Planning Permission woes

GingeG

Hi all

Just had a major show stopper on a purchase.

Basically I have offered been accepted, completed survey/searches etc and have funds in place to complete. The reason I chose this property over other siniliar spec in my area was because of time scales ie we wanted to exchange 01 April vendors said they could!

Now it transpires they have no plannong permission for thier conservatory and it may take up to 8 weeks to get it, this is not good!

Should I
a. Throw the towel in on this property and by another with no onward chain(about 3 week wait and 1k down pan for last survey etc).
b. Take this place on at risk but offer a new lower price to reflect value if I have to rip down conservatory?


any advice is good

Poppy9

Ask the planning officer whether its likely planning permission is going to be granted. If he is doubtful and if there are neighbours who might object it could take longer than 2 months.

How much does the person want to sell. If he is desperate then they might accept the lower offer and if you do get the planning all well and good if not you have the cost of demolishing.

GingeG

Thanx poppy

the time thing is a real deal breaker I got a friend who is the conveyancer to rush the stuff through so it was completed in a bout 2 weeks including an environmental search etc to meet the vendors time scales and to make things worse it now transpires they have not even got their searches done on the house they want to buy!!

What would be a fair reoffer bearing in mind they are unlikely to tell us to take conservatory down as house is detached and it has been there for about 3 years with no complaints but it might get refused so what is fair?

gardnt1

Hi,

do they need planning permission on the conservatory?
Not all conservatories need it, it can depend on the size or whether permitted development rights have been removed from the site?
May be worth looking into?

GingeG

gardnt1

PD has been removed from site

I feel for vendors badly.

It is obvious that our local council want a quick way of raiding revenue and 720 households now have to apply in retrospect for planning permission @200 quid a pop!!

Bad state of affairs I hate this country, well I hate B Liar!

gardnt1

Planning permission for sites where permitted development is removed is FREE......does this not apply to retrospective too?

GingeG

Thanks for that

My vendor told me they would pay for it etc. If free then I may be being hoodwinked.

gardnt1

what I should say, is that this applies to Birmingham city council planning regs, and it may of course be different with different councils although I was assuming it would be standard across the country.....I might have a thoughtful council if there is such a thing!

chrisxr2

get insurance. I had a small extension on my old house and simliar on the new house. I paid twenty quid insurance which covers the cost of any work if the council decide planning permission was required. eg knocking down extension, part of house etc. speaki to your solicitor about it then if you get it you won't need planning permission either way as you will be covered whatever.

sal

This thread is very interesting, I'm currently in a chain, the house we are purchasing has a conservatory that my solicitor is trying to establish they have planning permission for. Waiting nervously for that result.

We have an extension that was built by previous owners many years ago, the solicitors insisted on proof of planning permission which we are hoping is with the deeds (they haven't got them yet, that's another story), they have told us that if we cannot provide proof of planning permission we will be asked to pay indemnity insurance to the cost of £200!

chrisxr2 - Is this the same insurance that you are referring to for £20? Tell me more, please?

sal

lush_walrus

For proof of planning permission, go to the planning department which deals with your area and have a look at the files. All files are accessable to the public and there is normally someone on hand to help you find what you are looking for. All you will need to know is the address of the property you need the information for. If there isnt a file on your house, then there has never been a planning application. If there is one, then it is a matter of trawling through and finding a letter which will be written by the council stating that planning permision has been granted.

This is all the proof you require, copies can be taken and at most planning departments copying is free.