Buyers Solicitor questioning removal of stud wall

[cheryl19843]

We have signed contracts and were nearly ready to exchange when suddenly buyers solicitors have demanded proof that we didn't need permission from planning and building regs to remove a stud wall between dining and living room. Our solicitor is going through a company called home group ltd who we have to pay a fee to to complete a questionnaire? Does anybody know anything about home group or anything about why they are questioning the removal of wall?

One doesn't normally need planning permission for internal changes.
It is a good question.
How did you know if was safe to remove a stud partition wall and how d you know that the removal doesn't require building regulations approval?

At a guess they probably want confirmation that it wasn't a load bearing wall and was just a stud wall.
You don't usually need planning permission for internal changes, but building regs still apply.
Never heard of the company mentioned but I'm sure you'd get all the info you need from the http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/internalwalls/ planning portal website and speak to building control at your local council. You may just need to request sign off by a building inspector as proof.

Sorry. Duff link.
www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/internalwalls/

It was a member of my family who did it who is a builder so knew it wasn't a supporting wall. We know where the beam is n it's no where near the wall we removed. Thanks for that link will have a look now. We also have photos of the wall being removed which clearly show it is a plaster board wall so have forwarded these to solicitor as well.

You are asked to provide building regs approval for any major changes when you are selling, to provide proof that is was done safely.

We sold a house in a similar position to you, we just said no we didn't have approval and it all went through, I have no idea if the buyers had to arrange anything on their side.

The house we have just bought had some work done and didn't get any approval so our solicitor arranged indemnity insurance on those works. All done without our knowledge until we received the exchange pack, so I guess that is standard practice?

Ok thanks for that. What is indemnity insurance exactly? Would if be us who takes that out or our buyer?