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Original poster

Bought house last month, boiler been condemned today

55 replies

AlexandraJJ · 16/08/2022 18:33

Hi all, as title says British Gas been today to perform an inspection to ensure boiler was able to be looked after on one of their service plans and he’s had to switch the boiler off. A list of safety issues with it and couldn’t leave without turning it off. Also found issues with the gas fire which also cannot be used. The property was sold with a boiler safety certificate so I am wondering if there is any recourse. I’m shocked to be honest and upset at the moment as the vast majority of funds have gone into the purchase of the property and I didn’t expect to have to replace the boiler a few weeks after moving in. With one thing and another it’s been a stressful move, recently divorced, moved 160 miles away to be nearer to family, single parent to a 10 year old and starting new job in 2 weeks etc etc. Wondering if there is anything I can do, the issues itemised on the paperwork from the inspection today have been long-standing and not just happened, the other is any recommendations as to which type of boiler. I’ve not had one good experience with a combi boiler and also any thoughts on installers, is it better to use a large established company or someone local. Any advice appreciated. Clearly this is not something I can sit on, need to get it sorted even though struggling to afford it.

OP posts:
RidingMyBike · 16/08/2022 18:37

The house would be sold as you saw it - did the survey highlight anything about the boiler eg its age? Do you know when it was last serviced?

I'm afraid it's one of those things. I bought house with an elderly boiler and had to budget for replacing it, but somehow I was lucky and it kept going each year so I didn't have to in the three years I owned it. That was a combi, and I've owned three of them without any problems.

I found an independent heating engineer was better than the likes of British Gas.

Tiamariaa · 16/08/2022 18:45

Really bad luck, but this happens a lot! Nothing you can do. If there was a safety certificate then it was working when it was checked.

it’s not the previous owners responsibility.

PersonaNonGarter · 16/08/2022 18:48

Caveat emptor.

sorry. Definitely your problem.

Swannning · 16/08/2022 18:50

We had exactly this happen to us last year. As our solicitor happened to call us (on a different matter) the day that the boiler was condemned, DP asked if there was any way we could recoup some of the money against the seller and she advised it was unlikely.

Sorry this has happened to you, it is so gutting.

Yarnasaurus · 16/08/2022 18:53

It's a pain but it happens. One by one after moving here, the boiler, electrics and woodburner were all 'condemned'. It felt like I had warning notices everywhere for a while.

GiantKitten · 16/08/2022 18:53

Recommend Vaillant combi boilers - our first one lasted nearly 30 years. British Gas service plan did quite a few repairs on it in that time, but it soldiered on in between.
Replaced it with a Worcester Bosch which leaked at least once most years, and have just replaced that with a new Vaillant which is fab.
Vaillant aren’t cheap but do last, and this new one is incredibly efficient compared with the Worcester so it’s costing much less to run.
I suppose it’s a question of how much you can spare at this point. It’s rotten luck for you when you’ve just moved in but at least it’s not winter (which is when most of our faults happened).

TwigTheWonderKid · 16/08/2022 19:04

A small comfort, but at least it's happened now and not in the depths of winter.

We have we a Vailant combo and it's been fine. Are you on Facebook/ Nextdoor or similar? I'd ask around on there for recommendations for independent local companies. They will usually be cheaper than BG and in my experience they are nicer to deal with/ more responsive than a big organisation.

Datafan55 · 16/08/2022 19:05

It does happen ... but rotten bad luck.

I know a few people who have used BG and not been happy with them. Pricey, too!

I'd try local fb groups to find an independent or a local firm. Check Gas Safe/Corgi, of course, and 12month guarantee on work or whatever.

A firm will cost more.

Someone who's experienced but only just setting up by themselves generally means a better response.

When I replaced mine; I went with a reputable local firm, and thus price was a little more. I had to accept their choice of brand (Ideal) (fine so far, seems efficient, although only 4 years old so far). I paid up front and they knocked off a couple of hundred: I wondered if I was crazy to do this, but they were reputable enough and also had established address etc.

WhyCantPeopleBeNice · 16/08/2022 19:07

Do you know if it has to be replaced?
Is a repair possible?
A friend had hers condemned recently, but it just meant she couldn't use it until the baffles were replaced (I only remember the name because it seemed a silly name)

Seeline · 16/08/2022 19:08

Ours was condemned the day we moved in!

godmum56 · 16/08/2022 19:11

That happened to my neighbour....boiler condemned, some of the wiring condemned and kitchen extension not building regs compliant. Seller in Russia (english bloke with job abroad)

EmmaH2022 · 16/08/2022 19:14

Are you sure it's that bad? Sometimes they just see an opportunity to make money and don't give the real info. I had a battle because a company wanted to replace rather than repair my boiler. When they finally did it, as per service contract, the engineer was quite angry and said "replacing all these parts is like giving you a new boiler".

I also had the electrics condemned in my old place. I got a different electrician in who assured me it was fine and safe. The one sent by the mgmt company said the whole building needed rewiring.

Was it the same company who provided the safety cert?

Ilikewinter · 16/08/2022 19:20

Do you have a local facebook group for your area, if so ask on there for local gas enigneers, we found our guy that way and he was ex british gas, he tried to fix our boiler but in the end it needed replacing so he gave us a good deal on a new one, would rather use a local guy than a big firm any day.

Sellie555 · 16/08/2022 19:25

The surveyor usually puts a caveat in the report saying that it’s the buyers responsibility to get the gas and electric professionally checked out before agreeing purchase.

i learnt that the hard way as I didn’t do this and the boiler was condemned the day after I moved in.

Spudlet · 16/08/2022 19:29

Sorry, what a pain. However on the bright side, if you need a new boiler you may see savings on your bills. Our old oil boiler gave up the ghost a few years back and we’ve saved so much on oil with our new one as it’s just so much more efficient. Not much comfort in the immediate term though.

LIZS · 16/08/2022 19:31

Is it definitely defunct or just not meeting current regulations? How old was the certificate?

godmum56 · 16/08/2022 19:31

Spudlet · 16/08/2022 19:29

Sorry, what a pain. However on the bright side, if you need a new boiler you may see savings on your bills. Our old oil boiler gave up the ghost a few years back and we’ve saved so much on oil with our new one as it’s just so much more efficient. Not much comfort in the immediate term though.

same with my new gas boiler. I was told I would save 30% on gas use and I have.

Original poster
AlexandraJJ · 16/08/2022 20:00

Hi all. Really appreciate your fast and helpful responses. You confirmed what I was thinking. The safety certificate was done in June this year. Makes me wonder what the point of them is. Boiler seemed not safe to be connected to mains gas at all and if I hadn’t allowed the engineer to turn everything off the whole house would’ve been disconnected. Boiler was old but I was very much led to believe it was in perfectly good working order and sellers told me that the guy who did the certificate advised them not to replace as the existing boiler was better than most of the new ones. Kicking myself as normally I’d know better but with so much going on and doing the move on my own and preparing the sale of mine and it being so far away I let this ball drop. Definitely a lesson learned. Feeling stupid and vulnerable but I’ll put my big girl pants on tomorrow and make arrangements to get it sorted. Will look at your boiler recommendations and look local as well. Sometimes it’s tough being a girl on your own. Hate it when things like this go wrong, can’t help but feel I’m easily taken advantage of in these situations. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer ♥️

OP posts:
LumpyandBumps · 16/08/2022 20:06

I would ask another company for a second opinion.
I have twice had gas boilers condemned. One was fixed by another engineer in about 20 minutes, and lasted another 3 years. The second took an afternoon and several replacement parts but was still going strong over 5 years later when I replaced it with a different type of boiler following an extension.

ParvuliThankYouDebbie · 16/08/2022 20:10

PersonaNonGarter · 16/08/2022 18:48

Caveat emptor.

sorry. Definitely your problem.

This is true, however, I wouldn’t trust British Gas to give an honest summary if you were linking it to getting their cover. Ask for recommendations for a local company on FB and get them in for a second opinion

EmmaH2022 · 16/08/2022 20:15

OP "Makes me wonder what the point of them is."

it makes them money

I think I was targeted, they think a woman alone is an easy mark. That's why the engineer was so annoyed I think - maybe he gets commission if I said "Oh I'll get a new boiler" but more likely, the fact that I investigated further pissed him off.

My dad came round the day it was fixed and he noticed the engineer's attitude to him and to me were markedly different.

the disconnecting it is part of their drama I think. They seem to be much better now but I think the internet has meant people are more likely to realise if they are being scammed.

EmmaH2022 · 16/08/2022 20:17

OP "Boiler seemed not safe to be connected to mains gas at all and if I hadn’t allowed the engineer to turn everything off the whole house would’ve been disconnected."

also, what do you mean by this and are they allowed to do it?

JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue · 16/08/2022 20:20

A boiler certificate is similar to an MOT - a certificate that proves worthiness on that particular day at that particular time, but which gives no guarantee for the future.

CaptainBeakyandhisband · 16/08/2022 20:22

Do you know what the supposed faults are? We had an illegally installed boiler when we bought this house but I had sent our friendly gas engineer round to see around the time of the survey, so we were able to get the vendors to pay for the repairs. That boiler had a gas safe cert too, but was installed by a cowboy.

tedgran · 16/08/2022 20:24

Get another heating engineer to look at it. British gas are very keen to sell you a new one! They would probably have condemned our last boiler which was old when we moved in 25 years ago, it worked well, replaced it last year because a plumber said spare parts were not availability any more.