Lost building regulation certificate? Maybe

pmlindyloo

Have spent ages trawling through the site and am now very confused. Can someone please help?

In 1997 we converted a garage plus 2 rooms into a granny annex.

We are now about to sell and I can find paperwork relating to the planning permission but no building regulation completion certificate.

I remember building inspectors coming round but, to be honest, cannot remember being issued with a certificate.

I have phoned the builders and they do not keep records that far back.

Now my questions.

1. Were completion certificates issued that far back?

2. Can I ring the council and ask for a copy? Will their records go that far back?

3. If, for what ever reason the certfifcate wasn't obtained what should I do?

4. Now the part that confuses me! Indemity insurance. If I don't have/get the certificate would a buyer's solicitor ask for indemnity insurance? Doesn't this just cover the council coming round to check? Would they do that after 13 years?

Any help/advice very gratefully received as I don't want to end up delaying a sale (I should be so lucky!)

Just to add, the annex has been lived in for the last 13 years with no problems whatsoever.

pmlindyloo

Forgot to say - am I right in thinking that if I contact the council then the indemnity insurance would be void?

ps Also, shameless bump!:)

Doozergirl

It would help if you remembered!

I think the record of it should come up in the local search. If it's there then you just order a replacement one.

If it's not then you would offer your buyer an indemnity policy.

pmlindyloo

Thanks.

My hips says:

Building Regulation Approval -- None
Building regulation submissions are revealed from
2002.
Building Regulation Completion Certificate -- No completion letter has been issued. This may be because:
a) No completion inspection has been made
b) The work may have been executed at a time when the authority did not issue completion letters
c) Completion inspection has been made and there are matters outstanding
d) The work was inspected and approved by an Approved Inspector

My quandry is how do I find out without making an indemity insurance invalid?

PottyHouse_2

Hi, exactly same thing happened to us this week.

You will probably need a "Historic Completion Inspection" visit in order to obtain a "Building Regulation Completion CERTIFICATE".

Our extension was completed in 2005 but the Building Inspector never came out to "sign off" the building work on the completed extension - oversight on both parts and lack in communication.

Due to the length in time of the extension being on the house our solicitor was happy to arrange indemnity policy for this for our Buyers but their solicitor insisted on the certificate, much to our dismay and worry !!!

Anyhow, I got in touch with our local council on Thursday, paid the £82.50 fee, Building Inspector came out on Friday (!) and said all ok and we should have the certificate by this Tuesday.

You will need to check with your local council - I gave mine the first line of my address and it bought it up on computer immediately - didn't even need postcode. Not sure if you will be so lucky as it was 13 years ago but have a try !

Suzy_M

Wouldn't your local council have copies of all relevent doucumentation? If so they should be able to provide copies.

Doozergirl

What did you do to the house in 2002? Something has been started but not signed off.

Looks like 1997 isn't there at all - I'd buy an indemnity policy before I started having conversations with Building Control.

pmlindyloo

Nothing has been done to the house in 2002! (or since, for that matter)

I took that to mean that the council only had paperwork regarding building regulation submissions from 2002.

What a blooming mess.

timmyt

a buyer wont ask after 13 years. if they do, say not sure if issued, but don't have copy..as the first answer. if they say get one, indemnity will be fine aftre 15 years.

ask your lawyer to get the Council to do a general list of planning and building reg consents for the proeprty - that way you do not invalidate insurance.

the local search is unlikely to reveal anything as any consent is 15 years ago.