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Original poster

No heating oil

21 replies

MoominGang · 02/02/2022 18:55

After a lengthy and complicated process of house buying we’re now ready to complete next week. And suddenly a message comes from solicitor to say that the sellers have just run out of heating oil and we’re to fill the tank up before putting the heating on.
The house is currently empty and it’s middle of the winter, so obviously there’s potential damp, mould and frozen pipes happening.
We’ve previously also destroyed a boiler by running a tank dry and it’s ended up in a costly repair.
Has at been in a similar situation? What would you advise?
Solicitor is checking if they would be happy to put oil in and pass the bill onto us.

OP posts:

SuperheroBirds · 02/02/2022 19:12

When we bought our house the oil was running low. We agreed with the sellers that if they filled it up, we’d pay half. As you know, it can cause problems if it is run empty, so I don’t think it would be unreasonable to ask them to make sure there is some oil in it, especially if you are willing to pay towards it.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 02/02/2022 19:15

I would get them to put some in, even if it means paying for it. It is going to be very cold from the weekend onwards and you dont want pipes freezing up etc.

Original poster

MoominGang · 02/02/2022 19:40

It’s been a really lengthy and complicated process and I understand that they are ready to part with the house but surely they are responsible for maintaining it in a meantime. I’m glad to hear similar opinions as I thought the message to say, oh and by the way there’s no oil, was a bit cheeky.
Let’s see what tomorrow brings.

OP posts:

amyboo · 02/02/2022 19:42

When we bought our house we paid the seller for the oil left in the tank. This was all agreed in advance and sorted with the solicitor when we signed the paperwork. Can't you do something similar? Get them to fill up and pay on the basis of the bill minus a few litres for their use?

lljkk · 02/02/2022 19:43

I thought air getting in to the lines was a problem to try to avoid.
Is the forecast for temps < freezing ?

lljkk · 02/02/2022 19:44

... on top of that, you wont' get someone out to make delivery same day that you order. So need to see how quickly oil can be delivered.

Blueuggboots · 02/02/2022 19:46

As a PP has mentioned, if the oil has run out, you risk air in the pipes and the system needs to be drained before new oil is put in. That costs about £200 before you look at filling the tank.
Our tank is a 1500L and costs about £500 to fill, if not lord dependent on oil prices.
You'll find it's cheaper if you order in advance.
We get ours on finance and pay monthly rather than having to find large one off payments.

Blueuggboots · 02/02/2022 19:47

*if not more....

ViceLikeBlip · 02/02/2022 19:51

I would be anxious to know whether they had actually run it dry (given the hassle/expense that causes) or whether they just mean "really low". I wouldn't want to take on a house and immediately find I was dealing with a problem.

So I would want them to put some oil in the tank and demonstrate that it's all working as it should before I completed. Fwiw I don't think there's anything stopping you from ordering and paying for some oil yourself now (my lovely dad has on occasion surprised us with 500l of oil, after he's been round and been horrified how cold it was!)

Josephincluded · 02/02/2022 20:19

I would order oil and get it delivered while before you get the keys. Ensure the heating is on and working before you collect the keys. If it’s seized the sellers pay.

CorsicaDreaming · 02/02/2022 20:34

@Josephincluded

I would order oil and get it delivered while before you get the keys. Ensure the heating is on and working before you collect the keys. If it’s seized the sellers pay.

I would go further than this and talk to your sols about holding back a sum (£5000 ?) and only paying it over once you are in the property and are satisfied the system is all working as it should. Could your sols agree with their sols they will hold it on their account on your behalf?

This is from bitter experience of buying a house 20 years ago where the corgi gas certificate was promised but never delivered as part of the docs. On moving in, in December, the boiler wouldn't work and it was condemned by the gas engineer. We had to pay for a new one and it was impossible to get money back from the vendors (who had moved to Singapore).

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 02/02/2022 20:50

As you and others have said, running out causes problems. You are expecting to complete on a house with functioning heating and your solicitor needs to ensure that this happens. If it is low then that's fine, heck oil is expensive and I would want to run down to the minimum too in their position but running out completely is something else.

HasaDigaEebowai · 02/02/2022 20:53

When we bought our house the sellers had obviously drained down the tank. The hearing worked for all of a day and then it was completely empty. They didn’t even warn us.

Elasmotherium · 02/02/2022 20:54

@Blueuggboots

As a PP has mentioned, if the oil has run out, you risk air in the pipes and the system needs to be drained before new oil is put in. That costs about £200 before you look at filling the tank. Our tank is a 1500L and costs about £500 to fill, if not lord dependent on oil prices. You'll find it's cheaper if you order in advance. We get ours on finance and pay monthly rather than having to find large one off payments.

It sure when you last bought oil but that is not at all realistic in terms of price.

I'm having 500l delivered this week and have paid £312 after shopping around. Filling up a 1500l from empty would be around £900.

Elasmotherium · 02/02/2022 20:55

Oh and you don't need to pay £209 to gave them rank drained, that's just nonsense.

You might have to get an engineer out to bleed the oil lines into the boiler before you can get it started again though.

Heronwatcher · 02/02/2022 22:23

Have you exchanged already? If so can you just ask who they buy it from and get them to come and bring some? Or as others have said tell them you’ll pay if they order some. Running low is not normally a massive issue, but I’d definitely get some ordered ASAP as it can take a week or so to get a slot and it would be miserable to be without heating for the first week in a new home.

Salome61 · 03/02/2022 00:21

So sorry Moomingang, they should have ordered some. I moved into a rental last February in a snow storm and the previous tenants had also drained the tank, it's very selfish and penny pinching.

As you've exchanged I'd order some to be delivered as soon as possible, check with the EA if the vendor's have a key or whether it's a universal one so delivery can be unnattended.

Josephincluded · 03/02/2022 06:55

Actually, Corsica makes a valid point. Get your solicitor to do a retention of £500 to ensure the boiler is working fully when you get your keys.

Blueuggboots · 03/02/2022 07:05

@Elasmotherium, not drained of oil, the air drained out.

Original poster

MoominGang · 03/02/2022 16:29

Thank you all! A quick update, they won’t agree to putting in more oil so we have now ordered it. The solicitor doesn’t think it would be possible to withheld some of the money. I think we just have to hope it all works .

OP posts:

Salome61 · 03/02/2022 23:06

Glad to hear it MoominGang, I was absolutely frozen without any heating when I moved into the rental, as it was snowing and as the cottage was down a narrow country lane I had an anxious wait for the delivery. The previous tenants hadn't left any loo roll either.

I'd forgotten that I had to wait to hear if my buyer would pay for my oil, which I'd paid 50p per litre for - he was trying to insist he paid the 21p lockdown price. Luckily my solicitor negotiated, I think I got 40p. I'd only had to order because I'd been nice and allowed the buyer to complete a month later than originally planned, I couldn't risk running out.

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