Garage conversion 1999/2000 was building regs needed?

AlexMac

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Strange, I would have thought that being an integral garage, the foundations would have continued under the doorway. I am sure in the past I have seen this on houses under construction.

Yes, that's what I'd have surmised... til my neighbour started a garage conversion, in a 1970s/80s house, then got told by the Council Building Regs people that he had to dig 1metre down and put in modern footings across/below the former garage door.

Dunno about 15 years ago, so perhaps this ain't a very helpful contribution...

G_M

lincroft1710 wrote: »

15 years after the event, it's unlikely Building Control would be interested. /QUOTE]
Unless it is brought to their attention.

OP asked:

whether Building Regs were required 15 years ago and/or how to go about regularising the situation.

Answer is clearly
1) yes BR were required 15 ys ago and
2) regularising would require asking Building Control for retrospective certification, which would require investigation of the build standard and rectification of any deficiency.

But yes, the alternative is to do nothing, say nothing, regularise nothing, and just live there.

Freecall

It is not wise to try and second-guess what the issues might be (structural etc), the fact is that all habitable accommodation requires Building Control approval.

As well as structure (Part A), what about drainage (Part H), conservation of power (Part L), Glazing (Part N), resistance to moisture (Part C), ventilation (Part F), means of escape (Part .

You can live in it (you are not breaking the law or anything) but ultimately in order for it to be reflected in the value of the property Building Control approval will have to be obtained.

Obtaining an insurance indemnity is not an option by the way as you already know that Building Control approval has not been obtained.

teabelly

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/responsibilities/buildingregulations/failure

It seems to suggest the council have to chase the builder and rather sooner than they have done (within 2 years of completion).

This is quite helpful: http://www.gardandco.com/conveyancing/building-regulations.html

Things seem to change around 1999/2000 so it may come under new regs. I'd check the planning department of the council to find out when the plans were put in.

If they already own the property and had a survey done then it should have been something that would have been thrown up on the mid range survey and above. If the conversion wasn't up to scratch the survey should have shown it up or at least mentioned it as a potential area of investigation before purchase. The solicitors should have thrown it up during the purchase. So these are two parties that they can claim negligence from if there is any fall out anyway... I think they should take the line that it should have been something that they were paying other people to sort out and notice. Any issues would have been prevented before the sale completed as they could have had the vendor sort it out before they bought or walked away.

I think buck passing to those with indemnity insurance is their best option