Building Regs out of date for loft conversion

Problem123456

Hi. I wonder if anyone can help me. We've had an offer accepted to buy a house in Leeds which was listed as a 4 bedroom property, which is 3 original bedrooms and a loft conversion. We've had the document from the council which shows that planning permission wasn't required, and the certificate which shows that the building regs were adhered to at the time.

However, when we had a structural survey done the surveyor noted that building regs have changed and that the staircase would no longer be compliant. My question is what to do about this information;
- Does it not matter as the building regs at the time were signed off (2006) and the surveyor didn't come up against any other major issues?
- When we re-sell do we have to list it as a 3 bedroom house now?
- Should I go back and try and re-negotiate as if it's a 3 bedroom plus storage room (or ask for a reduction in cost to get it to comply) or should I pay the 4-bedroom price?

I'm happy that the quality of the work is good and that the room would actually not really be used as a bedroom anyway except in emergencies. My main concern is that when we come to sell it, we might have to list it as a 3 bedroom house, when we've paid for it as if it's a 4 bed house and therefore be out of pocket.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Southend1

My house is 100 years old. I doubt it meets any of today's building regs.

booksurr

the stairs met the regulations at the time, that is all you can ask for or expect. The fact you have documentary evidence to prove both planning permission and BR compliance is as good as it gets

the rest is simply the surveyor covering his axse as it has no effect on you or any future purchaser

there is not a house in the UK more than 12 months old which is compliant with current regulations yet strangely they continue to be bought and sold :rotfl:

G_M

This is very common. BRs change all the time - do you think every property in the country is immediately upgraded?????

My house was built in 1851. The foundations are far too shallow for today's Building Regs. But the house has stood here perfectly happily for over 150 years.

To comply with current standards, I would have to knock down the house, re-dig the foundations, and then rebuild the house.

:rotfl:

This is not required either fo safety reasons or legal ones. My house is fine, and complies - since at the time it was built, it complied with the (then non-existant) regulations.

jimbog

You have nothing to worry about - you have a 4 bedroomed home and it will always be so

ABrass

... unless it catches light and you live in the loft room.

In your shoes i'd get the room checked to see if it's structurally sound (it probably is but if it pre-dates regulations then you don't know for sure) and look at fitting wired smoke alarms every three feet.

They won't take away the 'room' but fire regulations are one category of BR that I would take pretty seriously as a buyer and some mitigation would go a long way in my eyes.