Reinstating oil fired central heating in a repossessed house - what to look out for?

[bludgerwitch]

We've exchanged contracts on our first house and will move in over the next month - of course everything is switched off at the moment and the heating system has been drained.

The survey said there was a bit of corrosion around the stopcock valve of the oil tank, which needs repairing. We want to get the boiler serviced, as well (a 5 year old Worcester Bosch), and I was thinking of having a plumber there to turn everything back on just in case there are nasty surprises with the pipes.

My problem is, I am not sure in which order these things need to be done - who do I call first? Does anyone know? Who do I even call about the corrosion to the stop cock, I'm not sure who would deal with that?

I'd welcome any advice! I am sitting shivering in our 100 year old rented house, which must have an energy rating of about -20, our new house is rated 73 and I can't wait to move in!

plumber first to supervise putting the water back on. Then HETAS oil man about an hour later to check over the boiler, service it etc. He will also be able to deal with the tank issue, confirm first.

before any of this: check all radiator valves closed! Take some buckets too!

and now: get on to the water and electricity suppliers to discuss taking over the accounts. Ditto for the phone - if the line is deactivated it takes a while to reinstate, bizarrely.

Thanks, that helps a lot - I have the number of a recommended plumber and the company we get our oil from does boiler servicing so I can get some quotes.

I'd check the condition of the tank as well - if it's a new style plastic tank then it will probably be OK, but when we moved into our house we had been left with an old metal tank that wasn't even legal. If it had sprung a leak we would have been in all sorts of trouble.

Don't forget to check oil level in tank as well you might need to arrange a delivery. Good news is that the price is the now the lowest it's been for months. :)

I checked prices yesterday and was pleasantly surprised! Need to get that stopcock sorted and then I'll order, I doubt there's much, if any, left in the tank.

We should getting the keys today, they've had my money since yesterday!