Help selling a house with floored attic no building regs

Carrot007

sevenhills wrote: »

Put that together with the "lined loft space", and its overkilll for just storing a Christmas tree. So people are rightly asking, what elese is being done up there.
Will the joists take the extra weight for what is being done up there?

It really depends on how much like a room it looks.


Photos OP?


I have boarded mine out (mostly) for storage space. Dont nothing to the roof and no windows. Just two 15W led's pointing out at around the middle.


If it looks like a room questions will be asked I guess.


Although as an option to getting sign of (which won't happen). They could always remove things untill it looks like a boarded loft again.

M2808

Someone I knew just had this situation as the buyer and just had to sign something and pay a little bit of money to day they didn't care and couldn't sue anyone if they used it as a room

dunroving

M2808 wrote: »

Someone I knew just had this situation as the buyer and just had to sign something and pay a little bit of money to day they didn't care and couldn't sue anyone if they used it as a room

Who did they pay?

Clairy0407

It has a velux window from previous owners

Clairy0407

The council have advise we need architect drawing and a structural engineer report to even start the process.

We did not strutual work it's all red tape.

pinklady21

OK - another tack. How long ago was it done? Can it be deemed to be "historic"?
Clearly, I have not seen it, (and am no expert), but it does strike me as overkill for the Cooncil to be demanding architect drawings for something that has been there for a long time and that is not even habitable space.
Have you had the Cooncil Jobsworth out to inspect?

dunroving

pinklady21 wrote: »

OK - another tack. How long ago was it done? Can it be deemed to be "historic"?
Clearly, I have not seen it, (and am no expert), but it does strike me as overkill for the Cooncil to be demanding architect drawings for something that has been there for a long time and that is not even habitable space.
Have you had the Cooncil Jobsworth out to inspect?

It's highly unusual, but not unprecedented. I can't say too much but I am getting a strong sense of deja vu.

dunroving

Clairy0407 wrote: »

Hi Looking for some help.
Went to sell my 2 bed upper cottage flat with floored and lined loft space and solicitor needing paperwork to let house sale move forward.

Have not stated it as a 3rd room just storage space but home report has said it has had alterations now needing paperwork from council.

The next problem is when we bought 13 years ago there was a velux window but nothing was picked up by my solicitor.

Now only options are rip it out or try to gain certificate or completion (which not sure we even get).

EA said at time of marketing it would not be a problem.

Does anyone have any info they can give me..

Thanks

So, prior to May 2005, then? Or the works were done before May 2005? This qualifies for letter of comfort then, not a completion certificate.

Which solicitor is requiring this, and what is their explanation why they need it?

Clairy0407 wrote: »

There solicitor is passing info to my solicitor. Spoke to council on advice from my solicitor. Not sure if I would even get a certificate of completion and lots of hoops to jump through to even try. Think I will just need to loose my buyer and rip it out while also getting a letter of comfort for historic work from previous owners to re market all while trying to keep my new purchase.

Yes, LOC not completion certificate.

Clairy0407 wrote: »

The solicitor said I couldnt get an indemnity policy would need to go to council. Previous work was carried out but we added to it.

Are you sure the solicitor didn't say you couldn't get an indemnity policy *if* you went to the council? That would make more sense.

Can I ask an off-the-wall question: Is one of the solicitor companies' initials MR?

This really is giving me a bad sense that there is more than just a coincidence going on here. I notice you are in Scotland, and there are a lot of striking similarities I am seeing here.

System

If you've not made any structural alterations then tell the council to jog on, they can't demand anything for work that doesn't fall within the scope of a building warrant. What council area are you in?

dunroving

the_r_sole wrote: »

If you've not made any structural alterations then tell the council to jog on, they can't demand anything for work that doesn't fall within the scope of a building warrant. What council area are you in?

I think if all the OP (or previous owners) have done is board and line the attic, and replace a like-for-like sized skylight with a Velux, it probably doesn't fall within the scope of a building warrant.

But how can she determine that, and shut up Mr Jobsworth? As with many of these things, the sheaths of information on building regulations and what does and does not constitute a structural alteration can be hard to fathom. (and Councils do not typically help in this regard).

For example, if a roof window is replaced, then the structure of the roof has been altered - the materials used for the window and the method of installation could feasibly be deemed (by Mr Jobsworth) to alter the structure of the roof. Silly example, but if a handmade window made out of heavy-duty cardboard and balsa wood was used, the structural integrity of the roof would be compromised.

When a nonexpert receives a letter from the Council saying if you do not do X and Y, "enforcement action might be taken", it can be worrying - and off-putting to potential buyers.

I wish the OP would give some indication of which council this is. I have a sneaky feeling I know Mr Jobsworth.