Reply to: House buying and building regs

[jasonchurch]

Building Regs

Hi,

I realise this thread is old, but I don't suppose this house was in Kinver was it. It sounds exactly like the house we are trying to currently purchase.

Saw a lovely house at the weeken, 3 bedrooms plus another one in a loft conversion the owner did himself. Apparently it has had all the inspections from building regs but not the final sign off. I dont really know how this will affect my insurance and/or impact on selling the house on later down the line. The owner has offered to pay for an indemnity policy which apparently covers me for any issues caused by the loft conversion.

The conversion itself looks very professional but I think it falls down as it doesn have a door (let alone a fire door), no mains operated fire alarm and no fire escape. It just has 2 velux windows onto the roof.

Any advice on how this will affect me?

I am trying here before I call a solicitor in the morning to get professional advice, as normally you guys are a well experienced, educated lot!

[Halo Jones]

Getting post completion sign off can be a ******* as the inspector will look harder on the asumption that it was not signed off in the 1st place as it would have failed.: which I what I would assume TBH.

The other thought is if they are that lax on regs did they get planning permission? or will the council be knocking on your door demanding that you rip out all the works?

Insurance will only cover you in explicit situations e.g. it may cover the work done but not the rest of the house when it falls down due to messing about with structurals

As has been said, the grief is not worth it get the sign off, walk away or pray

[fullyautomatix]

Just got some advice from my solicitor, he advised to ensure the B regs are signed off before proceeding.

THanks for your advice (I'm still confused what to do)

Engage your brain before committing a vast sum of your life savings.

There is no confusion here, get approval or walk away.

I sometimes do not get it as to how someone can fall in love with a house when they take a look at it. It isn't like that is the only house in the area.

[Drewster]

Get the building regs sign off or walk away, simples.

WHS, The indemity may cover to get the work done, but what about the hassle when you have to get a new roof.

Not worth the hassle if it goes pear shaped. You need to ascertain why it wasn't signed off. Could be a major issue.

Just got some advice from my solicitor, he advised to ensure the B regs are signed off before proceeding.

THanks for your advice (I'm still confused what to do)

Well it appears you got some good free advice (apologies to others who I didn't quote)....
and it appears your professional advice is the same.....

.... I know.... why don't you ignore it and just take a chance its all going to be OK?

[JoJoGabor]

I'm with Fred on this one.

Not worth the hassle if it goes pear shaped. You need to ascertain why it wasn't signed off. Could be a major issue.

Just got some advice from my solicitor, he advised to ensure the B regs are signed off before proceeding.

THanks for your advice (I'm still confused what to do)

[Scrag Meister]

Get the building regs sign off or walk away, simples.

I'm with Fred on this one.

Not worth the hassle if it goes pear shaped. You need to ascertain why it wasn't signed off. Could be a major issue.

[Gibbon]

Get the building regs sign off or walk away, simples.

WHS, The indemity may cover to get the work done, but what about the hassle when you have to get a new roof.

[Fred Bloggs]

Get the building regs sign off or walk away, simples.

[meridian]

A few years ago we put an offer in on a place subject to survey. Survey showed the loft conversion hadn't been done according to regs; that was okay, as it wasn't actually in the listing as a loft conversion, merely a floored loft space.

What worried us, though, was the chimney breast had been taken out on ground and first floor but the rest of the chimney stack was still in the loft space.

Asked about building signoff for removing the chimney stack, as well as party wall permission and whether or not a proper RSJ had been put in to support the remaining brickwork.

Turns out that none of this had been done, and it was basically illegal. Took it up with our solicitor, who suggested an insurance indemnity. We reminded her that all the insurance in the world wouldn't be enough if the chimney stack caved in on our kids in the bedroom below.

If the building works don't have signoff then you're responsible if you own the place, even if they were done by the previous owner. You might find that even if this owner gives you an indemnity, a future purchaser may demand that you pay to put if right if you ever need to sell.

[Moscow Mule]

Do I get the solicitor to sort it out before putting an offer in?

Unless you live in Scotland, no. Put an offer in, say it's subject to being able to get an indemnity on the missing building reg signoff.

If you don't like the deal with indemnity etc, you can walk away.

[JoJoGabor]

Get the solicitor to sort it. That's what you pay em (a princely sum) for.

Do I get the solicitor to sort it out before putting an offer in?

[Moscow Mule]

Is there anything I need to be careful of?

Get the solicitor to sort it. That's what you pay em (a princely sum) for.

[JoJoGabor]

The story is a sale fell through a few weeks ago due to a chain breaking down and the building regs was only raised as part of that survey.

So does this indemnity policy cover me pretty much? The vendor is offering to pay for it as they are desparate to move. Is there anything I need to be careful of?

[Moscow Mule]

Why wasn't it signed off? If it was refused, I'd look at getting a discount / indemnity / it put right.

If he just didn't bother, I'd be inclined to get him to get it done.

[norrahe]

Saw a lovely house at the weeken, 3 bedrooms plus another one in a loft conversion the owner did himself. Apparently it has had all the inspections from building regs but not the final sign off. I dont really know how this will affect my insurance and/or impact on selling the house on later down the line. The owner has offered to pay for an indemnity policy which apparently covers me for any issues caused by the loft conversion.

The conversion itself looks very professional but I think it falls down as it doesn have a door (let alone a fire door), no mains operated fire alarm and no fire escape. It just has 2 velux windows onto the roof.

Any advice on how this will affect me?

I am trying here before I call a solicitor in the morning to get professional advice, as normally you guys are a well experienced, educated lot!

An indemnity policy is normally a good idea of you are interested (I had the same when buying a house that the seller had neglected to get planning permission for an extension). But do speak to a solicitor, and weigh up any future problems of selling on or if you decide to rent it.