New owner wants our extension plans

[Ksb6]

Before we decided to move we engaged a surveyor to make proper drawings of our house including an extension. We went as far as having the council out for a preliminary survey to determine if the idea was viable. They came back saying that the plans would probably pass planning. But we did not go as far as applying for planning as we decided to move instead.

Now the new owner(buyer) of our old house wants access to these plans. The surveyor has told us we could pass them on or sell them even.

Has anyone got experience with this? The plans did cost a considerable amount of money, but are obviously not worth anything to us anymore as we don't live there.

I am grateful for any advice

Ask them to pay a % of cost

When I was in a similar position we included them in the sale of the house for an additional fee, it wasn’t as much as we’d paid but less than it’d have cost the new buyers to get them drawn up again.

How long ago did you sell, or are you in the process?

Bloody hell, you’ve sold the house, just pass them on. If they say no, you’re in the same boat, why be peevish

Better to send them than go to waste.

I am torn. They are now useless to you so you have ‘lost’ that money essentially as if the new owners weren’t extending no one else would want them either.

if I was feeling generous I might just give them and hope karma comes back round to me. If they were twats during the buying process then I would sell them to them.

They are no use to you, so I would give them free unless they got a reduced price for your old house and you are a bit bitter at that.

You're moving, just give them them.

Be grateful you have a buyer! Just hand them over, that are of no use to you

Our sellers left their plans for us, although we had no intention to use them, and we haven't done 6 years later. They are of no earthly use if you don't live there.

i think this depends on the plans. Our sellers had plans but they weren’t drawn by an architect approved so we didn’t bother buying them. If yours are, ask them to cover the cost.

Why wouldn’t you let them have something which is completely useless to you as a kind act. If I were them I’d then buy you something nice as a thank you.

I agree with others it depends how far you went with it.

If it was just a drawing to scale done then I'd give it.

But if you'd engaged an architect and had a full spec and engineer drawings etc then I'd be selling them on

Having just done an extension, I know how expensive the drawings can be!!

Sunk cost for you - just give them to the buyers. If that had asked during the sale process you would likely have let them have them for free in the hope it would be more likely to secure the sale.

Perhaps have an agreement where assuming they exchange and complete on time they can have them for free.

I will be giving mine to the buyer of my house free of charge. I got planning permission for an extension, but it lapsed due to a change in my circumstances, so the buyer would need to reapply. Only issue is that the drawings are copyrighted to my architect, which I assume is standard, however I'm not sure what they could do about it, especially after several years.

Were they decent buyers who tried their best to stick to original timescales, didn't try to screw you over or ask for ridiculous discounts on the sale price? If so I would just give them the plans and hope that karma will smile on you 😄

If not ............ just say no or ask for a contribution towards the cost.

They’re of no use to you - just give them to the buyer.

Don't be a dog in the manger, op. What use are they to you?
Don't ask the new owners to "just cover the cost" either, as suggested above.
Why would they; lining your pocket rather than paying the same to have it done themselves?

Have to agree with others, just share them - why on earth wouldn't you?

When we bought our current house the owners had applied for planning permission and had an architect draw plans up for a big extension. They left them in the house for us on completion. If they wanted a fee I wouldn’t have paid for them. It’s good to have them as we may do something in the future although we haven’t in the last 5 years. Don’t be tight! Just hand them over, it’s no skin off your nose.

I’d just hand them over. In fact I’d probably have left them in the house in the same way you leave the boiler or oven manual. Absolutely of no use to you anymore and doesn’t cost you anything giving them to someone who can use them.

For me it depends of they were nice through the purchasing process I'd help them out. If they were arseholes then I would consider selling them but not give them for free. If they are worse them arseholes I wouldn't do a thing to help them!

I'd just give them to the new owner, they're of no use to you.
Bit tight asking for money for them

Sell them, of course.
At a price that is a little less than what the new owner would pay for a new set.

You paid for them, why on earth would you give them away for free to a complete stranger???

As for the 'why wouldn't you give them away for free' brigade, well, why would you?? Sell them for less than you paid, means you recoup some of your costs, and the new owners get a discount. Everyone comes out on top.

Did you say you had them when they looked around - using it to try and encourage an offer? If so, I think its only ethical to pass them on.