Buying - unsure if conservatory meets building regs.

DazedConfused_2

Hi,

We've seen a house that we're very keen on. There's already some other offers but they've not been accepted, and we can go to the full asking price, so feel we have a good chance of getting it.

However I noticed that the kitchen diner is actually made up of a room and a knocked-through conservatory.

If a conservatory is knocked through (i.e. no separating door) it needs building regs (I think as it needs to meet higher energy saving criteria, etc.). Is this something the surveyor will check?

Should I ask about this now? I don't want to lose the house because the vendor doesn't have regs and thinks 'uh-oh, he's on to us', so chooses someone at £5k less in the hope they won't notice.

I'm not entirely sure what to do. We want the house, but I'm concerned the conservatory could freeze the entire house in winter if it hasn't been done right, or we'd have to pay a fortune to get it up to regs.

Thanks!

monty-doggy

I'm in a similar situation, the surveyor didn't mention it but it appeared on the searches.

go_cat

These are the PP guidelines for conservatories

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/conservatories/

Yes definitely ask about building regs now it will save you paying out unnecessary fees for surveys etc if they haven't got them you could ask the EA

Also it's worth noting you should tell your solicitor if any house you are buying has an extension loft conversion or conservatory so. They can check them out. Solicitors are not psychic ! Our conservatory turned out to breach a covenant so we had to but indemnity to cover it as the eowners had built it soon and breached it

Also worth asking the owners what their gas and electric bills are in winter to give you an idea

DazedConfused_2

monty-doggy wrote: »

I'm in a similar situation, the surveyor didn't mention it but it appeared on the searches.

Sorry, searches?

DazedConfused_2

go_cat wrote: »

Yes definitely ask about building regs now it will save you paying out unnecessary fees for surveys etc if they haven't got them you could ask the EA

Thanks.

If it turns out they haven't got the required regs, then what? What does that actually mean in terms of buying the house? Can we still buy it and just ignore, or do we have to rectify?

I'm still concerned that in asking the question now we'll lose the house. Should we wait until our offer is accepted, but before we've forked out on the survey?

Davesnave

The conservatory might be old enough not to have needed to meet the current regs. Believe it or not, the vast majority of houses don't meet the regulations in force today.

But surely it's not just about regulations, but whether you're comfortable in winter and not forking out extra £££ for fuel.

A decent set of external bi-fold doors, or similar, might well solve the problem, if there is one.

DazedConfused_2

Davesnave wrote: »

But surely it's not just about regulations, but whether you're comfortable in winter

That's going to be tricky to tell if we hope to move in by autumn!