Missing Planning Certificate - Soil Pipe - Help!

armyhedge

Hello,

Back in 2008 I had some work done to move the bathroom from downstairs to a bedroom upstairs. There was no change to the room except the soil pipe fitted and bathroom installed.

I applied to Birmingham City Council for a Building Regs notice. I have copies of the VAT receipt from the council for the money I paid for this.

Now fast forward to 2016 and I am selling my house. I don't have the final building regs certificate and other than this paper trail I have no evidence that the work was checked.

There have been no problems with the bathroom since it was installed.

Therefore should I call the council (I have an application number but can't find anything on the council website.) and ask if they have a copy of the certificate to send me.
Or just take out indemnity insurance? The house is worth £125k so I don't think the insurance will be much.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

TheKeymeister

Being as it's evident the work was registered, you might get away with providing that evidence. In my sale I was asked for installation certificates for the fuse board and windows, which were done by a previous elderly owner and I never got certificates or indemnities, but the council website showed the work was indeed registered....and that was the last I heard of the matter. I think you'd be better off trying to get a duplicate of the certificate if not, if nothing else because indemnity insurance is pretty much you paying out so the solicitors cover their !!!!!

armyhedge

Thank you.

The ref doesn't work on the council site and I can't see anything under the address of the property. Therefore makes me think it never got registered?! I will call them in the morning and check.

Thanks

TheKeymeister

I know it differs between councils, on Coventrys one where I'm selling it shows all the details for building control for each property on their planning map, however in the area I'm moving to it shows some detail of building control per property but when you click the link it says access is restricted, presumably to council staff only. I'm sure the council will be able to find it for you though

armyhedge

Question, if I call the council and ask them to look up the ref will this not tip them off to the fact that I may not have received permission? And therefore invalidate any indemnity insurance I may need to take out?

TheKeymeister

I believe it would, but if you have a vat receipt from the council for it then it must have been signed off otherwise they'd have investigated at the time why the work didn't comply with building regs