No building regs and moving stress

[OfUselessBooks]

The house we're buying doesnt have building regs approval for the garage conversion. I'm not convinced it's been done well a d I'm wondering what our options are.

The solicitors have said they'll get an indemnity, but doesnt this only protect us in the event of the council finding out? What are the implications when we sell again in a few years?

I'm so stressed about our move. There are no other properties available and we cant rent. We need to move very soon for jobs and schools, otherwise we will miss out on both. It's a nice house and good enough for now, but we are already having to have some work done (windows, kitchen and potentially a new boiler) and we're at the limit of how many more problems we can just absorb in the interests keeping the chain going. We got a really good price for our sale and cant afford for it to fall through. My husband has worked as a builder and so we are happy to take on a bit of work, I just don't know what to do about the building regs. It would be good to get it all signed off properly with the council, but I know if we mention it, the insurance will be invalidated. Is there any way to check what needs to be done to make sure it passes bit still have the insurance in place??

I'm of no use but bumping because I have a rental property without the final sign off for building regs.

I would want the council to come round and inspect and get it signed off but not sure how long that will take in the current climate.

We were in the same position - literally today.

Luckily it transpired it had been signed off and the documents were located by the builders.

Our solicitor didn't seem to think it was a big deal which made me nervous. She also said it wouldn't effect insurance etc, but some buyers would be put off when we came to sell.

Do you know when the loft was done? Does the vendor have the original plans etc, so at least your husband can check the work. I would be really apprehensive going ahead with the purchase if no paperwork can be shown to prove the proper structural work was carried out etc.

You can apply to have building regs come out and check it over, it costs a couple of hundred pounds and will be invasive. Worth it though. However, if it's deemed unsafe and doesn't pass you will need to do the work to make it right, which could cost thousands.

I'd be looking at lowering your asking price to reflect the process of obtaining the building regs certification.

When was the work done? What specifically are you concerned about and are you planning on moving from the house again in the near future?
If you're not planning on moving again and the issues with the conversion are fixable then just go with the indemnity. You also don't have to use the converted area and could in theory make it the garage again.
It sounds as though your sale and circumstamces are driving the process so you really have the answer - go ahead with the indemnity in place (ask for clarification from the solicitor as to what is covered or not) and sort the conversion at a later date (this on the assumption it's not about to collapse of course!)

The work was done about 15 years ago. The surveyor mentioned it was poor quality and having spoken to him again, he has said it again and obviouslynow we don't have the reassurance that it meets the standards. We would probably stay 6-7 years and I'm very conscious that if we don't sort it out soon we will face the same issue when we plan to sell it. It will need to be dismantled up to a point to see if it meets the regs and then, if as expected, it needs work, he said we'd be looking at about £5k. We do need the space downstairs and this was one of the selling points.

We were specifically told by our seller that it was all in place so I'm annoyed that they've lied to us. We do have the option of staying with family instead, but would prefer not to! It's just the reselling in a few years and not knowing if it needs £1000s of work that is really concerning me. If it was a forever home then it wouldnt be so bad, but we've already had to absorb a few expensive problems that weren't immediately obvious when we offered, so this is all getting a bit much.

You can go onto Government websites which outline the compliance’s for building regs. Or you could hire an Architect to tell you where the compliance should be. It is part of an Architect’s job to know these things as designs have to comply and they have to apply for building regs after planning permission is granted.
We bought a house where the garage was converted without building regs. To bring it up to standard involved insulation ( walls, floors, ceiling), electrics, windows and ventilation.