What to Check Before Buying a House in the UK

Ask the seller or their agent for records of work carried out on the property, including who did it and when. A record kept by the seller alone can be incomplete, since it only shows what they chose to write down.

A record backed up by the tradespeople who actually did the work is stronger evidence than the seller's own notes.

• Gas Safety Certificate, if the property has a gas supply.
• Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).
• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
• Building control sign-off for any extension or structural work.

Ask when each certificate was last renewed. If one is missing or old, factor the cost of a new check into your offer.

A viewing gives you a snapshot, not a history. Ask specifically about the boiler's age, the roof's condition, and any past damp or structural repairs.

For a fuller checklist of what to ask before any tradesperson starts work on a property you already own, see What to Ask a Tradesperson Before Work Starts.

Some UK properties now carry a Propvio passport: a free, shareable record of the work carried out on them, tied to the tradespeople who did it rather than to the seller's own account.

Ask the seller or agent to share the link, or search the address yourself at propvio.co.uk/find. Viewing a passport needs no account or login.