Buying a house without planning permission

eddddy

robbiebrown34 wrote: »

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They say that they should hear back within a couple of weeks but tonight they mentioned (I think by mistake) that the previous permission was denied.
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If a planning application really was made and rejected, you should be able to search for it on your local council's website.

There would be a report/decision notice which explains why it was rejected.

Alternatively, if a planning application is underway, your search might turn that up. (Although some councils have a backlog, meaning that applications can take a few weeks to appear.)

robbiebrown34

Thanks DOOZERGIRL, the property is around 25 years old and is within a housing estate that was all brand new back then, so I aren't sure it falls within conservation area. It does look like they've done a great job at the conversion, fully insulated from what I can see and the carpet seems raised compared to the garage floor when you step through.

EDDDDY that sounds like a great idea and I didn't know you could do that, I'll have a look around and see what comes up.

What should I do in terms of making an offer? Is it best to tell them just to convert back to a garage, or let them leave it as is and run the risk? DOOZERGIRL, you mentioned I won't get prosecuted but if I knowingly move into a property without adequate planning permission, what can they actually do and how would it affect things like Mortgage, home insurance etc?

Thanks again

Annie1960

In your position, I would await the outcome of the planning application. Without this information, you can't really make a decision.

As eddddy said, you can search on the local council's website for the previous application. I don't know how your council works - in my area you can search using the address or the reference number.

Perhaps you could ask the estate agent for the planning reference number for any previous application?

robbiebrown34

I've spoken to the council and checked online. The council are saying that the main reason it was refused was because they've converted the garage, the moving of the wall wasn't the big issue. The reason for this was because converting the garage was effectively removing a parking space which then leaves the property with only one and the other option is to park on the street.

They wouldn't say whether it would or wouldn't be approved but they did say that the next update is likely going to be in May time. The position we are in is that our rent contract ends in early June so we wanted to be moved out in situ with this.

The seller has said they are willing to put the house back as it was. So should I offer and stipulate that if the permission is approved, it stays as is, or if it's denied then they have to put things back as they were?
Problem then is if they do a bad job then we would have to fix it ourselves.

We both really like the house so I'm on the fence. Maybe I should put a low offer in and see how it goes but I'm not fully comfortable I know what the consequences would be if it was refused but we'd moved in etc..

sheramber

If you know the cost of removing the extension and making good you could make an offer taking that cost into consideration, then do the work yourself.

Or retain an amount to cover the cost of the work and hand it over once it is done.

We bought a house which had had the attic converted 10 years previously. While it had planning permission no completion certificate had been obtained. When inspected there was a small amount of work needed to bring it up to current regs.

Our solicitor retained an amount equal to the cost of the work and the seller had to orgnise it to be done. The seller paid for the work to be done and when signed off by the council our solicitor forwarded the retained amount to the seller.

Whatever you do, get it agreed in writing so there is no dispute later on.