No Completion Certificate / Lender's Rules

doubleo

Hi there....
I'm trying to buy my first flat.
Conversion was completed in 2007. Current owner bought it as a cash buyer
I have a mortgage lender (a bank) and my mortgage has been approved almost straight away
The problem is that the flat does not have a completion certificate and nor does it have a new home warranty
The lender's rules suggest that
IF the building completion certificate is present, then indemnity insurance can be taken out for the warranty
However since there is no completion certificate, this seems not possible.
So my mortgage may not come through

Am i correct in thinking that there is a time limit after the conversion of the building can be deemed 'complete' ?

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

G_M

No.

Though there is a time limit after which Building Regulations cannot be enforced via a S36 Notice.

This does not mean the local authority cannot enforce via the courts though.

Nor does it mean the building work is 'Complete'.

And it certainly does not mean the conversion is safe. Or of a proper quality.

doubleo

Thank You.
I'm assuming getting the completion certificate will take eons?
And I'm guessing only the seller can get this.
Or is it straightforward?

Hoploz

Is the current owner the person who converted it? If so you could ask them why it does not have the certificate, either because it is lost or because there is a reason one could not be issued, or that the builder never bothered (which I would think is unlikely)

G_M

doubleo wrote: »

Thank You.
I'm assuming getting the completion certificate will take eons?
And I'm guessing only the seller can get this.
Or is it straightforward?

Well, the owner will need to apply, and the council will need to inspect: say 2 weeks?

Then the council will need to re-inspect once the foundations have been exposed (to check depth) and the plaster removed from sections of the walls (to check construction/insulation etc). Plus various other checks which involve 'hidden' aspects of the work.

Assuming seller agrees to this, add another 2 months.

Then the council will decide if the work done complies or not. If it does not, remedial work/re-building will be required : add a further 6 months.

Does that fit your timescale?

doubleo

Thanks for all the replies.
It's becoming a nightmare tbh.
It's a Victorian building so I'm assuming they will only check the conversion side of things.
The company that did the conversion since then has ceased to exist. So it's very difficult to chase the paperwork...
I'm guessing I won't be able to buy it... This has been going on since July
Oh well. Upwards and onwards