Solicitor found out kitchen and bathroom does not have building regs

[Itsallsoboring]

Just that really. Victorian property. We were told by the seller that the house had a reno done in 2003. The bathroom was downstairs, behind the kitchen which is typical of victorian houses. The seller moved the bathroom upstairs and made the kitchen bigger as it could go into where the bathroom used to me. No extensions though. We knew about this at the viewings but assumed build regs were in place. The bathroom obviously needed plumping and rewiring etc. But now, it's emerged there is no building regulations approval nor sign off for any of this.

My solicitor is suggesting we request the vendor regularise the work i.e. they have it inspected by the council who will sign it off as to the standard for the time (2003 - not today). I think this would be best, BUT...

I'm not sure what to think of it. What if the vendor refuses? We haven't said anything to the seller yet about what we want.

What would you do?

I like the house but concerned about selling it in 5-10 years myself. If I feel like this, won't my future buyers?

Lots of houses have work without building regs.If there were problems t would be evident by now.Tere is some sort of insurance against the LA ever enforcing BR and you can get the seller to may fr that.

Yes, that's indemnity insurance. But that covers enforcement, not safety of the works, or making good the works if the council forced you to know it all down. Indemnity is a bit useless for the latter

@SwingVote could you make the step into a slope? would that be better?

What do you think is unsafe op? It's a 21 year old kitchen and bathroom.

Take a step back here - what part of this do you think might be "unsafe"? It's predominantly internal fittings for a kitchen and a bathroom. Have you established what certificates you are even asking them to have?

There seems to be a bit of a spate here lately of people convinced the local council are going to turn up at any moment and demand their house is torn apart over missing certificates. I can't understand why people think this is something that ever happens.

@Itsallsoboring I’d be careful if you need a mortgage - whoever looks at it will need to be on the lender’s ‘approved’ list of surveyors. Might be worth asking the local council first and see what they suggest.

This exactly

It was done 21 years ago !!!!! 99% of buyers don’t think like you op , your way over top.

They may need some removed if need to look at beams for example

Sorry I work in the support side and am not an officer myself and currently on mat leave so couldn’t ask a colleague for you.
may be worth a call to ask your council to see if they will advise without giving your address.

Thanks for the reply. No worries! Enjoy your maternity 😊

High @SwingVote
4cm is classed as a trip hazard
Building control won’t sign off parts of the work I’m afraid.
Give BC a ring and ask if you can slope it. Not a chamfered edge a slope the full width of the door frame taking it down to 1.5cm.

Thanks, that’s what I thought. 🤦‍♀️

Personally I would rather a trip hazard than a slip hazard so we will leave it. All other thresholds in the house aren’t dissimilar so it’s just part of living in the house IYSWIM.

If we have to ramp it when we sell then so be it.

I agree.
We have an old house with timber thresholds at every door. No one ever trips over them but slopes are irritating.

Had an extension with building regs involved and signed off 2016. When we moved 2018 nothing else was needed.

They checked the footings, beams, downpipe, and roof tiles, which had to be replaced because they were the wrong type.

Had paperwork for moving the drains

P certificate for the new electrics was needed but the new kitchen and bathroom did not need any checks from building control. New boiler had paperwork too.

We did not put in a door between the toilet and kitchen re the plan and again this was ok.

If it is a new conversion from 2013 then yes but anything 10 years ago I would not be worried.

What do you want to know about wood fibre insulation and lime plaster? I’ve got that in two rooms.

I also moved my kitchen from the tiny original lean-to to the old dining room, and got a building warrant for it. IIRC the main points were that they wanted to check the drainage could take increased water from the kitchen sink and dishwasher, that we had adequate ventilation (extractor and windows), and that we had a fire escape plan and heat/smoke detectors.