Bought house last month, boiler been condemned today

[AlexandraJJ]

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.

I think so yes. The engineer wasn’t threatening by any stretch if anything I got the impression he felt sorry for me. He didn’t push British Gas boilers, just delivered one lot of bad news after another. If anything they are worse off because the boiler cover was declined as there’s no safe working boiler to cover.

Just been looking at different boilers now and shortlisting so I can make some appointments tomorrow

I too would get a second opinion and see if things can be fixed. Ive read a lot about BG condemming boilers which either are working ok or could just be fixed fairly easily

My brother had this happen. Turns out the certificate/logbook was a fake.
They'd bought a traded in property from a house builder and ended up being able to push for a new boiler.
I doubt OP will be able to do that though as it would probably cost as much to go through the solicitor etc.

When I moved last year we believed the vendor when they said everything was tested. Turned out both log burners/fires were condemned and the chimneys are pretty much fully blocked. Had to have the gas fire taken out too. Cost us over £8k to have central heating etc replaced due to them taking shortcuts and cheaping out.

I had to provide proof of when the boiler in my last place had last been serviced. Did you ask your sellers for this?

I get a gas safety certificate for a couple of properties I let out. British Gas do them and I’ve been happy with their service. I bet this certificate from June wasn’t BG! It was some dodgy person to get the sale! Of cites it’s not BGs fault.

It’s gas! You must be careful. Don’t skimp on safety. You need a Corgi registered installer. I feel your pain but you don’t want a crappy old boiler do you? Be safe, not sorry.

BG did this to us too. After much stress I eventually got it mended in 20mins for very little (despite his huge quote) & it lasted many more years. Will never trust them again,

Absolutely get a second opinion. BG once told me the same but a non-BG engineer disagreed and it lasted two more years.

And you haven’t been “taken advantage of” boilers sometimes break. You’ve just had shitty luck.

Have you contacted the engineer who did the GSC in June this year ? His name and company details will be on the report.

Tell him that BG have said it’s unsafe and you are not sure if you need to report it to the gas safe register.

www.gassaferegister.co.uk/gas-safety/concerns-reporting-illegal-gas-work/report-gas-work-concerns/

www.gassaferegister.co.uk/gas-safety/concerns-reporting-illegal-gas-work/

If he is a legit engineer he will be round straight away. Show him the Bg report and write down exactly whatever he says.

As you dont know much about it, i suggest you try to have a knowledgeable friend there with you too.

There are grants for new boilers for qualifying private households, usually receiving certain benefits and having an EPC rating of below a D.

i work in the gas and plumbing industry.

What’s the certificate/ sticker on boiler say? I’m assuming it’s been classed as immediate dangerous (-ID) to be capped off?

there 3 classifications;

1. not to current standard; nothing is done for this

2. at risk; if this is found then you can sign to have the applicant left on

3. immediately dangerous, the engineer is legally obliged to cap off.

as someone else has pointed out, a gas safety check only gives a report on the day so you’ve not got much to go back on,

Make sure whatever you get installed that you get it serviced annually to maintain the warranty.

Its also worth noting that most manufacturers offer a fixed price repair which is usually more cost effective but if your boilers ID then they will probably not touch it. Might be worth a call though depending on what the latest engineers report says. They usually offer a partial refund if they can’t repair. British Gas policies aren’t worth taking out on older boilers as parts can be obsolete so you pay a premium for cover on an older
boiler for them not to be able to source parts.

good luck!

Very scpetical of British Gas and their service. We got in touch with the Boiler manufacturers who turned out in 48 hours, surveyed the boiler, listed the faults and stated a fix price then and there of some £450. Boiler back in service. Also do not go the Domestic and General route.

also; you can find accredited installers via the manufacturers. They will ping your enquiry to three local engineers for free who will then contact you and quote. With an accredited installer you usually benefit from a slightly longer warranty, ie 12 years instead of 10.

www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/products/boilers/find-an-installer

idealheating.com/how-to-buy?gclid=Cj0KCQjwgO2XBhCaARIsANrW2X1OrdtSQdaqa6m9fyLCmF18VdhdfNRSCkYNKCXxtiw4jvgSM234Gz0aAk1cEALw_wcB

www.vaillant.co.uk/homeowners/find-an-installer/

Have a look at the Heatable web site. Thet can usually fit new boilers very quickly.

Mine was condemned because I didn't have enough clips on my flue it was sn easy fix but technically condemned

I wouldn’t necessarily trust British Gas. I’ve not heard anything good about their practises/engineers. Get a second opinion.

Every British Gas engineer I've ever had condemned my boiler on sight in every house I've ever owned. I got second opinions from indiependents and they either said they were fine or that they needed tiny parts changing.

Don't assume they are right. Get another independent boiler service person to check it.

Take anything British Gas say with a pinch of salt, they would LOVE to charge you a small fortune to put a new one in and get a ruinously expensive contract on it. Get a local gas safe engineer out for a second opinion.

I had the central heating condemned when I moved in one house. It was an old Baxi gas fire and back boiler. The reason was the engineer hadn’t noticed the air vent to the room was behind the curtains! I took the sticker off, bought a co monitor and used it for a couple of years until I replaced it with a combi. I had an ideal boiler and it came with a 10 year guarantee.
definitely contact the engineer who did the original gas safety cert.

if you do need a new boiler, get a few prices and find out the cost of the actual boiler as well so you know if you are being ripped off. A boiler shouldn’t take more than 2 days to fit.
if your radiators are old it maybe worth replacing those as well. Again get prices from a couple of builders/plumbers merchants

A boiler can take more than 2 days to fit. If it’s one person and you are converting a system to a combi then it can take up to 2.5 days (usually 2 days). A back boiler conversion can take 3 days or more. If it’s microbore pipework it can take longer.

getting a price of a boiler from a merchant can give you a ball park but you you need to factor in flue length, flue extensions, plume
kits, terminal guards, clips, cleaner, inhibitor, thermostats and copper etc. I hate it when people come to me and say the boilers only 1000 so why is your quote XYZ. They don’t factor in loads of things.

Our Vaillant combi was condemned by the engineer after 24 years of use. It needed a replacement part. We bought the part and booked an engineer to come and fit it. It's still going strong 3 years later.

And I would never allow BG near any boiler. All they seem to do is condemn.

I am referring to a straight boiler switch one combi for another.
There are always extra bits but the builders/plumbers merchants do discount items and some filters (either independent or such as BG) will charge excessively for a boiler. A ball park figure is really useful when trying to work out which quote to go for.

We replaced our boiler last year. BG quoted 4.5k more than anyone else for the same thing

I feel your pain. I have boiler cover with British Gas. Chap came round yesterday to do annual service. Condemned it because it has a crack in a pipe in there which is leaking gas. Also condemned the meter because apparently not cupped to wall properly. So all gas to house turned off. 😩 Luckily I have a combi microwave and an electric kettle.

Meter is owned by gas supplier (EDF). Called them, who sent a man out yesterday. He clipped it to wall but in the process I suspect he caused a slight gas leak from the meter into the house. That section of pipe is apparently my responsibility so I have to get a gas safety engineer out to fix that. Can't switch gas back in until that is done.

Not sure who's responsible for the cracked pipe in the boiler, but will ask gas safety engineer when he comes this morning to have a look at the pipework leading from the meter.

Have been up since 5.30 worrying about it all.

BG are a bunch of sharks. They are known for condemning boilers when they could be easily repaired. It’s all about making money!

A couple of years ago we had to report that we could smell gas in our kitchen. It was not from out property but one further along the road. However, the next move was for the engineer to switch our boiler off and put a bit sticker on the boiler, informing us that it was now condemned. This was because there was not a vent in the top kitchen window for ventilation. A vent was fitted, engineer revisited and then the boiler could be used again. Was a report with an explanation given to you?