Renovation Work - No Regulations - Advice Please

cwcw

Doozergirl, you may be right, but I think we will be going through our solicitor as we've tried going through the estate agent before on another issue earlier on and it didn't work out. The sellers also seem, shall we say, less than trustworthy. We don't want to pull out but we need these issues sorting.

How much does it cost/ how long does it take to get building regs in arrears? I don't think a completion before Christmas is likely anymore..

silvercar

cwcw wrote:

How much does it cost/ how long does it take to get building regs in arrears? I don't think a completion before Christmas is likely anymore..

my council will do a building regs inspection with 48 hours notice. cost depends on the cost of the original work. The problem occurs if the inspector finds things that need correcting. The corrections then need to be made and a further inspection done.

As a guide, on the house we have just bought, the sellers had to install a fire door and put an extra strut in the roof. This delayed exchange by about 10 days.

Doozergirl

It's the correct permissions from the freeholder that I think will take longer than Building Regs.

cwcw

Well I've written it all down in a letter for the solicitor. When referencing sections of the lease the vendor had breached, I couldn't help but feel that I was doing the solicitor's job.

Doozergirl

Do remember that your solicitor hasn't seen the house and if your vendor lies on the forms and doesn't leave a paper trail because they've neglected to tell the authorities or freeholder, it may well be only you that will have an idea of which terms might have been breached.

Cut them a little bit of slack. Not much though

cwcw

Doozergirl wrote:

Do remember that your solicitor hasn't seen the house and if your vendor lies on the forms and doesn't leave a paper trail because they've neglected to tell the authorities or freeholder, it may well be only you that will have an idea of which terms might have been breached.

Cut them a little bit of slack. Not much though

Yes, but she is aware of the alterations! We've told her about them before when requesting all the necessary certs (sound advice from a relative who is an architect, otherwise we'd have missed it altogether). In fact, she refers directly to them in her letter. She just can't have read the lease.

Doozergirl

Oh well, ignore me then!

Maybe you could contact the person responsible for complaints at the practice then? Their name will will in their 'terms of business' I think they call it. Might help you gain some confidence in them?

cwcw

Doozergirl wrote:

Oh well, ignore me then!

Maybe you could contact the person responsible for complaints at the practice then? Their name will will in their 'terms of business' I think they call it. Might help you gain some confidence in them?

Yes, we're considering making a complaint. We will see what her reaction is when she opens the letter tomorrow (hand delivered today for speed!). I'm hoping for a phone call in the morning, some reassurance and some decided action. Then the ball is in the vendor's court as to whether they want to lose a sale at a good price 3 months (!) after agreeing it, or pull their finger out and do what they should have done before they started renovating. Place your bets now.

JennyW_2

cwcw wrote:

I should also point out that the seller has breached the lease (it's a leasehold flat as most are) by making alterations without getting written permission.

how can you overcome this if you plan to go ahead? Just concerned if the freeholder will give you problems too

We sought writted permission before completion on the work we wanted to do.

lynzpower

sorry to hear of your probs cwcw

I agree getting the freeholder to agree works unfortunately can be a nightmare & ver ytime consuming.

I remember a few cases at w**k where social services wanted to make very minor alterations to properties that needed freeeholders permission ( grab rails in bathrooms for example for older people with mobility needs) and it in a couple of cases did take months to get hold of them.

It sounds like you are wise & on the case though- this is in your favour.