Advice needed to forward to a colleague

JennyW_2

A work colleague of mine is building a single storey extension with his friend who's a builder.

I asked if they'd applied for a building notice application and he said that he hadn't bothered and if a problem arises in the future, he will apply for retrospective planning permission and he said that after 4 years, it would be accepted.

I've tried to explain that he should contact his council and also explained about part-p electrics but he said he'll just deny knowledge and bluff his way by saying he thought it would be allowed under permitted development. Also if his neighbours object, he could have all sorts of problems.

Any words of wisdom I could pass over to him?

NastyMatt

"Ignorantia juris non excusat" - ignorance of the law is no excuse.

Doozergirl

He may not need planning permission but he will definately need building regs approval.

If he doesn't have it - it's extremely likely he'll have buyers pull out on him when he comes to sell. It's basic practice for any surveyor and solicitor to ask for the relevant certificates. If he can't provide them, it's unlikely that they will settle for indemnity policies, especially considering he's built it himself. There are specific questions relating to building work in the seller's property information pack; lie and he's in trouble.

There are wider reaching safety implications than the problem of selling. Your colleague is an idiot if he doesn't do it properly as his builder friend will be doing it on the cheap if he doesn't have to comply.

Debt_Free_Chick

If he believes that the quality of the build is up to regs, then what has he got to lose by getting the building inspector in?

JennyW_2

Doozergirl wrote:

He may not need planning permission but he will definately need building regs approval.

If he doesn't have it - it's extremely likely he'll have buyers pull out on him when he comes to sell. It's basic practice for any surveyor and solicitor to ask for the relevant certificates. If he can't provide them, it's unlikely that they will settle for indemnity policies, especially considering he's built it himself. There are specific questions relating to building work in the seller's property information pack; lie and he's in trouble.

There are wider reaching safety implications than the problem of selling. Your colleague is an idiot if he doesn't do it properly as his builder friend will be doing it on the cheap if he doesn't have to comply.

i have explained all this to him but he still thinks he's in the right. At the end of the day it's not my problem so if he wants to be stubborn about it then I'll let him get on with it. I was just trying to do him a favour and you'd think his mate (who's a builder) would advise him this too? Oh well.......

marybishop

There's no helping some people!

JennyW_2

bilbobobbi wrote:

I expect this was a ruse to keep his Council Tax banding down.

He hasn't said this but I think it's more about spending the money. His words were, "if we get caught, I'll go for retrospective planning"

I have sent him a couple of links re building regs approval but it's falling on deaf ears (and eyes). I was just trying to be helpful as we've just gone down the route of building regs approval and was just offering some advice

JennyW_2

it gets worse. I've just sent him some more text on the regs and his answer was "we're staying put for at least 8 years and already thinking about where to put the conservatory".

I give up :wall:

Doozergirl

You know, we know, best to leave it before he starts hating you!

JennyW_2

Doozergirl wrote:

You know, we know, best to leave it before he starts hating you!

yes I agree. Time to put it to bed. No-one knows what's going to happen in the future and to say you're going to stay put for 8 years is a bit naive but as you say, if I keep going on, we may fall out.