Wall removed but no building regulations - what can we do?

[NormaCore]

We are buying a house that has has an internal wall removed (between living and dining room). The survey says it looks ok but to check it has been approved by building regs. The vendors are saying that this is really old, was done years ago before their time (no idea how long) and that it hasn't caused them problems. The EA also says it isn't a problem!

Are we being fussy by making this an issue? We are really scared of buying something that is unsellable and potentially structurally unsafe.

Ours was the same. I think it's quite common. The solicitors will tell you to take out insurance for it, it isn't too expensive and covers you for any possible problems.

Ps. insurance is a one off payment.

Thankyou! I was under the impression that indemnity insurance doesn't cover you if the work is shoddy though - it just covers you against any possible action by the council if they condemn the work? We want to make sure the work has been done correctly.

surely if the survey says its OK then you would have come back on the surveyors if there was an issue?

We've had the same in a previous property. We were advised by a building engineer (I think) that if it was done years ago then there would be signs of any potential damage by now, houses don't just fall down.

We have bought 3 Victorian/Edwardian properties, all have had some kind of building regs issue.

Yes you are being fussy. The usual procedure is to take out indemnity for the lack of building regs in case the council come back to ask for some. They rarely ever do. Indemnity can usually be paid by the vendor if you are lucky, shared or you can pay. It depends on the price of the house but is usually around £100. If the work has been down ages ago then any structural problems will have shown by now. Surveyors always cover themselves by putting loads of provisions and caveats in their survey to you, so you can't go back to them if their was a problem. All the Victorian/Edwardian houses I have lived in have had walls removed and I have never had problems. By the way, you may not need indemnity unless you are getting a mortgage. Most mortgage companies want all bases covered. If you were a cash buyer, then in all honesty, an indemnity is a waste of money. However as it is a small cost in the whole moving procedure I would get it so things can move along.