Buying house. Query over loft conversion

lazer-zxr

Hello forumites. If really appreciate advice on this.
We are purchasing a 4 bed semi. It had a loft conversion in 1983 to create the 4th bedroom with dorma windows . The vendors have paperwork from the council showing that planning permission was not required for the dormas. They also have some notes of the planned construction which indicate what needs to be done for it to meet 1983 building regs .... for example .... height of stairs, insulation etc.

They don't have anything to show building control / building regs confirmed the work or checked it off.

What do I do?

da_rule

Ask them to provide the relevant documents or they can obtain retrospective consent or obtain an insurance policy (paid for by them) that will protect you should you ever face any challenge over the lack of regs. It's up to you and the seller which route you want to go down. Also, if you are going to have a mortgage then they may require an insurance policy as the minimum.

The bigger question though, outside of the strictly legal answer, is whether the conversion is safe? If you are happy it is then that's fine, if it is causing you concern then you could consider commissioning a more in depth survey.

ThePants999

The council are never going to take any enforcement action. Your problem is the lack of proof that it was done properly. Without that, it's up to you whether to pull out, get experts to investigate or just say "it's been ok for 30 years, it's probably fine". FWIW, in a similar situation, I went for option 3. It was fine ;-)

Davesnave

I'm not sure that building control provided sign-off paperwork in 1983.

By the way, you and 1/4 million estate agents need to know it's 'dormers.'

There's no such thing as a 'dorma window.'

I blame Pavarotti: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTFUM4Uh_6Y

davidmcn

Even if it were competent for the council to enforce things now, I suspect they won't have any staff familiar with 1983-era building regulations. And from a practical point of view, if it's still standing after 34 years, and they applied for consent in the first place, then it's almost certainly fine.

You have of course seen paperwork confirming that the rest of the house complies with building regulations, yes?

Davesnave wrote: »

There's no such thing as a 'dorma window.'

I blame Pavarotti: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTFUM4Uh_6Y

Ah yes, that song about the insomnia caused by worrying about loft conversions.

Doozergirl

Building Regulations in their current guise fall under the Building Act 1984.

That will explain why there's no currently relevant sign off paperwork for it

lazer-zxr

davidmcn wrote: »

You have of course seen paperwork confirming that the rest of the house complies with building regulations, yes?

The loft conversion was the only item raised by the solicitor.

It's a 1930s house and so it wouldn't meet current building regs. So should I stilll have seen something about building regs?

davidmcn

lazer-zxr wrote: »

It's a 1930s house and so it wouldn't meet current building regs.

Works done in 1983 also aren't likely to meet current building regs.

So should I stool have seen something about building regs?

No, it would be just as pointless.

If there's an actual structural etc problem (which of course may still arise due to the passage of years, even if works were originally signed off as compliant with regulations), that's for the surveyors to point out.

harrys_dad

Davesnave wrote: »

There's no such thing as a 'dorma window.'

They make great quilts though, and maybe even curtains for dormer windows

Davesnave

harrys_dad wrote: »

They make great quilts though, and maybe even curtains for dormer windows

Yes, and to be fair to Pavarotti, they're probably the real culprits for the confusion over the name.