Did loft extension years ago - how do I get plans of house updated and all paperwork in order

[Audistic]

We did a loft extension in 2015 taking out 3 bed victorian terrace to a five bed. It was under permitted development in a London Borough. Beyond that I find it hard to remember any details - since then I have had babies, lost close family members, dealt with redundancy and the pandemic etc - my brain is fried to pieces. I can't remember anything including what paperwork we did or did not do or have, though I definitely would not have done anything not allowed on purpose (though can't rule out having cocked things up).

Anyhow, eight years on and I am trying to think things through and get everything in order in case we ever want to sell. Presumably I would have got myself a certificate of lawful development. but no idea where it is if I did. Can I get a copy? And if we didn't get one does this matter - am I right in thinking there are no repercussions after ten years in which case should we wait until 2025 to start thinking about getting copies etc?

And I recently got the deeds to our house when we paid off mortgage and it is still three beds on the plans - what do I need to do to get the loft extension added to the plans?

Be nice and gentle please - but I know I do need to actually start thinking about this. So embarrassed by my lack of keeping everything in one place or remembering what we did.

Did you get building reg sign off? You need that certificate.

Your local council would likely have a digital copy of the building regulations certificate. That's what you need.

The builders would have used an architect to draw up the plan. You would have been given the relevant paperwork when it was completed and signed off by planning regs. If you've misplaced them and want to sell your house you'll have to pay an indemnity policy.

Solicitors would also ask for a copy of the party wall agreement.

You just need the building regs. completion certificate and copies. If the plans to show what you had done. Put those together with your title deeds and that will be fine.

We are looking to do loft cover soon .We got the drawings and made application to building control as the architect mentioned that you do not planning application.Fees for building controls have been paid and they have been notified on the start date of the works .I have the builder coming next week to start the work and heard recently about getting lawfulness development certificate for permitted development. I am in fix as to whether apply for one now and start the work as planned or wait for certificate to be issued and then start the work. I need to know urgently as need to inform the builder if it’s latter. Any quick help / advice will be helpful. This is for. 3 bed semi detached in Bexley

thanks S

I dont think the deeds matter.

Honestly OP, I'd probably just forget about it for now, save the brain power and sort it all out (or get your solicitor to sort out) if/when it becomes an issue.

I'd you applied for lawful development cert then that should be on your council planning portal. It's a public record.

Do check whether you had building regulations sign off. Could be from the council building regs dept, or a private firm. Without building regs sign off then the conversation is not "official" and will cause issues selling.

Work is going to commence end of next week and I have applied for building control so will get the work signed off by building control . The quest was more of getting lawfulness development certificate and if I could apply for that and do the work in parallel

I would start your own thread.

@Sam11976 A certificate of Lawfulness application can only be determined before work starts. If you submit an application and then start work, the Council will not be able to determine it.

We received the Certificate of Lawful Development a few weeks after we had started the loft conversion work. We had initially applied for planning permission to extend downstairs and complete a loft conversion. The reply we got back was that our downstairs needed PP which was granted and that the loft still had its permitted development rights intact. So we knew we could carry on with the loft whilst we sorted paperwork.

My architect advised me that mine is a permitted development and you do not need the lawful certificate. He said you could apply for one for your peace of mind , but it’s not required . He also said that I could apply for one and start the works as it’s not required to start the work

@Rollercoaster1920 thank you. Do you know how I check whether I had buildings reg sign off? Am sure I did but only sure in an ish kind of way. As in I am sure I would have - I am not a rule breaker by nature. But I also had small kids and who knows what I did when

Contact your local council building control department.