Is it normal to ask sellers to carry out and pay for gas and electrics checks?

[Librarybooksandacoconut]

Exactly that! We are selling our house and our buyer’s solicitor has asked us to carry out and provide evidence of gas and electrics checks. However my experience in the past when buying properties is that the buyer needs to arrange these themselves (i.e as part as the same process of doing the the survey etc.). I don’t want to be difficult, but I don’t want to pay out for something that isn’t actually our responsibility!

You are not obliged to do so but it probably would not cost much. Does your boiler have an annual service anyway?

I wouldn't say it is normal.

Whether you agree to such a request probably depends on how much good will you want to keep with your buyer.

What exactly is it they are asking for? A full electrical test is likely to take a whole day and cost a few hundred pounds. A visual inspection from an electrician a lot quicker and cheaper.

in my experience this is something the buyer arranges and pays for.

Are they first time buyers? Sounds like they might be used to renting and therefore used to a landlord providing this info. In your position, I'd be inclined to pay for servicing the boiler and leave the rest to them to do.

They’ve simply asked for ‘the seller will arrange to have the boiler and electrics tested prior to exchange and provide inspection reports.’ I actually think this has come from the solicitor themselves rather than the buyer as it was part of the list of initial queries to our solicitor. The boiler is going to be serviced in the next few weeks. I think I might push back and reply that the buyers are more than welcome to arrange any checks they feel is necessary before exchange.

I would push back too. Sounds like they are trying to cover themselves in the event of any issues. Ball should be on their court as it will be their house.

Sounds like a good plan, that's what I'd do. Give them a copy of the boiler service record and tell them they're welcome to have the electrics tested at their own expense if they wish.

Yep, let them do their own checks.

Can't see they'd be much difference to an MOT, only relevant at that time. If they want tests done - like when they get searches done - let them pay.

What are your electrics like - if they are old then I would consider having my electrician test what I tell him.
Can you ask to arrange their survey, too?

Definitely something the buyers should arrange and pay for it they want it. It will be a recommendation on their survey. Very few electrical installations will be completely up to date with the most recent regulations, but that doesn't mean they are unsafe. We took the view we were buying an old house, planning work including rewiring so there wasn't much point. We were happy that the boiler had been regularly serviced.

My buyers solicitor asked for this and my solicitor responded saying I was not obligated to do this and therefore, wouldn't be. She did this without even asking me so I think it is something that some buyers/their solicitors do just on the off chance that the seller complies. My buyers are also first time buyers so maybe that does have something to do with it.

No, not normal

We’ve just had this, OP.

I think it’s as a result of the homebuyer survey saying that the electrics and gas should be independently tested on the report and the solicitor tries to be cheeky by getting the seller to foot the bill.

We said no (twice!) and pointed out we were under no obligation to do so. Heard nothing back so far, so fingers crossed this time they have accepted it!

No way. The buyer can arrange and pay and you will facilitate access (via the EA).

🙄
We’ve got a boiler service booked in this week. Buyers wanted it. Should have said no shouldn’t we

I think these demands will become more commonplace with so many people having rented before buying, which is a totally different ball game. If they want them inspected they will have to pay. And yes, they are trying to cover themselves, so it is up to them to make sure they are happy with everything they are purchasing, not up to you.

It's "buyer beware" - ie up to them to do whatever checks they feel necessary.

totally normal ime

but tbh most home information packs contain that info already

HIPS don’t apply any longer @redsummershoes, and the property information form only asks I’d everything is in working order, and when (if) last checks were done.

Definitely not normal (I'm a solicitor)- they are trying it on. As @singlenotsingle rightly says it's buyer beware and up to hem to due due diligence on their purchase. You wouldn't pay for their survey as well would you? Tell them absolutely not and stand firm before they realize you're a soft touch and ask for something else ridiculous.

We asked for the same (as they were red areas on the survey due to no certificates being available) but wouldn't have expected our vendors to pay for it? We just wanted them to allow the electrician access to the house

red may be referring to Scotland where things are different?

The exact wording from the survey I’ve just had is as follows

You should ask your Legal Adviser to make further enquiries to confirm whether the following items have been properly serviced / tested by an appropriate specialist within the last twelve months, and whether certificates are available for the boiler, heating systems and electrical installation

It doesn’t say who should pay if they don’t exist. Again, I wouldn’t assume it would be the seller who should have to pay

Its becoming nirmal when selling. Im going to have an electrical check on my house and boiler is service annually already. It is something you can make sure you have before being asked for and will help the transaction go through quicker.

@Fleabag123- this is just standard wording - the surveyor needs to put in caveats like that for his own protection. If the buyer wants electrical checks, the should pay. The main exception to buyer paying is with indemnity policies for lack of building regs consent- then I expect seller to pay.