Indemnity insurance required?

Avii86

We are in the process of purchasing a house with a previously 'converted' loft. The current owner purchased the house 11 years ago and has only used the 'conversion' for storage since. There are no stairs to the loft - only a ladder through the hatch, but there is one small window. The seller has been unable to provide planning permission or building regulation for the window but they confirm it was there when they bought the property.

Would you recommend we purchase/ask the seller to purchase indemnity insurance? Our solicitor says it is very unlikely that any action could now be taken but has offered to get a quote if we want one.

Surrey_EA

There is no need for anyone to purchase indemnity insurance in this instance. An indemnity insurance policy would be there to financially cover your costs in the event the local authority took enforcement action for lack of building regulations approval. As they only have a four year period from the date the work was completed this possibility has now passed.

csgohan4

Shame that can't be said of the chap who hid a mansion behind some bales of straw

Surrey_EA

It is possible that planning permission for a window is not required, and only building regulation approval was necessary.

Rather than indemnity insurance, it is important to get someone competent to assess that the work was done to a safe standard. If the work was carried out at least 11 years ago, then any problems would have made themselves obvious by now.

Although, I'm not really sure a room in the roof can really be called a loft conversion if there is no 'proper' staircase to access it.

Avii86

Thanks very much - this is what I gathered but I feel more confident now.

I wouldn't call it a loft conversion either and the house wasn't advertised as having one - but there is a window, for whatever reason!

Hoploz

The loft hasn't been converted - it's still a loft, with a window in it. If it doesn't leak, all is well.