My moneygrabbing LA! :(

dfarry · 27 July 2006 at 8:41AM

(sorry for the poor formatting.... it's seems to be a browser issue with my work pc)......................................................................................Talking of unfair deeds release fee's on mortgages etc... how about local authority planning department.... my LA (Bexley) is quite adept at charging for every little piece of work they may do!... it's quite a money spinner no doubt.Basically I am angry because in 1994 I removed a load bearing wall in the house, I submitted a building notice, the BC officer made his visits and I was assured everything was fine and would be when anyone brought my property.Loa and behold now we have a buyer, the wall issue has reared it's ugly head:-Here is a copy of the email I have just sent to my solicitor having spoken to Bexley Building Control...I have been advised that back 1994 no completion notices were issued after the submission of a building notice. The completion notices were only issued after 2001. The records relating back to 2001 have now been archived and for a completion notice to be issued a charge of £39 will be made. The person I spoke to also stated that only a building notice search would highlight that the work had been completed, and this may not have been requested by my buyers solicitor. I think this is all rather unfair especially as I was assured back in 1994 that the satisfactory completion of work would be recorded and highlighted on future searches. I have provided proof that the notice was submitted and all works were completed to the require building regulations standard. I would therefore not be happy to pay this additional charge to Bexley Council, simply for a letter stating what I already know to be the case. I can understand that this may give my buyers some cause for concern but I would assure them that building regulation and building notice requirements were met at all stages of the work.