planning permission elapsed time

Ant555

Is there a time period that building work on a house becomes 'legal' when it has not had planning permission or building regs inspection?

I was talking to someone who built a small extension on his house and said he didn't get planning permission as it was probably within his permitted development rights anyway. He then said it wouldn't matter soon as it would then be 7 years since he finished it and would then be perfectly fine as the council couldn't do anything.

He said he isn't planning on moving so doesn't need any certificates.

I'm not planning on shopping him by the way!, just interested.

2013yearofthehouse

I'm not sure about time limits in general while they live there, but I think when the house is sold, indemnity insurance may be needed. I know of a house that had a conservatory that was over 30 years old and indemnity insurance was needed when the house was sold.

Buzby

Never. There is a time period where you can apply for retrospective planning permission, often required by the buyers solicitors when completing a property sale.

An alternative is 'Certificate of Comfort' (may be called something else in E&W) where the planning authority notes the work and sates that it will not enforce sanctions against be unapproved construction.

chrisw

Your friend is correct. The extension will become immune from planning enforcement after 4 years. If he wanted to sell, he could apply for a Certificate of Lawful Existing Use or Development which confirms that the development is now immune from action and lawful. I think the Building Regs time limit is 2 years.

Doozergirl

chrisw wrote: »

I think the Building Regs time limit is 2 years.

There is no time limit on Building Regulations because it's a matter of safety.

That said, after 12 months, it's pretty costly for them to take enforcement action, making it unlikely to happen unless the building is dangerous.

When it comes to selling, an indemnity policy will always be required for Building Regs.