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Building Completion Cert

We are in the process of buying a house that had a loft done under permitted development. One outstanding is the building completion certificate for which they are refusing to get a copy of (work was done around 2007 apparently).

In the meantime, as I know the previous owner, I confirmed that they sent it to them as a condition of their sale to them, and basically they have lost it.

My solicitor is recommending an indemnity that they pay for but to be honest I want the cert.

Am I being overly cautious?

Comments

  • Shahni
    Shahni Posts: 124 Forumite
    Why do you want the certificate instead of an indemnity policy?
    My credit card: £148.07/£694.91 (21%)
    Partner's credit card: £0/£602.03

    Loan from partner's mum: £800/£2,400 (33%)
    Loan from partner's dad: £10,000/£10,000 (100%)

    Personal loan: £3,000/£3,000 (100%)
  • martinsurrey
    martinsurrey Posts: 3,368 Forumite
    Shahni wrote: »
    Why do you want the certificate instead of an indemnity policy?

    The cert is proof it was done correctly, the indemnity just means that if it wasnt the OP wont face costs of any enforcement action.

    If it exists, I would want the cert over indemnity. As much for when I sell as for my own comfort.
  • Surrey_EA
    Surrey_EA Posts: 2,051 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts
    The council should be able to issue a duplicate without much difficulty.
  • shimano
    shimano Posts: 157 Forumite
    Exactly. Just confirmed with the council it exists, so told the solicitor to tell the seller side to go get it from the Council then we are happy to exchange.

    I don't get how some people have no common sense, as it took me all of 5 minutes to call them to confirm that, instead they dithered over it for a week or two.

    The whole process has been like this, it has felt like the sellers have thrown away every single document they received when they bought the house.
  • Surrey_EA
    Surrey_EA Posts: 2,051 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts
    "Common sense isn't all that common!"

    There doesn't seem to be anything quite like dealing with a property transaction to be reminded of this.
  • martinsurrey
    martinsurrey Posts: 3,368 Forumite
    "Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that"

    -George Carlin
  • shimano
    shimano Posts: 157 Forumite
    As for indemnity, why would I want that instead of the cert that 100% exists? Indemnity protects you only if the council were to tear it down, and in this case it would be a waste of money for the seller as it would be worth as much as an empty sweetie wrapper.
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