Extension with no building or planning certificates

cardiffkjk

Hi, can I ask for some advice? We are probably two weeks away from completing on the purchase of a house. Basically when we went into sign contracts last week our solicitor advised us that the vendor cannot provide any certificates for an extension that was built 20 plus years ago- the work was already done when she purchased the property in 1994.
The solicitor has said that it doesn't really matter about planning permission after all these years but her concern is to the quality of the build.We had a Homebuyers report done which didn't show anything to be particularly concerned about and also asked a builder friend to look over them and he said the same.
Any suggestions on what to do next? Our solicitor suggested contacting the surveyor who did the Homebuyers report but surely he's not going to tell us anything different? Indemnity policy has been mentioned but this doesn't cover us for any repair work does it?

Fire_Fox

Surveyor won't do anything since you only paid for a homebuyers report, you have less protection and should expect much less input than with a full structural survey. Could get a structural engineer's report but that still won't show you what is under the surface.

Furts

How did the vendor purchase the property without having this information?

Is the vendor telling the truth on this? Have you asked?

Is the extension really older than the vendor moving in 1994?

It does seem strange - the new works would have stood out like a sore thumb in 1994, one would assume?

To be proactive: you want to purchase and it is probably too late to pull out. Your builder colleague says everything appears OK. You will have scrutinized everywhere for cracks or bows (I am assuming you have?). You, or your builder, will have given the "new" roof a check. (Again, I am assuming you have?) Does it look like new render, pointing or decorations hiding anything? (Again, have you checked?) Have you checked on drains and services?

If a problem existed it would normally have revealed itself by now. Go ahead would be my "off the record" opinion - provided you are sure on the above points and any others raised by your post.

suebfg

In your situation I wouldn't proceed. If you love the house and are paying a premium for the extended space, you might want to consider a price reduction so if you do need to do some work, it is reflected in the price paid.

societys_child

suebfg wrote: »

In your situation I wouldn't proceed. If you love the house and are paying a premium for the extended space, you might want to consider a price reduction so if you do need to do some work, it is reflected in the price paid.

Haha, you could apply that logic to any property you're thinking of buying. "I want some money off" just in case . . .

lincroft1710

Furts wrote: »

How did the vendor purchase the property without having this information?

Very easily. Solicitors and mortgage providers didn't bother so much with such trifles 20 years ago.

suebfg

societys_child wrote: »

Haha, you could apply that logic to any property you're thinking of buying. "I want some money off" just in case . . .

Why should you pay a premium for what is probably shoddy, second rate work? If the owners couldn't be bothered getting building regs, what other corners have been cut???

societys_child

suebfg wrote: »

Why should you pay a premium for what is probably shoddy, second rate work? If the owners couldn't be bothered getting building regs, what other corners have been cut???

You've no idea if it's shoddy or second rate or evidence that corners were cut, it was built at least 20 years ago. may not have needed pp at the time. Any house built years ago could be shoddy and second rate by you're reasoning, that's why you have them surveyed.

marmitepotato

We bought a house with an extension with no planning permission. The solicitor said the extension was twenty plus years old, and the vendors we purchased the house from said it was there when they got the house. They showed us all the paperwork they had on their purchase.

The council confirmed they knew about the extension but nothing more was said.