Perfect house - but no paperwork for extension - advice please!

[Bobbingaround]

Hi, Needing some advice here! We are first time buyers in Scotland and thought things were proceeding well with buying our perfect house. Now we have unsure as to whether the extension on the house has planning permission or building regs. etc. The vendor's solicitor is trying to delete the clause that obliges them to show the certificates. It is stated on the home report that they do have permissions although we cannot find evidence on the council website. Unsure what to do now! Is it worth considering buying the house if it turns out that they do not have appropriate documentation for the extension? We are not sure when the extension was built but it is not recent, it could be 20 years old, it is a substantial addition but blends in as part of the house. Sorry - this is v boring but don't have many people here to advise us! Thanks.

Don't accept their request to delete the clause without knowing the implications. Ask your solicitor what your options are. Your local council may be able to give advice over the phone about planning and building regulations.

Thanks for the reply, waiting for our soliciter to talk to theirs, he not happy about it! Frustrating waiting now not knowing really especially as nothing done over holiday weekend!

Just remember that your solicitor is asking for the same things that any other buyer's solicitor would request.

I would assume that the reason a vendor cannot demonstrate that they had planning permission and Building Control approval (terminology may be different in Scotland) is because it was built without approval.

You might be able, in time, to get away with lack of planning permission, but if there was no Building Control, you have to assume that foundations, drains, roof, insulation etc fall short of the required standards.

You should get your solicitor to ask for a letter of comfort if you want to proceed.

if the extension was built without proper foundations, for example, would a letter of comfort help?

Could you ask the vendors to apply for retrospective planning?