Windows legal query

MKwife

We moved into our house last year. It is a town house with a wooden structure stuck to the outside (kind of hard to describe) starting from 1st floor window to 2nd floor window.

The previous owner had installed double glazing 6 years ago. The problem is that the windows open at the bottom and push out, and when fully open touch the wooden structure.

I just wondered if this was in fact legal? If I had been installing these windows I would have noticed there was no escape.

As if there was a fire there is no way we would get out of the windows.

The neighbours all have double glazing but their windows open sideways.

Any ideas money saving friends???

alanobrien

Things and especially regulations change.
They may have been ok when they were fitted but from your description they would not be acceptable to todays regs.

Personally i would change them for side opening windows as you suggest for safety's sake.

MKwife

Or lose weight until I am the size of a piece of string!!

I would get out then!

Just wondered if the company would have to pay as they should never have put those windows in knowing no body could ever get out in an emergency??!!

LandyAndy

To have any chance you would have to show that the windows didn't meet current building regs when installed.

At that time you could install windows yourself without them being inspected so it could be that they don't meet the regs.

Now they have to be installed by a registered installer or have to be inspected by a building inspector after installation.

MKwife

I will check that out, thanks

Phil_L_2

Part B of the building regulations apply. http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_ADB1_2006.pdf

I do not consider a window a means of escape.

Nellie1972_2

wouldn't your surveyor have picked that up?

MKwife

Thanks for the link Phil.

We live in a town house so the windows must be a way of escape as we have been told we need to invest in a rope ladder as a precaution - which wouldn't work the way the windows are.

Think we are just going to cut off some of the wooden bits somehow as I have noticed that is what some of the neighbours have done. (Even though they have sideways opening windows).

Afraid we had the cheap survey where they see if the house is standing and go home so they would not have pointed it out.

Still, its a learning curve eh?

Thanks for all your help and suggestions.