Myth Busting: Do I have to arrange a boiler service when I sell my house?

Here at Birkett Long, we want to make your house sale and purchase as straightforward as possible. This includes our service throughout your transaction, your interaction with our team members and ensuring that you understand all the legal terminology.

This, the first in a series of myth busting blogs, is designed to help you understand what is, or isn’t, a vital part of selling and buying a property.

Each month, we will bring you a new question or myth that we aim to debunk or provide better insight into.

Q. Do I have to arrange a boiler service when I sell my house?

It is a widely believed misconception that you must arrange a boiler service or have an up-to-date service report available when you sell your property.

Many people assume this is a compulsory part of the selling and buying process. However, there is, in fact, no legal obligation to arrange a boiler service prior to selling.

When a seller is completing their Property Information Form, which forms part of the sales pack for the purchaser’s solicitors, there are questions regarding the boiler, including when the boiler was first installed and the date of the last service. These sections must be completed honestly by a seller. If a boiler service is then requested by the buyers, a seller can refuse to arrange this. Some sellers do not want to incur additional costs in arranging extras, particularly if it is not a legal requirement.

 Of course, many people already have annual service agreements, where an engineer will carry out a full service to check that the system is in good working order. If you hold an annual service report, always include this within your documentation when you return your Property Information Form to your solicitor.

Many solicitors will still request an up-to-date service report for a boiler on behalf of their client to avoid any unforeseen costs when they move into their property. As a purchaser of residential property in England or Wales, the ‘Caveat Emptor’ principle applies to all purchases. This Latin phrase means ‘let the buyer beware’, and the individual buys at their own risk. Although a seller must disclose any defects to a buyer following the exchange of Contracts, there is limited recourse to the seller should you uncover any issues with the property – including a faulty boiler!

We always encourage purchasers to visit the property and ensure that their Surveys are carried out before progressing to an exchange of Contracts. Should a seller not hold an up-to-date service report, and you are concerned as a purchaser that the boiler may be faulty, you can suggest that you pay and arrange the service with the seller’s consent and access to the property is arranged.

Look out for our next myth busting blog, published monthly on our website and social media channels.

This blog is part of Birkett Long’s National Conveyancing Week celebrations. If you would like to discuss our conveyancing services, please get in touch. I can be contacted on 01206 217354 or via email at sophie.partridge@birkettlong.co.uk