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About to lose a house :( (is it mad to buy without building regs?)

8 replies

anothermamabear · 30/04/2024 14:43

I’ve been looking for a first home for months and had an offer accepted on a property I really liked - we’re stretching ourselves financially to afford it. Searches came back from the solicitor and it turns out that the extension (a single storey sunroom and a back porch) don’t have building regs sign off. The vendor was very shocked by this as their Builder had never even mentioned it (it doesn’t need planning permission, which is a separate piece of paper ). They’ve offered to buy indemnity insurance rather than go for a retrospective sign-off as they are concerned that the sign-off will be very invasive (eg digging for foundations), take a long time and will mean they miss out on the house they want to buy.

Should we insist on getting the regularisation certificate or do you think it would be okay for a surveyor to look at it and judge whether it was structurally sound? our survey is due in a coup of weeks. We’ve been advised that it is outside the window for the council to enforce any changes. It’s also been up for five years so presumably there’s nothing too fundamental wrong with it but I worry about selling it on in the future. I really don’t know what to do and think I might have to walk away.

OP posts:
NewFriendlyLadybird · 30/04/2024 14:54

That’s what these indemnities are for. Make sure the surveyor checks it out thoroughly though.

Ilovemyshed · 30/04/2024 15:00

They need to get retrospective sign off, or you have to do it after purchase with a whole host of unknown costs.

What if any steels they used aren't up to code? Electrics checked and signed off? Extraction? Windows with trickle vents? Is the extension at the right height?

Its too risky.

DrySherry · 30/04/2024 15:06

It needs to be signed off, indemnity insurance is worthless if it has issues. It will rear its head again when you sell if its not done.
I think the seller will agree to get it done if you stand firm, its not that invasive it really isn't.

anothermamabear · 30/04/2024 15:25

Would a decent structural survey pick any of this up? They have offered to pay for one on top of our homebuyer survey.

OP posts:
Ilovemyshed · 30/04/2024 20:35

No, because they won't make holes in walls to check steel specs and so on.

Ilovemyshed · 30/04/2024 20:36

The most important things that building control must see are foundation depths, steel calcs / and that steels match the specified sizes from the calcs.

Both of those things can inly be reviewed retrospectively by invasive holes.

LadyLapsang · 30/04/2024 20:57

It sounds pretty risky, especially given you are first time buyers and stretching yourselves financially. Remember the mortgage company is only concerned their money is safe, whether you sell at a loss and lose your deposit is your risk.

Unless it is very special and / or a total bargain, I would be tempted to walk away. Don’t get sucked in on sunk costs.

Scooby2024 · 30/04/2024 21:20

Loads of houses have issues like this hence why there is indemnity insurances available. Personally with it being a sun room & porch I would have structural survey on it and ask the vender to have an electrical test done and see what they say. It is a little concerning with it being 5 years old though.

If it had been a two story extension I would have said run fast.

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