Building Regs - help please

Llyllyll

There are a number of reasons why planning permission is or isn't needed (http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/genpub/en/1011888239467.html) - I had to have PP just for a car port!

Info on BR can be found at http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/4000000000001.html which also covers details of exemptions.

At the risk of repeating myself if it doesn't qualify for an exemption then I'd steer clear.

Little_Miss_Penny_Less

Thanks Llyllyll, I've looked into those links and it looks like it would be exempt from PP in terms of volume, height, and vicinity to the road... Also appears to be exempt from all BR's except electrics... If we go through with the sale, then we would be having some alterations done to this part of the building that will require BR approval... Will this mean that these supercede any 'missing' BR's anyway? Or will we just be digging a hole for ourselves?

silvercar

You can have BRs approval piece meal. We have just moved into a house where the 2 year old extension has a full building regs approval certificate. There are other bits of work that have been done over the years which would not pass any regs. Obviously the approval only relates to the relevant works.

LittleTinker

Little_Miss_Penny_Less wrote:

Hi All,

Thanks for your input... Our survey didn't bring up any issues with the extension and it seems pretty well built...

Should we contact the council? I thought this could invalidate any indemnity policies?

Penny

You can view the PP online if you go to the local council's site...and its free to view.

If PP was given, it will be listed.

Llyllyll

To be honest, I'd just phone the council and speak to a building inspector. You can remain anonymous and relate your 'hypothetical' scenario to them and see what he (or she) says.

Ultimately, moving is stressful enough as it is and you have to be sure that you know , as far as is possible, what you're getting. Go on, phone the council, they're actually quite helpful.

sara2323

Hi, when we bought our current house there was a garage which had been built without planning permission.

I'm sorry can't remember the exact details but the solicitor contacted the sellers solicitor and arranged some sort of insurance which was taken out & paid by the seller.

The insurance covered the full cost of rebuild if the garage was damaged or if we were asked to demolish it by the council.