Building Regs - Headache

butterflysam

Hi
We are just about to put our house on the market at the end of this coming week. We are worrying ourselves silly over some work we had done on the house which we didn't get building regs for at the time.

The building work was to divide one large bedroom into 2 smaller bedrooms. This was done by erection of a stud wall, door frame and door. This was then plastered over and bingo .......... 2 nice size bedrooms. Each bedroom has a radiator in and a window (which opens out fully in case of a fire). We really didn't think at the time that we would ever sell our house, but we are now worrying that this is going to cause us one major headache.

I would really really appreciate any advice or help please.
Also, is now a good time to be putting your house on the market, 4 houses on our estate sold in the last month but we are wondering have we missed the boat now the summer is over.

Thank you for all you help.
Sam x

hex2

Can't help much on the buidling regs bit. You can get indemnity insurance as long as the council doesnt know about it. I was told £180 or so. When was the work done?

We put our house on a few weeks ago, our agent says that September is one of the busiest months and that they are pretty solidly booked for valuations so you have not missed the boat for those who want to move by Christmas.

butterflysam

Thank you for replying.

The work was done in April 2003, so was over 3 years ago.

Thanks

Sam

ABN

butterflysam wrote:

The work was done in April 2003, so was over 3 years ago.

In 2003 are you shure ?

Thought you did it in 2001 (or whatever the time was just before the building regs changed)

jennifernil

Is permission required for this sort of work? The wall is not structural.

silvercar

Don't think you need to get building regs approval for putting up walls; you may need it for removing walls, especially if they are holding up the house!

robnye

if in doubt contact you local council building regs officer..... just enquire about thats want you want ot do.. do you need building regs...... probably answer is no!

Consa

You could apply for a regularization certificate for Building Regs, studwork will need to have noggins at the correct spacings, window areas to new rooms should not exceed 25% of floor areas etc... not much else really to worry about

Mumstheword

I did this too, an d didnt pay a second thought to it.

we changed the biggest bedroom into 2, put up stud walls, new doors, and changed the existing window. THat was originally 8ft long, so we bricked up the centre and put in two smaller windows.

If /when we come to sell, I wont be saying anything unless asked. I dont really see any need to.

Over the years, you can see that someone removed the original wall between the lounge and dining room. Then that someone has put one in in a different place. No-one (including us!) queried that.

ABN- what are these rules which changed in 2001? When in 2001 did they change? I think our alteration must have been before that;)

butterflysam

Thank you for all your replies, they have been very helpful.

Unfortunately, my stress levels are still at boiling point :mad:

A couple in the same road as ours, have just sold their house and have done the same alterations as what we have. And guess what????? They needed building regs. I have been down to the council today, and have filled out all the forms so am now waiting for them to telephone me to say when they can come round and check the work we have had done.

I just hope that it will be okay, otherwise we will have to take the house off the market until we get it sorted. Does anyone know what sort of things they look for. As I said in my previous post we have a fire escape window that opens fully. The only thing that does worry me is that the bedroom door doesn't open fully as the built in wardrobe is behind it. Saying that we have managed to get a single bed and a big pine shelf unit in the door way, so it can't be that small. Maybe I am just looking for things to worry about :eek:

Sam

03022242

im not sure but they may ask to see the work, i.e the distance between the noggins