Boiler flue grill missing

[TheresNoFudgeHere]

Hi all, buying a house at the minute and something that’s come up is that the boiler flue grill is missing. Solicitor have asked if we want this sorted prior to completing next week.
From what I can see online this looks to be a fairly cheap issue, and on the gas safety certificate they haven’t deemed the boiler as dangerous or anything like that.
We also don’t want to potentially put the completion back weeks if it takes a while to get someone in to sort it.
Looking for advice please!

If you're local to the area, ask your current boiler engineer to take a look and unless they're seriously concerned give you a quote. If it's fairly cheap to sort, they can make sure part is available to install after completion. Obviously if they're seriously concerned, you want advice from them.

The boiler has passed all inspection and no warning notice served in relation to the missing flue grill which was highlighted in the same certificate

We have gone back and asked for it to be sorted before completion - probably the best option as we’re really not clued up on these things and best not to take the risk.

Are we just talking about one of those £15 baskets that goes on the flue outside?

I thought it was this too. That should be a quick thing to fix.

This is what I thought it was, yes, hence a little confused at @fiddlesticks81 reply.
Surely it wouldn’t have passed the inspection if it was a dangerous defect. Not ideal and needs sorting, but equally it surely doesn’t impact safety as much as that?

Ours came off and we had to have it replaced before the certificate could be given ahead of the sale.

Just adding, our grill was falling apart although still insitu at last inspection and we did not pass either. I looked at replacing it but they tend to come as one item with the flue and since the boiler is 17 years old, I can't get it any more.

Seems like something that will only hold up the sale for no good reason - and irritate the vendors. Surely if you've got a gas safety certificate and you are this close to completion, just press on and fit one yourself once you move in. Risking days of delay and eroding goodwill for the sake of £15 seems madness.

But they HAVE got a certificate.

Don't know too much about flues.

But would guess a grid is needed to prevent things like birds building nests in it or debris being blown in. That could partially block it. And obviously you want the exhaust gases out. I guess if a bit of debris got far enough it could get to a place where there are high temperatures and maybe catch fire.

IIRC on the older boilers they used to have metal grids because on the non condensing boilers the exhaust gases are higher in temperature. The newer ones on condensing boilers are plastic.

I have no idea whether a missing grid is a safety failure or not, but my best guess is it would be.

Birds blocked my flue and it was a big problem

The company who issued it are a well known local company.
Our solicitor advised that personally she would be asking them to fix it. She’s also said that by notifying them today this will give them more than enough time to fix it

When was the last time she tried to get a tradesman out for a tiny job?

I seriously doubt it, and she shouldn’t have said that to you.

Anyway, it’s probably designed to stop creatures and children’s hands from getting inside and shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

Not sure who previous post is aimed at however it’s done now and I will update in due course as to the outcome.
It’s not the £15 or so (if it is that) that is the issue - it’s ensuring the gas boiler is entirely safe before we own the house, and that nothing has happened since the months no one has lived there (house was previously rented) to damage the flue since there is no cover.

Apologies - that post wasn't aimed at you, it was aimed at a previous poster who just kept trying to say that this was a sign that the Gas Safety Certificate had been faked and you shouldn't trust your vendors etc. I got annoyed that you seemed to be dealing with it all perfectly sensibly and this person was stirring. But all the posts seem to have disappeared now.

Ah yes, think that was fiddlesticks who I previously quoted! Not sure why the posts have disappeared rather than it saying their message was removed.
They were definitely getting rather aggressive about it, I especially liked the comment about “what else lies in wait for you” 🙄🙄

Just get a shopping basket and screw it over it ………I’ve actually seen this done. 🤣

I'll nip down to Tesco the now then 😂