Moved into a house and can’t figure out how to turn heating on?

[ProssecoParent]

We’ve been in our new house for over 2 weeks now and can’t for the life of us figure out how to put the heating on. We’re looking for something on the walls and there’s nothing, and no way to turn it on from boiler. It’s an old Victorian house if that’s any help. Does anyone know where or how we could turn it on?! Also no way to contact previous owners

Is it a Nest system? Ie would have been controlled by an app
is the water hot?
Google the boiler name and see what comes up

Do you have an airing cupboard with water tanks and/or a little red tank if it’s a direct pressure system?
The control panels for ours, hot water and heating are tucked in there. Just far enough in the dark that you need a torch to see what you're altering.

You’ll have to get a plumber round to have a look if not!

What type of boiler is it?

In our Victorian house we had a control panel box thingy which wasn’t attached to the wall. You could move it around with you. Is it possible the previous owners have accidentally packed it and moved with it?

When you bought it was there a certificate for the boiler to confirm it was properly installed? If so it may have been installed by a local plumber/heating engineer and you could contact them
You probably need to get it serviced anyway unless you have proof it’s been serviced in the last 12 months. I’d be phoning round local heating engineers see if they have your address on record and can shed light on the situation. Book a service and mention the problem - then they can bring appropriate equipment such as replacement thermostat.

Can you post a picture of the boiler

My control panel is very conveniently (not) in the attic.

I have a hive system and all there is outside the app is a small white box in the airing cupboard, which has no identifying marks, just two tiny lights.

If the owners haven't given you the app and log in and you can't contact them, I suspect you're stuffed. Though surely your solicitor should be able to do something? They've basically left you with a boiler that isn't functional, which they are allowed to do.

I suggest that you research the logo for Hive, and the other app based control systems. Then if you find a box (mine is no more than 10cm x 10cm, so hard to find) there might be a subtle logo helping you to know what you're dealing with..