Building regs

dinky73

Hi

We have put our house on the market and when doing so were asked by the estate agent if we had all documentation for any planning persmissions and building regs if work had been done on the house.

We converted the garage in 2007 and have all relevant paperwork for that but in 2004 we had builders remove an internal wall between the lounge and dining room. It was a supporting wall and a steel was used but we have no building regs documentation (we were away at the time of the work but I vaguely remember the builder saying the building regs guy had been in, we were given no documentation though). Earlier this year we had part of the wall between the kitchen and dining room removed to make a walk through and again this was supported with a steel (it wasn't the whole wall just a section in the middle). Builders didn't even mention building regs and it didn't even occur to me they would have been needed.

Anyway, now we are selling I don't want issues with past work holding up a potential sale. I know both walls are supported by steel joists but have no documentation. Should I contact the council or not? If building regs were done in 2004 would they still have a record of this? Not sure on the best course of action, happy to pay for building regs guys to come out and confirm all work is sound but can this be done after the event?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks
dinks

betsie

Hi
I know you can get an indemnity policy if you sell to cover the new buyer for having no regs (cost £200ish). But if you tell the council you have done the work you can not get the indemnity policy and would have to get retrospective building reg approval. They put a notice on the deeds of the house which is only removed once they are happy the work has been done to the correct standard.

go_cat

Sorry but you cannot advertise your own business on here

Emmzi

click spam button please folks.

DVardysShadow

HRR-MPP wrote: »

Hi Dinks
It sounds like your estate agent is doing their due dilligence in order to get everything signed off for you to sell your house - this is perfectly normal.

Your garage sounds ok as you have all the paper work (for both planning permission and build regulations??). However for your 2 internal works requiring steel beams it is likely that you will need to apply for retropective building regulations approval known as 'regularisation'. So in answer to your question, yes you can get consent after the development has taken place .

You did mention that when you had the wall removed between your Lounge and Dining room that the builder mentioned something about the building inspector having been to inspect it - in this case you might be able to get hold of your approval from your local council (don't leave it to your estate agent or lawyer to do it or they will charge you!!). If you have no joy at the council then it may be worth getting a building inspector to see the 2 works.

I would be happy to help you further if necessary. You can contact me through my website spammoronsRus.co.uk
or of course come back here and i'll answer more questions for you!

Best of luck. Harriet

Useful content preserved, spam button clicked.

HRR-MPP

Hi Dinks
It sounds like your estate agent is doing their due dilligence in order to get everything signed off for you to sell your house - this is perfectly normal.

Your garage sounds ok as you have all the paper work (for both planning permission and build regulations??). However for your 2 internal works requiring steel beams it is likely that you will need to apply for retropective building regulations approval known as 'regularisation'. So in answer to your question, yes you can get consent after the development has taken place .

You did mention that when you had the wall removed between your Lounge and Dining room that the builder mentioned something about the building inspector having been to inspect it - in this case you might be able to get hold of your approval from your local council (don't leave it to your estate agent or lawyer to do it or they will charge you!!). If you have no joy at the council then it may be worth getting a building inspector to see the 2 works.

I would be happy to help you further if necessary.

Best of luck. Harriet

HRR-MPP

Sorry everyone - i'm new to this and had not read the rules properly. The offending site has been removed. Rules now read and noted.

dinky73

Thanks all. I think I will contact the council as I am pretty sure the building inspector came the first time, no idea why i wasn't left any paperwork though. As for the most recent part wall removal I will need to get them to check it over retrospectively.

Many thanks
dinks

P.S. Any ideas on costs of having them come out retrospectively? Will they need to damadge the wall in anyway to prove there is a supporting steel there. All rooms have been plastered and redecorated now. Thanks

chappers

You will have to pay the relevant building regs fee for the works involved probably just the minimum for minor works and yes they will most probably want the steels exposed at either or both ends.
If the one steel isn't signed off get both done on the one application/notice.