Electrics and gas
If the survey could not turn the heating on, what has actually been checked?
Almost nothing about whether it works. A visual survey looks at a boiler, a cylinder or a pump if they are visible. It does not balance radiators, test pressure or prove the programmer. “Unable to operate” is a limitation. It is not a statement that the system failed, and it is not a statement that it passed.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.
What is the fuller explanation?
Sellers turn systems off, or a summer visit never calls for heat. Ask for a demonstration if you can still do so safely, and ask a Gas Safe engineer where gas is involved. Do not light appliances yourself. An immersion heater is only an electric element in a cylinder. Finding one switched on does not mean the boiler works.
Service records remain the paper trail. There is no RICS fee for “turning it on”. If you commission a service, that price is the engineer’s. Do not deduct a new system because nobody pressed the button on survey day. A cold radiator on a warm day is a limitation of the visit, not proof the boiler has failed and not proof it is safe.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- What stopped you operating the system?
- Which parts were visible?
- Are you advising a service rather than a replacement?
What are the typical next steps?
- Ask the seller for a working demonstration and the last service record.
- If gas is present, use a Gas Safe engineer for a real check.
- Do not price a new boiler solely because the surveyor arrived on a warm day.
Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.
Also asked about this
Does a warm radiator prove the boiler is safe?
No. It proves that radiator was warm. Safety of a gas appliance is a Gas Safe question.
Is an electric panel heater a central-heating system?
No. It is a room heater. The survey should not describe it as a tested wet system.