Building Regulation compliance - legal requirements to enable sale

didman14

My son is in the process of buying a flat, it has had one previous owner but is now owned by a building society (not advertised as a repossession though). In order to be building regulations approved the original property had an extractor fan in the kitchen fitted to a cooker hood. However, the cooker hood is no longer there - the flexible extractor ducting is just dangling out of the ceiling. Are we within our rights to expect the vendor to ensure that a cooker hood is fitted (along with working extractor) so that the property still complies with the original building regulations requirements enabling it to be passed as fit for purpose?
Can anybody advise?

Browntoa

Cooker hood is not needed , the ducting is there so it complies with the regulations

Doozergirl

It's reposession. They won't touch it. It is sold as seen.

The property complied when the inspection was carried out, the new mortgage company will only want to see the certificate.

The cost of a new extractor is negligable. Knock £100 off the offer if you're that bothered.

If that is the only thing wrong, you're onto a good thing.

didman14

Thanks Browntoa, I thought the same, as long as the extract fan is still in place and working that is - the actual hood is just cosmetic. I must reiterate though that the property has never been advertised or referred to as a 'repossession'.....should it have been in order for 'sold as seen' to apply?

stator

didman14 wrote: »

Thanks Browntoa, I thought the same, as long as the extract fan is still in place and working that is - the actual hood is just cosmetic. I must reiterate though that the property has never been advertised or referred to as a 'repossession'.....should it have been in order for 'sold as seen' to apply?

No, generally all hosues are sold as seen, it's up to you to pay for various surveys and checks that you feel necessary.

didman14

Fair comment, I agree...thanks

G_M

The property has no cooker hood. That's how you it's being sold.

You want a cooker hood, buy a cooker hood.

Good grief!

Whether it's a repo or not is irrelevant. The same rules apply whoever is selling, providing the seller has the right to sell.

didman14

Unfortunately G_M, neither a helpful nor pertinent response, suggest need to properly read my text - other responders on the right track, well almost all.


Its all about the legalities regarding the building regulations situation concerning what is 'fit for purpose' and more people should be concerned about this!


On a wider note it appears that all house sales are on a 'sold as seen basis' even if they don't now comply with the building regs that they were originally built to, which appears to be a major fault with the system, but let's not go down that road...yet.


Back to my original query, from the discussions that I have now had I would surmise that it is up to my son to make it clear to the vendor that all legally required electrical fittings are in full working order prior to exchanging contracts unless this is reflected in the final price paid as the cost of checking/putting things right will then be his.


Thanks all, Happy New Year!

societys_child

. .. from the discussions that I have now had I would surmise that it is up to my son to make it clear to the vendor that all legally required electrical fittings are in full working order prior to exchanging contracts unless this is reflected in the final price paid as the cost of checking/putting things right will then be his.

Actually it's up the buyer to have any electrical checks carried out, if they wish. However the vendor may feel the price is right for the property as it is.

theartfullodger

A purchaser can agree to buy a place with no building regs, no planning permission, with trespassers or tenants in place - all things a wise solicitor would argue against usually, but no legal requirement to have them all sorted before a sale can go through.

Problems likely with mortgage yes, but that;'s another matter.

AlexMac

And to fix it will only cost £50-£150; if that's all that's wrong it seems a good buy