New build apartment has a non-condensing boiler - should a condensing boiler have been used instead?

Why didn't you take the opportunity to ask these questions to the engineer who recently visited your property or you did, and just want a second opinion?

A rated appliances are a requirement to be fitted in all new builds. If a gas boiler was fitted in 2009, it would have to be registered to building control either direct or via gas safe register. You can give gas safe customer services a call and they can advise you. They are very helpful. Did you receive a building regulation notification for the boiler when you purchased the property?

Hello, as of 01/04/05, all new build and replacement gas boilers had to be condensing type, UNLESS an exemption was given due to unusual circumstances and after a VERY strict and thorough survey. These surveys were supposed to be very few and far between and not likely to get a pass unless exceptional circumstances (I've never seen one granted). If your situation merited an exception (not likely) then there should be some kind of paper trail to this. Gas Safe took over from Corgi in early 2009. If the boiler was fitted after 01/04/09 then Gas safe should have a record of the boiler installation at that address and who did it (if they were qualified and if they registered it the way they are legally bound to do). If before the 2009 (Gas safe) jurisdiction then they can't do anything about it and have no records. If you phone the Gas Safe Register and find out the installer then the installer would have to explain (and prove) why they were allowed to fit a non-condenser after 2005. If they were not allowed, or had no proof, then you'd have a case to get them to rectify the situation one way or another. If no record of the boiler being registered with Gas Safe then you could phone the manufacturer and give the address, model and serial number of the boiler then they may be able to tell you who fitted it from the warranty info. (if they filled in the guarantee). If you have proof that the boiler was fitted in 2009 but no gas safe registration or warranty info. then this is highly suspicious and it may have been a non-qualified person who installed it. You could speak to your solicitior as you should really have been given the Building Control gas certificate to prove the boiler was legally fitted. If not, you'll have to find a Gas safe engineer who is prepared to fully inspect the installation at cost and register it in their name which I doubt you'll find because they won't be able to anyway as they would be stating on record that THEY fitted/commissioned and registered a non-condenser after 2005. If you've been sold a property without the relevant paperwork and there's an unregistered boiler then you have a case to complain as it will cost you money whatever course of action you take and if YOU try to sell the property it could cause you a problem if the buyer asks for this Building control gas safe paperwork. It's the same as not having electrical certificates for a new fuseboard, you need these important documents or it could cost you later to get a qualified person to pass them or re-install from scratch if they cannot pass it. I hope you get it sorted out or possibly get some of the costs covered by the previous owner, the builder or the original installer. The best action would probably be to bite the bullet, get a new boiler and flue, get your gas safe certificate on the new boiler and that's the end of it. Hope that was of some use. Thanks.