Has Anybody Ever Bought A House That Had An Extension Without Building Approval?

Money_Doctor

I am hoping that somebody/ lots of people might be able to provide advice, I am looking to potentially purchase a house that has had a kitchen extension which did not follow building regulations i.e no planning permission or building certificate for the works, the planning permission is being taken care of by an indemnity policy but what is worrying me is the lack of a building certificate in place, although the full survey has not thrown up any faults of note apart from the advice that a couple of airbricks need to be installed and that a cavity wall is in place which is perhaps not an ideal thickness, my main concern is that the same issues will crop up when/ if we ever came to sell the house.

So in short I guess how much of a big deal is the lack of building certificate

Thanks in advance

Money_Doctor

The last thing I would want to do is purchase a house which we would have problems selling due to the lack of a building certificate - Not having been in the situation before, am I worrying about nothing or should I be concerned.

maya+2

when was the extension done?, If its an older property its not as much of an issue

dander

Is there any reason why they can't apply for building regs approval now? Also why is the planning being done on an indemnity policy rather than applying for retrospective approval?

Just find myself wondering if they have reasons for avoiding having the thing looked at too closely.

silvercar

We've bought a house where there was a garage conversion done years ago that never had and now won't meet building regs. Doesn't bother me, we live in the house and get on with our lives, not bothered whether there is a piece of paper or not. If and when we sell, the conversion will be in the history of the house (which has had loads of other bits and bobs done to it) so I doubt it would be an issue.

lincroft1710

Not all extensions require planning permission and if this extension was carried out more than 3 yrs ago it probably won't conform to current building regs. I have come across hundreds if not thousands of extensions without pp or building regs. It would only be a problem if it clearly breached either pp or br, e.g. corrugated asbestos cement roof, no proper foundations, built ten feet in front of building line.

Money_Doctor

thanks for all the replies, the only major concern appears to be a cavity wall between the lounge and the kitchen (the extension) which appears below the normal thickness for a cavity wall which I have been told may cause condensation,

Money_Doctor

Sorry guys/girls should have mentioned that the extension has been done using 100mm thick solid brick/block works, is this thickness a concern? likely to cause damp e.t.c? thanks

lincroft1710

I'm not clear if you're saying there's no cavity between brick and block. If so then either the extension was built over 60 yrs ago or it was built without due regard to (then) current building methods. 100mm (more likely 102mm) is standard thickness for a brick. Currently cavity between brick and block has to be filled with suitable insulating material.

If your saying wall is only 100mm thick then you will have problems as extension is substandard and would either have to be demolished and rebuilt or have internal walls and suitable insulation added.

Money_Doctor

Lincroft, thanks for your post, there are 100mm thick brick/block walls to the rear external extension all other external walls i.e the front and original rear are quoted as 225mm

shane42

its know as single skin, and its a sign that the extension is a bodge , yes buy it but dont pay any premium for the extension, if it were me ( perfectionist when it comes to property and building work) i would pull it down