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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to report my landlord to building control...?

25 replies

hopeless123 · 21/05/2012 11:29

After having some friends round for dinner at the weekend (the DH is a buildings control officer) it has come to light that out landlord never bothered to get bulding regs when he converted our garage into a kitchen/diner last year. Have had a voicemail this morning from a man at building control to arrange an appt to come and do a proper inspection.

DH is worried that we are going to get ourselves into trouble with this, I couldn't care less as we are moving out next month as the house is awful (and expensive!) and it's their own fault for not doing it properly in the 1st place!

So Mumsnet AIBU to phone them back and tell them to come on round?!?

OP posts:
manicbmc · 21/05/2012 11:31

It's not like you called them in the first place and you'd be doing the next tenants a favour. The building regs are there for a reason.

Noqontrol · 21/05/2012 11:31

Why don't you just pass the message on to the landlord to deal with?

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 21/05/2012 11:35

Pass the message on to your landlord to deal with.

Original poster
hopeless123 · 21/05/2012 11:36

Even if I pass it on, they will know it is us that alerted BC to the fact that the garage has been converted. They wouldn't be able to see the garage from the road so there's no way they would find out any other way. Also I have been informed that the landlord has done similar in the past and they only found out when tenants complained.

OP posts:
bogeyface · 21/05/2012 11:40

Yep, let them come round, but make sure that your deposit is in a secured scheme so he cant withold it to get back at you.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 21/05/2012 11:42

Yep was gonna say the same thing about the deposit.

How did it come to light though that he hasnt got building regs...did the DH bring all his files with him to check?

Original poster
hopeless123 · 21/05/2012 11:46

Will double check deposit....

Basically there is 1 BC officer for our area and he said it would be highly unlikely for him not to be aware of it (which he wasn't) esp since it was done recently (end of last yr) and it would have needed several visits (he said) at various stages of the works. So even if he was on hols he would have known about it.

OP posts:
bogeyface · 21/05/2012 11:47

If he hasnt got your deposit in a scheme you can take him to court over it, so for his sake I hope he has as the fine is generally 3 times the amount of the original deposit!

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 21/05/2012 11:48

Oh well, well its not the same as reporting him anyway is it...done in innocence so he cant really blame you, and he should have followed procedure anyway!

lottiegb · 21/05/2012 11:59

So the friend's DH has acted on knowledge obtained socially? That's his call not yours. You can't cause him to un-know.

If it's been done properly it won't be a problem and could work to the landlord's advantage, as he'll need a building regs certificate if he ever wants to sell the house, or could get himself into serious trouble if he lies about the conversion when selling.

orangina · 21/05/2012 12:06

Building Control approval could have been done through an independent inspector.... in which case I'm not sure your pal the BC officer would have been aware of it.....

typicalvirgo · 21/05/2012 12:11

what a coincidence. Friend come around and then a phone call within 48 hours ?

And how do they have your phone number ? usually it would be a letter ?

boohoohoo · 21/05/2012 12:25

I don`t understand, you have a friend round for dinner, he notices that the conversion has not been signed off he is only BC inspector in the area, straight away they are on the phone to you, why you? your the tennant, what``s it to do with you, you said your moving out soon, so just pass on your LLs number and forget about it.

sausagesandmarmelade · 21/05/2012 12:34

Sounds as if you have a grudge against your landlord....I think you are being rather spiteful.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 21/05/2012 12:35

Sausages OP didnt report the LL, the guest at the dinner party obviously did.

Original poster
hopeless123 · 21/05/2012 12:38

I gave my friends DH my phone number and email address and he was going to investigate it when he got back to the office as said a slim chance he was on holiday/PL when they did it. Giving LL the benefit of the doubt I said yes that must be it LOL.

We have had lots of problems heating the room (most likely lack of insulation) which is how the subject came up in the first place.

OP posts:
sausagesandmarmelade · 21/05/2012 12:38

Even if I pass it on, they will know it is us that alerted BC to the fact that the garage has been converted.

Nuff said, Betty

Original poster
hopeless123 · 21/05/2012 12:39

I guess I do have a "grudge" becuase I have spent £2000 on heating oil since January trying to keep the place warm!

OP posts:
sausagesandmarmelade · 21/05/2012 12:42

As I suspected....

Should never have got to that stage...you should query those costs with the electricity/Gas boards concerned.

Unless you had your heating on night and day constantly...it should never have been that much....

Original poster
hopeless123 · 21/05/2012 12:48

I queried them with the LL and he assured me insulation was fine. We are not on mains gas only oil. The boiler is brand new... and functioning fine as I have hadit inspected.

OP posts:
bogeyface · 21/05/2012 14:04

Why should the Op reporting a dodgy LL indicate she has a grudge? If he hasnt followed the legal requirements then he hasnt followed them. The OPs feelings about him are irrelevant, she didnt MAKE him go outside the regualtions did she? but she has had to pay for the fact that he didnt do the job properly in her oil bills. The LL refused to engage regarding the issue so she went on to BC, I dont see what is wrong with that.

I dont see your point at all Sausage, unless you are the LL!

LRDtheFeministDragon · 21/05/2012 15:43

I agree with bogey. Naturally the tenant should have a grudge against her dishonest LL.

If he has fleeced you by renting out an illegal conversion, I hope he pays. I only wish there were a standard way for you to get your money you lost on heating back.

Pendeen · 21/05/2012 16:09

"... Building Control approval could have been done through an independent inspector.... in which case I'm not sure your pal the BC officer would have been aware of it ..."

Aproved Inspectors are obliged to notify the local authority.

"... If it's been done properly it won't be a problem and could work to the landlord's advantage, ..."

Until the LA make him expose foundations, open up walls and ceilings etc. to check compliance with the Regs and then I suspect the landlord will become very unhappy...

Original poster
hopeless123 · 21/05/2012 17:35

The BC officer has been and gone....

They did not apply for building regs.... apparently this is not surprising.

He said there is only 15mm of insulation where there should be 150mm and that the 15mm that is fitted is very badly done (gaps, not fitted to the edges etc).

So basically all the heating we have pumped in has floated out through the roof. Which is not watertight (lucky we've had a dry few months!!!!).

Anyhow, we are leaving which is the best solution.

I doubt we can get any of the money we have wasted back.

Apparently it's difficult to take action against ppl unless you can prove the works were done in the last 2 years which I can't as the works were finished shortly before we moved in but BC are going to write to the LL.

OP posts:
bogeyface · 21/05/2012 21:35

If the BC can prove it was done in the last 2 years hopeless then maybe you could go via small claims for the excess oil costs.

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