buying an outbuilding to live in?

joanna79_2

Hi all

a friend of mine has (while sorting out a move from abroad) been living in an outbuilding, which was converted into a guest annexe, which is not attached to the main house (it is across the garden - the main house and outbuilding is also owned by friends) and it is a casual arrangement so there is no rental contract.

We were all just wondering what would have to happen for the outbuilding to be sold as a dwelling to the person currently staying there? The owners suggested it but no one is sure of the legal ramifications - I would think that planning permission would have to be sought? Anything else?

Thanks!

Jo

Zelie

Some points to consider;

Did the owners get permission from their local council to change it from (presumably) storage into a dwelling? If not then they should check their local council's website to find out how to apply for a change of use.

Was planning permission granted for the original conversion?

How are access rights going to work?

At some point they'll be wanting to get formal advice from a solicitor and (if they have not done so already) from the local council.

clutton_2

seperate utilities will have to be installed - they costs loads.......

lincroft1710

Usually if pp granted for outbuillding to be converted to annexe, there is condition attached that it will not form separate dwelling i.e. can only be sold with main dwelling, not apart from it.

planning_officer

Lincroft1710 is right, although it may be that no planning permission was required to convert it from an outbuilding to an annexe in the first place - it's not a change of use (it is ancillary to the main residential use of the site, whether it is for storage or as an annexe) and it may well be that the actual building works to convert it didn't need planning permission.

However, to convert an annexe to an independent dwelling requires planning permission anyway, whether or not there is a condition on a previous permission, as it is creating a new planning unit - it is basically dividing up the site into two dwellings, whereas it is currently one (the annexe is ancillary to the main dwelling).

So, Jo - yes it will need planning permission.

joanna79_2

Thank you everyone

They didn't need pp to convert the outbuilding at the time so it looks as if planning permission would have to be sought to sell the building as a dwelling. I just checked and there is a water and electricity supply to the outhouse but of course separate utilities could be complicated.

Cheers!

Jo

googler

It'll need a distinct address, so you'll need to involve the Post Office.

and as everyone else said - utilities, council tax, change of use, access rights, etc.