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Cellar conversion building regulations

James19
Posts: 10 Forumite
Hi,
We are in the process of buying a victorian terrace with a converted cellar. A window has been added, there are radiators and the walls appear dry (tanked according to estate agents brochure). The current owners have loads of stuff down there including books etc which all seem dry.
However, the surveyor homebuyer report commented that he could see no evidence of tanking (but wasn't possible to tell for sure). Also it now turns out that there isn't a building regulations certificate.
There is an indemnity policy in place for building regulations but from what I've read on here these are a bit pointless as only cover against enforcement by the council which is extremely unlikely several years after the work was completed.
So, any opinions on this issue welcome. Should we be worried? What further questions should we ask? Will this be an issue when we come to sell?
Thanks,
James.
We are in the process of buying a victorian terrace with a converted cellar. A window has been added, there are radiators and the walls appear dry (tanked according to estate agents brochure). The current owners have loads of stuff down there including books etc which all seem dry.
However, the surveyor homebuyer report commented that he could see no evidence of tanking (but wasn't possible to tell for sure). Also it now turns out that there isn't a building regulations certificate.
There is an indemnity policy in place for building regulations but from what I've read on here these are a bit pointless as only cover against enforcement by the council which is extremely unlikely several years after the work was completed.
So, any opinions on this issue welcome. Should we be worried? What further questions should we ask? Will this be an issue when we come to sell?
Thanks,
James.
0
Comments
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When did the conversion take place? It would only have needed to conform to the buildings regs in place at the time it was done.0
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We've been told that it was done before the current owners, so at least 6 years ago but don't really know.
Thanks.0 -
However, the surveyor homebuyer report commented that he could see no evidence of tanking (but wasn't possible to tell for sure). Also it now turns out that there isn't a building regulations certificate.
the absence of BR certificate means you cannot know for sure unless you make physical checks which is why the surveyor has rightly caveated their report - the surveyor themselevs cannot check just be looking at it
the fact the work was not done by the current owners also does not help as clealry they cannot be expected to provide evidence of the works
As you say the indemnity policy is irrelevant in this case and there is no sure fire answer - either you risk it like the current owners appear to have done or you pay for a specific test/inspection.0
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