Should I ask these questions now or wait until searches come back?

[AngryFeet]

There are a few things I want to check regarding changes our vendor made to his house. DH said all this info will come back with the searches, is he right?

The things I want to know are if he has/needed planning permission/building regs on the small single storey extension at the back of the house, the conservatory, the loft space which has been boarded, carpeted and has power, the workshop in the back garden built from breeze blocks which has power and double glazing.

On the property information form we have just received he has not filled in the information when those changes were made and has put a question mark next to it saying "Ask the council". There is a question asking about any conservatory and he says it was built in 1990 but doesn not know if it has building regs approval (he was there when it was built). In the question "Are there any planning or building control issues to resolve?" he has put a question mark then answered no.

To be fair he is a bit batty anyway so there may be no issue. Just wondered whether to bring it up now with solicitor (2.5 weeks past offer, in receipt of draft contract and searches being done). FTB naivety here .

This will show on the searches - although you may be able to check the history if you go here and try searching by postcode - this may show any app or building regs

www.planningportal.gov.uk/inyourarea/

It should come up on the searches.

Conservatory unlikely to have needed building regulations given the age. Windows- should have a FENSA certificate or similar.

The attic room- is it being advertised as a habitable room or just for storage? If the latter term the works are unlikely to have needed building regs.

Single storey extension- would have needed building regs.

Good luck!

I would give this list of your questions to your solicitor so that is doesn't get missed.

Just be aware that if you ask the questions of the council and it turns out not you cannot then get indemnity insurance against retrospective enforcement. I'm not sure all these would be covered by Searches alone. You can check FENSA website for any replacement windows/doors registered at the address but that only came into effect in 1990s

We're buying a place where the owner didn't get permission for converting the garage into a room. It's going to cost £250 for indemnity insurance which we're getting the vendor to pay for. The conversion was done 20+ years ago so we're not expecting any problems with the council.

I'd raise the questions with your own solicitor, so they can advise.