically proves the stove has been installed properly and in compliance with current regulations. See here for info on why this is required. If the company you used isn't HETAS registered or is unable to produce a certificate, you should be able to get someone who is HETAS registered to come and do a test and issue you with a certificate (albeit you will have to pay for this). Absolutely continue to chase your installer though, they should be able to provide this for you - I didn't look at the HETAS website in full but you might want to have a search to see if there's a way to check whether your stove was registered (or perhaps check with your local authority building control dept on a no names basis to see if there's a way you can find out).

as mycatlikestwiglets notes, worry not as there is a way. You need a HETAS certificate (like gas safe, for burners) and if your actual installer can't/won't do it, find someone who can ASAP. If there is remedial work it won't cost a bomb and must be done, your house insurance may not be valid if there is a fire if the installation cannot be proved correct. That's why it matters.