Walk away?

[RadioGaGoo]

After four painful months of trying to purchase our dream home, we have now found out, at this very late stage, that thr two story side/single storey rear extension that makes up half the house, has not been inspected nor signed off building regulations.

The vendor has offered indemnity insurance, but that only covers us for any future building control enforcement action, not poor workmanship.

We have told the vendor that she either gets retrospective building consent, or we walk.

I'm happy to do this, because it's not a dream home if it has the potential to cost us a fortune. However, when we started the process, we had a four month old baby and have already sold and temporarily moved in with family (there were financial reasons for this). Is there any other way we can save this sale if the vendor refuses to get retrospective building control or is walking away our best option? Any advice truly appreciated!

If you got a surveyor to look at it (at seller's cost possibly?) would this give you reassurance about the build? Though it's good to have it signed off properly otherwise you'll have the same problem when you sell.

Yes, Summerkelly, I'm also quite worried about that aspect too!

I had a similar situation with the last but one house I bought - no one could tell me whether there was a suitable RSJ between two rooms opened up without cutting into the wall. In the end I decided it had been fine so far and took the risk - but this was older building work. Our local authority building control will come out the next day to inspect - the problem you might have is the same as mine though in that they may not be able to confirm they're happy with it from just seeing the surface. I've just had a couple of things done and insisted on building regs, though I felt one of the builders thought I was being a jobsworth about it.