coverted garage in our new house is not what it seems?

loopyloouk

hi,

wondered if someone could help me, we purchased our current house in November last year it is a modern semi, the garage had been converted before we brought it into a dining room. It transpired during the buying process that they had not applied for planning permission but were finally granted permission after the event. we have since had workman in as the radiators never work in there and they advised they have not been fitted correct and plumbed wrong, we have had a leak in a pipe in the wall that as well was plumbed wrong, the fuse board in that room had been fitted with the wrong electrics.

i know its a long shot but do we just take this all on the chin as a learning experience or do we contact the builders/previous owners.

i should note that our solicitor got the previous owners to sign a contract of some sort re the planning permission to cover us (not sure what this entails though)

thanks for your help

DTDfanBoy

What did your survey say, and does the conversion have building regs

Doozergirl

When you buy a house, the phrase that applies is 'caveat emptor' or 'buyer beware'. That means that you buy the house as it is, warts and all. You need to satisfy yourself, by means of a survey and before you exchange contracts, that the building is sound.

Unfortunately, there is no recourse against the previous owners whatsoever.

If the job has been bodged, then it's unlikely that the building firm were reputable enough to provide a guarantee either.

Planning permission and building control approval are different things. Did they get a building regulations completion certificate? Your solicitor would have asked for that.

anotherbaldrick

Yes , look to your solicitor, he should have ensured that all approvals for the work had been obtained. That is what you employed him for !

loopyloouk

our solicitor had them apply for the approvals and to sign this document to cover us.

I know you buy a house and there are bound to be things that are wrong with it but i just feel a little bit annoyed!
for example the boiler is in the kitchen cupboard but the boiler doesnt have a cover so we cannot be covered by british gas homecare.

we had a survey done and they advised all was ok.

loopyloouk

sorry

quick question but if the building regs were signed off after the extension, some period after i might add how will they be able to say that it was all done correctly?

evoke

Just take it on the chin and get it put right. It really isn't worth the stress of pursuing legal action.

My house was a disaster when I bought it. I put everything right over time. It's one of the 'joys' of buying a house.

It's likely you have what's known as indemnity insurance which really isn't worth a poop!

Just get a builder in to quote for putting everything right and spread the work over time as and when funds allow.

From your first post it looks like you'll need a plumber and an electrician to sort out the two main issues. It's not the end of the world.

Prothet_of_Doom

Personally? I'd fix it and move on. If that's all that's wrong, it's hardly that big a deal is it?

Mind you, I have a weird belief that it should be a criminal offence to convert a garage into a room. Everyhome, should have a DIY workshop, for projects. Or just space to fix the car in the dry.

Jonesya

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

Mind you, I have a weird belief that it should be a criminal offence to convert a garage into a room. Everyhome, should have a DIY workshop, for projects. Or just space to fix the car in the dry.

Amen to that. :T

Errata

It transpired during the buying process that they had not applied for planning permission but were finally granted permission after the event

Planning permission is simply that, permission to carry out work in accordance with the submitted plan. It doesn't cover the build regulations that need to be met.

Doozergirl

loopyloouk wrote: »

sorry

quick question but if the building regs were signed off after the extension, some period after i might add how will they be able to say that it was all done correctly?

They would be asked to reveal parts of the structure beneath. It would mean chipping away at walls etc.