Vendors replaced boiler

[badheadday]

So we're moving house, have agreed a completion date for a couple of weeks time. We sold our house early to avoid losing the sale and the vendors agreed to contribute towards our storage. Today we have had an email saying that the boiler broke down, they had a gas man out to look at it, he gave them a few options but they decided the fairest thing would be to install a new boiler, which is being done today. Because of this they can no longer contribute towards our storage.

I've just got a funny feeling about it. Would you really buy a new boiler 2 weeks before moving out? They've clearly gone for one of the cheapest options so we feel it would have been nice if they could have discussed it with us so we could have a say in it and maybe pay a bit extra if we wanted a slightly better boiler but as it's being installed today it's probably too late to have that conversation. What would you do if that was you? Everyone I've asked says they would just have it repaired.

I think we really need to know what the difference in price is

Not sure I like the sound of this- but you can't really do much about it.

When/if you get there you'll be able to judge what boiler they have installed- if any.

It's not for you to have a say on a house you haven't yet bought anyway, and if the storage money was legally agreed then you can take steps to get it, regardless of the boiler "replacement".

It doesn’t matter what the difference in price is.

Contracts have not been exchanged.

Whatever goes wrong in the vendors house before exchange and completion, is their problem to rectify and pay for.

The OP owes not a single penny towards the cost of the upkeep and maintenance of the vendors property. That and the agreement to pay OP’s storage costs are two entirely separate things.

@giletrouge

Sounds fishy to me OP. They should have consulted you, and how convenient that this means they can't pay for something they've previously agreed to pay for. I'd be telling my solicitor frankly, see what they say. A new boiler is a couple of grand minimum. Have you seen the order? The guarrantee? Or is this just what they're telling you?

This is what crossed my mind. Maybe I should be more trusting of people

Interesting that lots of you are saying the storage is a separate issue. Obviously it's quite a late stage now and we were fully expecting to be buying a house with a working boiler. They offered a contribution towards our storage because we wanted to move earlier and they couldn't, we didn't ask for it but were very grateful for the offer. We would have kept pushing for an earlier move date though if they hadn't offered anything.

They've tried to do the right thing here. Some people would have just paid for a temporary fix in order to get the boiler through to completion, kept their mouths shut and left it for the unsuspecting buyer to deal with later down the line.

The main thing is make sure you see the relevant paperwork to ensure that it was installed correctly and insist that the warranty is transferred over to you (at the vendors expense if there's a charge).

I'm not sure why they're passing the cost onto you (which it feels they are) if you haven't exchanged yet. It's their responsibility to sort stuff with the house, while they still own it. I would personally still be asking them to contribute towards your storage costs.
As somebody has already mentioned, the timing was bad luck for them but they have to suck it up, not you.

How much were they supposed to be contributing towards the storage costs?

What is the cost of storage?

Our 25-year old boiler broke down about 4 days before we were due to move out. I would only have gone for a new boiler I wouldn't get the benefit of in sheer desperation. I certainly did not discuss with my vendor and he was really lovely

*buyer, I mean.

I think they sound like absolute diamonds: contributing to your storage fees and installing a new boiler. You have been very lucky to be dealing with such decent people.

I offered to help my best mate move as she had a 3 month old. Fetched up on the day to a filthy empty house (think a layer of grease and cat hair on the kitchen floor that needed a wallpaper scraper to get up for starters) and a broken boiler. It was an absolute nightmare - had to boil kettles all day to clean, and got someone out to look at it. It couldn’t be fixed and luckily he fitted a new one the next day and she stayed at her mums, but it was something that she could have well done without. You’ll have heating and hot water - be grateful.

It isn’t kindness, it’s a requirement. The terms of sale require these things to be in working order. If you moved in and the boiler was broken they’d be liable for the cost of your new one. Buying it themselves is cheaper than being charged for someone else’s likely more expensive choice. I had to do the same with a water tank two days before moving house.

@HeddaGarbled

I think they sound like absolute diamonds: contributing to your storage fees and installing a new boiler. You have been very lucky to be dealing with such decent people.

Did you read OP's posts? They agreed to contribute towards storage costs but now are not because 'their' boiler broke.

@KitchenFairy

Are your already out of your house with your stuff in storage?

I think what goes on in their house with regards to their boiler is none of your business, as long as there is a working boiler when you move in.

By the same token though, the fact that their boiler broke and has cost them money is their problem, they don’t get to renege on the deal to pay for your storage because their boiler broke.

I agree with this.

Though I'd probably have contacted you & told you what happened and asked what your preference would be.

Cheaper boiler & funds for storage or we put the storage funds towards the boiler you prefer if more expensive.

@HeddaGarbled

I think they sound like absolute diamonds: contributing to your storage fees and installing a new boiler. You have been very lucky to be dealing with such decent people.

🙄🙄🙄

THEIR boiler broke, it's THEIR responsibility to get it fixed

They are now reneging on their agreement to contribute to the storage, as they'd agreed.

Diamonds? More like manure.

@StephenBelafonte

I think we really need to know what the difference in price is

Why?

THEIR boiler broke, it's THEIR expense.

THEIR agreement to pay towards storage so the OP agreed to a later settlement is also something they offered for THEIR benefit

Prices make NO difference.

Yes it might have been good to have discussed it with you but it was the sensible thing for them to replace it, even though they only live there another 2 weeks. Unfortunate expense for them.

Can't see why they should have been paying for your storage costs at all! There's always a bit of a muddle with moving and dates aligning, it's just one of those things and it wasn't for them to have to contribute.

Can't see why they should have been paying for your storage costs at all! There's always a bit of a muddle with moving and dates aligning, it's just one of those things and it wasn't for them to have to contribute.

Doesn't really matter what you think - it was agreed by both parties so they shouldn't be allowed to renege on that agreement just because they've now had to fix THEIR boiler.

Yes, but the price offered for the house was for a house with an old boiler. The asking price might well have been a bit higher for a house with a new, under guarantee, boiler.

Anyway: they offered to pay for storage, presumably on an informal basis, and now they have rescinded.

Not many people would expect to have storage paid for in the first place. Managing different timescales, putting up with buyers and vendors delays is all part of the stressful expensive experience of moving house

They sound like great vendors. If you're moving in 2 weeks time then you're talking £200 for storage vs 2k for a new boiler, which if it had hung on for another few days & or they weren't so honest, would be your problem. I'd take the situation at face value & count myself lucky tbh. The reason they didn't consult you is most likely because you were already saying you couldn't afford storage, so why should they assume that you'd have the money to contribute towards a boiler? You got the good end of the deal here without a doubt & can clearly afford the storage, so I don't see an issue. You're getting a brand new boiler. Its a bit of a result really!

It’s a sellers market in most of the country at the moment with very limited supply. I’d keep on their good side and (happily) accept the deal to avoid them putting the house back on the market. Plus new boilers are ££££

Agree with previous 2 posts.
You were extremely lucky they offered to pay storage in the first place.
Plus you are getting a house with a brand new boiler saving you thousands in the next few years.

it was agreed by both parties so they shouldn't be allowed to renege on that agreement just because they've now had to fix THEIR boiler.

They can do what they want until exchange, including pull out of the sale completely.