Survey shows chimney stack removal - building regs

[MrsAFlowerpot]

We are in the process of selling our property. We purchased it in December 2011, prior to that it was owned by people who had purchased it directly from the council in 1997 but who had lived there for 30+ years.

Our buyers have had a survey which (I think, but we havenâ??t seen it) shows that the chimney stack was removed and they are asking for our building regulations for this. We know nothing about it and our survey on buying didn't bring this up. We have also been in touch with the previous owners who donâ??t, they have said if this was done it was as works carried out by the council. I've spoken to the council today who say they've checked back to 1983 and have nothing on record.

Does anyone have advice on where to go from here? TIA

It sounds like a typical house buying paper chain. Your solicitors will probably recommend that someone buys an indemnity policy (probably you). It'll cost about £20-£50 and transfer with the sale of the property.

Hoorah. Thank you. I was worried we'd have to get builders in for £££

I had this when I sold a house last month. Exactly the same. I got a bit snotty and said the house had been like that for decades, that building regs didnt exist back then and I wasn't pandering to solicitors and buying any indemnity. The buyer wasnt bothered and their solicitor backed off.

When we bought our house the survey said same, but appeared to be structurally sound.

We asked the sellers (young couple) but they had not noticed .... Our house was built in 1888 so God knows when the chimney breast was removed!
The chimney is still on the roof. We took the view that if it's been ok for decades, not likely to fall down now.