Building Regs - Chimney Breast Removal

carfan1

Mojisola wrote: »

I would have expected the builder to go tell you!

This came to light when we were speaking about an extractor fan for the downstairs loo!! i was then informed I needed one for building regs. This then led me down the route of what else needed to meet building regs.

To be honest what I have unearthed is pretty worrying and Id be lying if I said I don't feel slightly sick about it!!!

martinsurrey

carfan1 wrote: »

This came to light when we were speaking about an extractor fan for the downstairs loo!! i was then informed I needed one for building regs. This then led me down the route of what else needed to meet building regs.

To be honest what I have unearthed is pretty worrying and Id be lying if I said I don't feel slightly sick about it!!!

first off, stay calm.

Build regs are not the boogey man, they are there to make sure you are safe.

Nothing CANT be fixed, its just it gets more expensive the longer you leave it.

Furts

carfan1 wrote: »

Nope,

"In response to party wall"

If it means anything, I had made the neighbours on both sides fully aware of what I was doing and what chimney breasts i was removing.

Consider yourself highly fortunate that your neighbours went along with this. The PWA exists for a purpose and should not be viewed as a hindrance or bureaucracy. You have gone ahead with no design, no Approval, no Inspection and in the process adopted a dubious procedure which is gallows brackets. What would you be thinking now if the chimnies had collapsed during your attempts at being Bob The Builder?

All is well that ends well, so man up and approach your local authority with a humble application for Buildings Regulations. However this may be problematic - for example it depends how much work has to be exposed in order to gain Approval.

carfan1

martinsurrey wrote: »

first off, stay calm.

Build regs are not the boogey man, they are there to make sure you are safe.

Nothing CANT be fixed, its just it gets more expensive the longer you leave it.

Thanks,

I will speak with my builders when I see them in the morning. I think its clearly obvious I need to get to contact the council. Some areas have been skimmed but it is not the end of the world if this is removed. We are before the stage of getting all the rooms plastered and way before the decorating stage.

zoothornrollo_2

Mojisola wrote: »

I don't suppose you got Party Wall Agreements with your neighbours either?

she will have saved herself £1.5k down the drain then! What a money-making scam for chartered surveyors those things are

carfan1

Furts wrote: »

Consider yourself highly fortunate that your neighbours went along with this. The PWA exists for a purpose and should not be viewed as a hindrance or bureaucracy. You have gone ahead with no design, no Approval, no Inspection and in the process adopted a dubious procedure which is gallows brackets. What would you be thinking now if the chimnies had collapsed during your attempts at being Bob The Builder?

All is well that ends well, so man up and approach your local authority with a humble application for Buildings Regulations. However this may be problematic - for example it depends how much work has to be exposed in order to gain Approval.

I can assure you I did not intend to be "bob the builder". I bought a house, had ideas of how i wanted it to look and hired builders to carry out the work.

If anything i have been naive thinking I could make these alterations without any prior permissions but this is not my trade/profession. I would of hoped my builders, as it is there profession, to have informed me of regulations prior to carrying out the work.

Now I know, I have an opportunity to put it right which I will do.

Doozergirl

martinsurrey wrote: »

first off, stay calm.

Build regs are not the boogey man, they are there to make sure you are safe.

Nothing CANT be fixed, its just it gets more expensive the longer you leave it.

I'd echo this. You could use a private firm if you want to. No BCO is scary, but some are nicer than others.

Do you owe money to your builder? You need to keep some/plenty back to ensure things that should have been done correctly are done correctly.

carfan1

Doozergirl wrote: »

I'd echo this. You could use a private firm if you want to. No BCO is scary, but some are nicer than others.

Do you owe money to your builder? You need to keep some/plenty back to ensure things that should have been done correctly are done correctly.

Yes I still have money outstanding. I have been paying at different stages of the project.

FreeBear

carfan1 wrote: »

My partner and I bought our 1st house which is a 3 bed mid terrace. We have started making some alterations to the property, now we are about 8 weeks in to making these changes and someone has bought "Building Regulations" to my attention.

Throw in a couple more for you. Does the property have a listed building status ?
Is it in a conservation zone ?

Unlikely that it will be listed and you should have been advised by the conveyancer when purchasing the house.

carfan1

Hey freebear,

No it is not a listed building or in a conservation zone,

Thanks.