Are gas and electric certificates a must

[Helpiamconfused]

Hi all, I am buying a house that is 19 years old.

I must be honest, I didn’t do a home buyers report. Reason is house is 19 years old, looks in good condition. Money is tight for me, and some surveys don’t give much information (I heard)

I have been wondering if it is too risky. Am I taking too much of a risk?

Should I at least do gas and electric safety certificates?

Someone on a widow's website I'm on didn't have a survey on her new house purchase - 1970's, so older than yours, admittedly. She came home one day and couldn't get her key in the door, the locksmith said the porch had 'dropped'. She had subsidence, unfortunately.

I would get a survey if you can find the money, and ask the EA to ask the vendor's if they have had their boiler serviced regularly - if not I'd pay for the gas certificate. Electrics regs are changing all the time, it's unlikely it will meet the new regs like the majority of houses.

It's standard in the property information form for the vendor to include any gas safety certificates they may have (or proof of it having been serviced)

Electrical certificates people don't tend to have checked do they so if they own a property and live there.

I mean it's up to you if you get a homebuyer's report but I always would personally. Just in case.

I never get one. They're full of caveats and don't really provide useful information. Building surveys are more expensive, might provide better info but ultimately, if there is any concern get a person in that specific trade to look at it. (I worked for a surveyors and have been on surveys, read more than you'd ever want to read)

Thanks everyone for helpful replies

@purpleme12, none was included in mine

I am a first time buyer so not experienced

What they have is a combination boiler. I tested hot water and it came out from all taps.

Well if you want to rent the property out yes! But I think from your thread you are going to be living there?
As PP have said you might want the installations checked for safety - I.e have you got RCD protection in your electrics, is your gas fire leaking carbon monoxide etc.
Get yourself some decent smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detector if there aren't any already.
I shudder at no surveys but then again it's part of my profession so I would say that!

Certificates are not included in the property form but in the bumpf the solicitor will give you with their report. I had the boiler serviced and gas checked on my house I'm selling, cost £80ish. Didn't do anything about the electrics other then the certs provided when I did some work.
How old is the boiler?
To be honest with you the fact you are inexperienced would make me recommend you get at least a homebuyers report - they check the drains, do moisture readings on walls etc.

You’d be really daft not to spend£300 on a homebuyers report. If you can’t afford the report how are you going to afford a roof repair or some other unexpected cost?

I'd say on a 19 year old house there is minimum risk. If boiler works and there is no obvious evidence of bodgery to the electrics as you look round, it is likely ok. Wouldn't bother with a homebuyers - mine told me absolutely nothing.

@Livingintheclouds, do surveyors open drains for home buyers report?

I was told by google and other friends that they (surveyors doing home buyers report) do not open floor boards or look behind furniture. So please tell me how they check drains please. That will convince me to do the home buyers report.

@Helpiamconfused look at the RICS three levels of building survey. Decide which you want and get a surveyor sorted.
Depends which level of survey you go for as to how in depth it will be (and this will also reflect in the cost)

For my homebuyer's report they didn't open drains or floor boards etc

I have never bought and never will buy a house without a survey. They can flag up issues that you just don't spot and as a first time buyer even more reason to get one if you don't know what to look for.

I tend to phone around and last time found a surveyor who did a full buildings survey for only a few hundred pounds more than a homebuyers one for an old house.

No not essential but you could ask for the boiler to be serviced if not done recently, or arrange it yourself on moving in. Would be less than £100.

I thought the cheaper home buyers report state very little e.g. its a house with a roof and 4 windows...that sort of stuff....even a full survey wont often open drains and climb into lofts etc....you need to do it yourself or take some one with you who knows about this .

I wouldn’t get a survey on a house if that age. A 1970s house is fifty years old so a whole different ball game.

I am selling a 15 year old house and buying a 20 year old house. No surveys by me or my buyer.

I did get a gas safety check done for my buyers and have asked for one on my purchase.

It only cost £80.

[quote Helpiamconfused]@Livingintheclouds, do surveyors open drains for home buyers report?

I was told by google and other friends that they (surveyors doing home buyers report) do not open floor boards or look behind furniture. So please tell me how they check drains please. That will convince me to do the home buyers report.[/quote]
Call around surveyors and ask them how they approach it. There’s what they have to do, and what they do do. Find one that does the things you want and ask if you can go around with them (this will help you as a New homeowner too!). My surveyor of choice, I walked around with them, we had a chat about the caveats and the level of risk really, what’s common what’s not. It’s a service you’re paying for to benefit you, rather than skipping it completely, ask for quotes and query them to find one that does what you need to feel confident on a purchase.