Extension and building reg queries-help!

jacksty

Good evening...!

We are in the middle of purchasing our dream home and were waiting on the final search to come back, in order to exchange.
We received the local search back today, only to find that it hadn't detailed the single storey extension that was built in the 90's.
Our solicitors are now trying to contact the vendors to get more info, while they have been doing this, we have reviewed the docs that we were sent which included the following:
-A letter from the council, confirming that they have inspected the plans for the single storey extension and that the proposed extension was of a size and height that would not have required planning permission (in connection with Building regulations approval BR/****/**, however these docs were not included).
-An indemnity policy that the vendors have taken out (in 1999, when they first purchased the property).

My question is, what else should we be asking for at this stage? While we're aware that we shouldn't need to pull it down as it's over 4/5 years, we may wish to extend/renovate the property in the future and don't want this to cause any issues.

In the absence of Building Regulation Approval docs (not sure if this is even the term I'm looking for!), should we be asking for a building inspection of some sort to be carried out at the vendors expense?

Any advice would really be appreciated, thanks in advance.:)

Doozergirl

You are confused. The extension didn't need planning permission so no 4 year rule exists. 4 years is for a build that needed planning permission, but it wasn't obtained.

It has a building control approval app. It's surprising that it doesn't have a certificate. Perhaps it is just a case of it being lost. The searches often don't reveal BR approvals and then you're effectively prevented from asking for a physical search for the certificate because if you ask the council to look for a copy, it invalidates any possible policy if there isn't a certificate. It's all a bit ridiculous, really.

You can ask the current owners for an indemnity that covers you against enforcement action and that is probably the easiest route.

As far as problems with future works are concerned - we have been extensively renovating for 16 years now and no building control officer has ever mentioned the quality of previous work or asked for remedy - and believe me, we've seen it all. They are only concerned with the job in hand.