Timing belt question

[dwar5345]

Hi all,

We're looking at buying a 2019 85TSI Comfortline Polo that appears to be in pretty good condition. It's in Sydney, Australia, where my girlfriend's living until I can join her later this year. A lot of the reason I'm trying to avoid waiting until then is it's blue, got an R-Line bodykit, and is a manual, which is a rare combination out there (the market for manual cars there is almost non-existent nowadays).

The problem is (fortunately her dad went with her to give it a proper inspection) it will soon need four new tyres, and in two months' time a year's registration (which costs around £500, and unfortunately is just a road tax of sorts that's unavoidable). I'm obviously fine with buying new tyres, because it's done 38,000m, and I typically believe in buying the best ones you can get. But as it's six years old, it will also, depending on who you believe, be due a new timing belt. That's not her dad saying that; that's simply what seems to be accepted knowledge and the service history showing it hasn't yet had one.

Can anyone tell me how accurate or otherwise that might be? 'Cause the costs are suddenly starting to add up if it is. I'm in London and attempting to sell a 2016 R-Line that I bought when it had done 900 miles and that has made it to 28,000 without requiring a new one, partly because of advice on this forum that says that the five-year interval quoted by VW UK is challenged elsewhere in the world. But I can't see a similar thread for the newer shape. Excuse me if I've simply missed it.

Thank you