Extension completion certificate (or lack of)

nikinak

Hello, I need help!
We've sold our house STC. Have just found out the extension that was completed in 2009 never had its final inspection. I've spoken to building regs at Trafford council today and they have said there need calculations for the steals and a supporting beam.
The builder and architect have told me not to worry, it can all be sorted, as it was discussed with building regs all the way through the build and the builders did exactly what building regs advised.
I am concerend that they (trafford building regs) are going to want see the foundation under the kitchen pillar, which will mean drilling up our slate floor and digging a hole in the middle of our kitchen.
There were issues about doing a test hold or something on the pillar. The building regs man wanted the bricks changed which the builders did and the builders reg man inspected, but he still didn't ok the foundation.
Oh what to do??? Any Ideas???:(

nikinak

After speaking to my husband and the builder today they are both adamant that the inspector asked for the size of the peer to be changed which was done according to the architects calculations, and that he did not query the foundations. The peer is built on what was the corner of the original kitchen on our victorian house. The inspector is saying he did ask for the foundations to be looked at. Husband was actually off work and present for this conversation - where do we go from here? Have resigned myself now to relisation that the move is probably off

hcb42

dont panic...it can be solved...!

you will need to chase the relevant departments, as they will not move at the same speed of urgency that you will, but I am sure this will be overcome. Be Persistent to get it to resolution



We put a bathroom into a fully plumbed room (marked bathroom on the plan we had) into a relatively new self build in 1997 - owner was forced to sell effectively following marriage break up. In 2002 (when we sold the house) it transpired there had been a revised housing plan, merely calling it a "cupboard" (done for completion certificiate we think but we did not know this) so we never actually had planning for a bathroom....hubby drew up some plans retrospectively, paid the fee, pestered them and all sorted within a week or two.

nikinak

If it turns out the post needs under pinning will we still be able to sell?

tifo

nikinak wrote: »

We've sold our house STC. Have just found out the extension that was completed in 2009 never had its final inspection.

this is a repost of your other thread here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3285834

you made a mistake in 2009 .....

nikinak

you made a mistake in 2009 .....[/QUOTE]


Yes you're quite right, but this is new for us, we thought it was something that was automatically generated, that the building regulation officer was out for all the inspections we just presumed the final inspection had been done.

nikinak

very useful - thanks a bunch!!!

tifo

nikinak wrote: »

Yes you're quite right, but this is new for us, we thought it was something that was automatically generated, that the building regulation officer was out for all the inspections we just presumed the final inspection had been done.

Yes, but your architect should have told you this, as should have the builder. They should have been experienced in these things as they come across extensions and building regs every day. If the final inspection wasn't done, it was their job to ask why not.

Unless you have docs in your hand nothing is certain, especially when it comes to councils.

I understand it's not always the homeowner's fault but the mistake has been made and unless you have proof opposing what the council say, it is very hard fighting them.

But, I think if building regs don't check for 2 years, they are 'out of time' so you might be able to say they cannot do anything now. Check this with your architect.

nikinak

Some slighty better news, building inspector has suggested we dig test holes in the garden and the structural engineer with the inspector can come to a descision on the whether the peer is ok on a strip foundation based on quality of the ground then decide if under pinning needs to be done based on this> Inspector was really nice today, he's also said that normally in the area I live if there's movement it happens within 12 months, and extension has been up for 20 months now, with no cracks even in the plaster work in the kitchen around the peer, so there may be some hope yet.
Saying my prayers