House advertised a 3 bed but 3rd bedroom (attick room) has no building regs

zennor4

If you know the work has been done to a poor standard, why did you put an offer in on the house in the first place?



And if/when BR next changes, will you then refuse to let them sleep there, because it will no longer meet the then-current regs?[/QUOTE]

The conversion was done post 2004. When viewing the house it looked perfectly fine so how would we know its not done to a good standard? The first we new something wasnt right was when we received the sellers property info form which he had ticked 'no' to any changes made on the house plus the indemnity insurance policy.

zennor4

deannatrois wrote: »

Sounds like you were aware there was a problem before paying for the survey, so it was wasted money to some degree.

However, if you feel strongly that the house will be devalued when you want to sell, walking away and losing the survey/legal fees is pocket money comparatively.

luckily we havent payed for a full structural survey yet. Just the basic mortgage survey.

AdrianC

lessonlearned wrote: »

If it doesn't meet current building regs then it cannot be legally described or designated a three bedroomed house, even if the work was done prior to the introduction of building regs.

Don't be daft.

Any work done only has to conform to BR at the time it was completed. If BRegs change, then nobody has to retro-upgrade any part of any existing property.

Unless you think that the release of <say> the 3rd amendment to the 17th edition electrical regs, in April 2015, mean that no house is sellable unless it conforms? Have you had your own property checked since then? Or how about the 17th edition themselves in 2008? Or the 16th edition in 1991? Or the 15th edition in 1981?

Cakeguts

This is never going to be a 3 bed house it is always going to be a 2 bed with a loft conversion regardless of the building regs/ planning permission. It won't ever be worth the same as a purpose built 3 bed house in the same area. So as long as you understand that it isn't a 3 bed house and you are not being expected to pay for a 3 bed house there isn't a problem. If however the asking price is what you would normally expect to pay for a 3 bed in the same area then you do have a problem.

What you have to decide is do you want a 3 bed house or would you be happy with a 2 bed with a loft conversion? If you want a 3 bed then this is not the house for you because it cannot ever be a purpose built 3 bed house. If you want a 3 bed house the state of the loft conversion doesn't ever come into it because this is not a 3 bed house. One of the reasons why people have surveys done is to find out what has gone on in the house and whether it has been altered. You have found out that this has been altered so do you still want it?

AdrianC

zennor4 wrote: »

The conversion was done post 2004.

But how long post-2004?

When viewing the house it looked perfectly fine so how would we know its not done to a good standard?

So you actually have absolutely no idea whether it's been done well - just the final sign-off not completed - or has been shonkily thrown-together? Just that - anything up to a dozen years after being completed - it still looks OK at a quick glance?

The first we new something wasnt right was when we received the sellers property info form which he had ticked 'no' to any changes made on the house plus the indemnity insurance policy.

And that's it? How long's the seller lived there? Did they convert the room?

tlc678910

Hi,
If my family were going to live there I would be most concerned about fire safety. Without building regs how do you know that the materials and insulation meet fire safety standards. The doors through the house should have been treated or replaced to make them withstand fire for a period of time. Do you know if they were?

I wouldn't be as concerned if it was being used only as a room but I would for a bedroom. That's why it isn't worth as much as a conversion with regs and shouldn't be sold as a bedroom imo.

Tlc

zennor4

Thank you for everyones helpful (and not quite so helpful comments) and for such quick response to this post!!
Just incase anyone cares, the seller has come back today and apologised for ticking 'no' on the sellers forms to 'any changes made' and agreed to get full building and planning regs for the loft conversion. Depending on how much works will cost to do it, he will either do it first or reduce the price accordingly!!

walwyn1978

Ok, that's a positive. Of the two options (him sorting or reducing the price) - if possible get him to reduce the price. That way you've had control of the work and the quality of it, not left it to chance/at the whim of someone who is selling it anyway so may not be that fussed about the standard of workmanship. Just a thought.

kinger101

Cancel the survey. Follow the EA's complaints procedure then refer it to the ombudsman scheme of which they are a member. The number of habitable rooms is something the EA should check before advertising the property.

I wouldn't be proceeding with the purchase - you don't know what else they've messed up.

Running_Horse

Before pulling out I might put in an insulting offer based on it being 2 bedrooms, just so the agent cannot market it as 3 bedrooms in future.