Building regs | Mumsnet

catherinewales · 2023-02-28T21:35:49+00:00

Hi I'm about to start converting my garage. Was looking to get building regs in (after advice from in here) but found out from DH that the extension, when build (not by us) didn't have any building regs so an indemnity insurance was bought by the previous owner. Do I still need building regs to come out? Just for extra information we don't ever intend on selling this house. It is our forever home and that's why we're doing this work.

Fisherstevens · 28/02/2023 22:25

Is the garage part of the extension?

Original poster

catherinewales · 28/02/2023 22:32

Yes it is. Sorry that wasn't clear.

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RidingMyBike · 01/03/2023 07:15

I'd contact Building Control. Someone will need to sell the house eventually - either something will come up and you need to move, or it'll be sold to pay for care or it'll be probate. And in all of those you want it to be as straightforward as possible.

davegrohll · 01/03/2023 07:16

RidingMyBike · 01/03/2023 07:15

I'd contact Building Control. Someone will need to sell the house eventually - either something will come up and you need to move, or it'll be sold to pay for care or it'll be probate. And in all of those you want it to be as straightforward as possible.

This. You can get retrospective certificates I think ?

RidingMyBike · 01/03/2023 08:09

Yes, our vendor had got retrospective certificates. Presumably the estate agent suggested it as they were all dated about ten days before the house went on the market!

pussycatinfluffyslippers · 01/03/2023 08:14

You need building regs for the conversion works anyway, even if the original extension didn't have them.
Ring Building Control at the local council and have a chat. They're generally pretty friendly, and will give you some advice on what you need to do next.

PragmaticWench · 01/03/2023 10:00

If you alert Building Control to works done without building regs sign-off then you may invalidate the indemnity policy, you need to check that first. It may have been a mistake to accept the indemnity rather than forcing the previous owner to get the BR certificate, but that depends how long ago the extension was done.

Toomuchtoolong · 01/03/2023 17:25

I’m strongly going to suggest that you do NOT take the advice given above literally…. Do not ring up and give your name/ address etc and advise you have work needing retrospectial approved Unless you know that the work was done to building control standard and have some evidence of this. It’s definitely not as easy as just getting something” signed off”. Trust me as I have had unfortunate outcome where building control demanded certain things were done that cost thousands and thousands of pounds- and before anyone things the work must have been unsafe etc for them to insist, it wasn’t- it was completed 20+yrs ago done by two previous owners but yet the buck stopped with us when trying to sell. This was a surprise to everyone but they wouldn’t back down. So in your case I’d enquire without giving name/ address of what the standards would be and go from there.

Toomuchtoolong · 01/03/2023 17:30

Also @PragmaticWench 100% agree that contacting will likely invalidate that indemnity policy!

Original poster

catherinewales · 01/03/2023 20:59

Toomuchtoolong · 01/03/2023 17:25

I’m strongly going to suggest that you do NOT take the advice given above literally…. Do not ring up and give your name/ address etc and advise you have work needing retrospectial approved Unless you know that the work was done to building control standard and have some evidence of this. It’s definitely not as easy as just getting something” signed off”. Trust me as I have had unfortunate outcome where building control demanded certain things were done that cost thousands and thousands of pounds- and before anyone things the work must have been unsafe etc for them to insist, it wasn’t- it was completed 20+yrs ago done by two previous owners but yet the buck stopped with us when trying to sell. This was a surprise to everyone but they wouldn’t back down. So in your case I’d enquire without giving name/ address of what the standards would be and go from there.

This would probably happen to me. From what I can work out it was built early 90s possibly earlier. DH bought the house and I moved in later so this is all on him. I have always wondered why they accepted nearly £30k below ask. It's probably for this reason isn't it.

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Original poster

catherinewales · 01/03/2023 21:01

PragmaticWench · 01/03/2023 10:00

If you alert Building Control to works done without building regs sign-off then you may invalidate the indemnity policy, you need to check that first. It may have been a mistake to accept the indemnity rather than forcing the previous owner to get the BR certificate, but that depends how long ago the extension was done.

I don't know what to do now, from reading these comments I think I'm best just leaving it as it is. It's been built since earlier 90s possibly earlier.

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