Advice needed: Looking to buy but no building regs..

G_M

Yorkie1 wrote: »

One thing I've picked up on here with regard to loft conversions is to be very careful if there is no B Regs approval. If I recall correctly, it's related firstly to the fact that the joists in the loft are rarely designed to be weight-bearing to the extent of it being a habitable room, thus requiring the joists to be strengthened - or potential problems if this hasn't been done.

There are also insulation and head height issues if I remember rightly. And also fire escape / fire doors / fixed staircase issues. Loft conversions are higher risk to structure and safety if they have had short cuts taken.

I agree. I would be more worried about the potential build quality rather than the (minute) risk of the council enforcing BRs.

Owners/builders who fail to get BR certificates are exactly the kind who cut corners. At the extreme: 'cowboys'. OK, not all, it might just be ignorance, but it's a risk.

BR are there for a reason, not just as a job-scheme for councils. They ensure buildings are safely built.

With attic conversions there are particular issues as attics are not originally constructed to accomodate weight or living conditions. If they are not converted to the right standard, they can be downright dangerous.

RedwoodBrook

An update:

The relative who viewed the house this evening noticed a few more problems than I had spotted, though nothing huge apparently. The agent told them that a full survery had already been conducted so we have requested a copy of that with a view to still getting our own survery done.

Apparently another couple have asked for a second meeting with the agent and are going to be putting in a low offer of around £100,000 which the agent has said will be rejected. I am considering offering £125,000 and based on what my relative has said, I won't be going any higher.

Would the any issues with the loft (ie, living or weight) be addressed in a survery?

Yorkie1

I suspect that you would need a structural engineer rather than a surveyor to answer the loft issues, and that would also involve taking up things like the floor to inspect joists - so vendors wouldn't be happy.