Home Services Report
A visual and functional check of, and written Report on, the gas, electricity and plumbing:
Gas Inspection
Inspection and test of the gas installation and appliances (i.e. gas boiler, cooker and gas fires), which also identifies any gas leaks or poisonous carbon monoxide (CO).
Electrical Inspection
A visual and functional inspection of the electrical installation, testing for the presence of earthing; sample testing of sockets.
Plumbing and Central Heating
A visual and functional inspection of both installations including (i) plumbing: all direct fed hot and cold supplies and tanks, (ii) central heating: boiler controls, radiators (condition, leaks, etc.).
Case Study: "Don't turn the lights on - it's wet out there!"
When Carol was viewing houses to buy, she found what she thought was her dream home; a three-bedroomed cottage in a picturesque village in Buckinghamshire. "I really liked the house and it seemed very good value for money. My first impression was that it was nicely decorated and in good condition. And they had a two year old child wandering about, so you would presume all was safe and sound."
But Carol wanted to get the property's installations checked before she moved any further (advice that is now standard on any surveyor's report). She used gas-elec group's special package for homebuyers - or sellers - the HSR. This checks the condition of the gas and electrical installations in a property, including any defects and remedies needed, so you are reassured - or forewarned - before buying or selling.
But when the gas-elec group inspector checked Carol's would-be home he found it was not such a dream after all. "Don't turn the lights on in the garage," he was told by the house owner, "only there's water coming through the roof!"
"Yet the tumble drier was apparently still whirring away right next to it," said Carol. "None of this had been pointed out to me at the viewing. In fact our inspector actually had to tape off the garage lights and cables to make them safe. These things I might have missed had I not had an inspection.
"I don't think the owners were aware how unsafe their property was. They said they had not done anything to the electrics since they moved there four years ago, but that the previous owner had been a bit of a DIY-er. However, when they actually moved out you could see things that were hidden before, such as loose live wires, electric points literally taped onto the wall and missing ceiling roses - plus a tarpaulin had been put under the hole in the garage roof!
"In the event, I knew I needed to spend approximately £2,000 to bring the property up to current regulations before I could move in," said Carol. "It was enough, but it could have been worse, and I was able to budget it into my buying costs. Otherwise I might have spent the money on expensive luxuries, only to find the house wasn't safe to live in.
"My experience really brought it home to me how vitally important it is to get the installations properly checked before you buy. It means I have gone in with my eyes wide open and knowing that I paid a fair price for the house. Now I can sleep safe in my bed at night, and the luxuries can come next year!"
