Incomplete boiler installation - what to do?

[Deleted member 117526]

Hi,

I'm a homeowner and have just had a new system boiler and unvented hot water installation, which we had done at the same time as a kitchen extension. We engaged the heating engineer directly and have been co-ordinating his work with the building work. The job is mostly complete and functioning - we have heating in most of the house and we have hot water. But the new underfloor heating manifold has not been connected so we have a very cold kitchen. We are also missing the immersion heaters (which failed). And we need an installation certificate to get building control sign-off for the kitchen extension.

Unfortunately, our heating engineer is not turning up to finish the work. He keeps promising to come but later makes an excuse or simply fails to turn up. We have been chasing him for weeks. I don't understand why, because there is very little left to do and we still have the final payment of £1000 to make (which we'll be happy to do once the work is complete).

I contacted Gas Safe but they said that unless there was a gas leak they weren't interested. I contacted a couple of other heating engineers but they were reluctant to get involved with someone else's project.

We just want the job finished. We are fed up with a cold kitchen as it is winter and we have a baby to look after.

How should we proceed?

Thank you in advance for your advice.

 

[Scott_D]

Have you checked he is gas safe registered?
Could he not be attending because of the virus?

 

[Aquarius]

I contacted a couple of other heating engineers but they were reluctant to get involved with someone else's project.

Just so you know, it’s illegal to knowingly sign off someone else’s work, so that’s why they’re reluctant

 

[exedon2]

Be interested to know other side of this.
Obviously a complete breakdown in communication has there been issues between your engineer and the builder's?
Just out of interest I take it its a screed floor ? If so how longs it been laid ? It needs to dry completely before starting to slowy build heat up.

 

[Brambles]

Are you sure that you have contacted Gas Safe and not Cadent? The latter deal with immediately unsafe situations, whilst the former look at installations that do not meet legal requirements. Cadent are more likely not to be interested unless there is a leak or products of combustion escaping. However, In my experience they quickly visit and investigate every complaint.

In your case, unless the gas boiler has been incorrectly fitted, is operating unsafely, or has been put into service by an unregistered individual. Gas Safe won’t have a lot to offer you, they will however investigate the company / person who undertook the work, if any of the above three points are relevant.

You really need to resolve this directly with your installer.

Provided that the installer is Gas Safe ( and G3 for the unvented) Registered and has completed the gas / G3 installation correctly he / she has no legal obligation to register the installation with Building Control.

If you cannot resolve it, Building Control will examine the installation and if satisfied certify it, but it is not cheap - circa £250 for the boiler and a further £250 for the unvented (that is West Oxfordshire). Generally they are only willing to undertake that work if it is an older installation where registration was missed, but is now needed to allow a house sale to proceed.

 

[Chuck]

This is a breach of contract dispute. Try to talk with the installer and find out what the issue is. If you have legal advice / cover attached to your home insurance contact them. Otherwise Citizens Advice, Trading Standards, etc.

In principle, if the installer refuses to finish the work you can employ someone else to complete it, redoing anything needed for GS. If it costs more than the £1000 you have retained then the original installer owes you a refund.

If the issue is serious illness you'll probably find that another company will be more willing to help out with completing the work than if the original guy just walked away.

 

[Dr Doolittle]

Just so you know, it’s illegal to knowingly sign off someone else’s work, so that’s why they’re reluctant

quote the law please....it is law right?
[automerge]1607074022[/automerge]
The sign off is for building control...capita men (gas safe tax payer) can self certify becuase they have a very strong parlimentary lobby and make huge payments to sitting governments (all verifiable facts). So your approach now is direct to BC. You will have to pay a retrospective fee as well as the usual fees and they will issue the BC certificate THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED..NOTHING ELSE. Use the £1000 you have held back to cover this cost...job done. For good measure, I'd spend another £35 through Northampton county court for breach of contract...just to give him a kick

 

[Brambles]

At least with Gas you have to option to go to Building Control - for a micro generation certificate - it is the installer or nothing

 

[Dr Doolittle]

At least with Gas you have to option to go to Building Control - for a micro generation certificate - it is the installer or nothing

spending £35 in northampton CC is very little money for maximum pain...quick and easy to do..and if they are a Ltd company, they must employ a solicitor so you know its going to cost them £00's just to argue with you LOL. Takes minutes on-line.