Problems with purchase.

magga2000

We are using a local solicitor and it's taking now almost two month to purchase, still waiting for the sellers according to my solicitor. The house is empty and seller keen to sell. They extended the downstairs WC and put a place for shower cabin in it. Our solicitors insist this would need a building regulation, that they had not provided? They might not had moved any of the supporting walls. And Wc was already there, how to find out if they really need regulations?

Also our solicitors suggested that they would need an electric certificate, as they apparently done some electrical works on the house (The EA told us few times that the electrician had been in in new extended Wc downstairs)?

We are keen to exchange and buy the property ASAP as it is at the moment, our solicitors suggested that if we sign a consent that we happy to go with no regulation he would agree to exchange? But I think this might be later a bigger problem for us. Our solicitor also mentioned that a survey would tell us if they need building regulation and will check the electric however the surveyor we ware planning to use told us that the only thing no building surveyor will check are gas and electrics? We are reluctant to spend another 400GBP (already 300GBP on bank valuation survey that went ok) before we are going to be sure it's possible to buy the property.

The bank did the valuation survey a while back and was happy for us to purchase the property? So I am surprised our solicitor insist on this regulation being in place, as we even not sure they ware needed for downstairs WC extension and when this was done might be before 2004? Are we not getting to detailed no? What is the best way out of this situation? It's taken to long already as we hoped to move in before Xmas.

Should we suggest the seller to sign a paper that no structural changes had been made get the survey done and if happy go on with the sale?

Doozergirl

What have the vendors said to you about how they carried out the work? What wall was removed, what it was made of etc.

When you say extension, do you mean actually extending the building or just shifting the internal layout to fit in a shower cubicle? If the alteration was purely internal then the only reason for building regs would be removing part of a structural wall or installing a window. It seems a bit crazy to pay £400 for an additional survey when anyone with a knowledge of buildings would be able to tell you whether it was structural or not. It would be nice if the vendors could categorically state that it didn't need building control sign off based on the work carried out.

The electrics issue should really be solved by an electrical safety certificate if the vendors can arrange one with an electrician - it's not expensive and a good way to have your back covered on that aspect.

magga2000

Doozergirl wrote: »

What have the vendors said to you about how they carried out the work? What wall was removed, what it was made of etc.

The EA told us when we viewed that this is a new WC but other houses in this block have a downstairs WC. But this one looks bigger then the one next door.

When you say extension, do you mean actually extending the building or just shifting the internal layout to fit in a shower cubicle? If the alteration was purely internal then the only reason for building regs would be removing part of a structural wall or installing a window.


Just shifting the internal layout.
Possible extension was in this case just moving probably internal not structural walls to make Wc downstairs bigger, to be able to add a shower cabin in the same room. I think it was just shifting internal walls. But not sure how to confirm that? That way we tough about a survey.


It seems a bit crazy to pay £400 for an additional survey when anyone with a knowledge of buildings would be able to tell you whether it was structural or not. It would be nice if the vendors could categorically state that it didn't need building control sign off based on the work carried out.

Thanks will ask them to confirm this now. We would like to have a full survey done anyway to be sure that there will be no major future problems with the property in next few years. But would like to have the paperwork ready before spending more on the house.

The electrics issue should really be solved by an electrical safety certificate if the vendors can arrange one with an electrician - it's not expensive and a good way to have your back covered on that aspect.

The property has pre paid electrics and gas meters that we are planning to change ASAP after we move into the property is this going to be a problem?
Will we need to get another certificate after that anyway?