checking if lean to can cause an issue when selling

eidand

Just wanted to check,

I bought my house about 11 years ago and it had a lean to on the side already. I didn't see any building regulation docs and it was not raised as an issue when I had a basic survey done. It was made of wood and had doors on both side and you couldn't see through it.

When i moved in, I had it redone as the roof was in poor condition and water was coming through every time was raining. It's the same size as before and I use it as a utility room. It already had a power socket and lights so I kept those.

Size wise :
L : 4 meters,
W: 1.6
H: 2

There is a good chance I will sell in the near future. The area I live in is not a conservation one and on my street most of my neighbours have similar things but of course I did not check to see if they had any permission.
Is there anything I should worry about or something I should do before I decide to sell?

Thank you.

walwyn1978

Probably not, if it is an issue flagged up by your buyers solicitors then you'll be able to take out a indemnity insurance policy which would stay with the house. Probably cost anywhere between £100-350 so isn't a deal breaker.

sevenhills

eidand wrote: »

I bought my house about 11 years ago and it had a lean to on the side already. I didn't see any building regulation docs and it was not raised as an issue when I had a basic survey done. It was made of wood and had doors on both side and you couldn't see through it.

When i moved in, I had it redone as the roof was in poor condition and water was coming through every time was raining. It's the same size as before and I use it as a utility room. It already had a power socket and lights so I kept those.

I am sure someone will know more; depends if your recent works make building regs apply.
I think the issue would be that if it has electrics, then its classed as part of the house.

Doozergirl

A lean to is like a conservatory in that it is an outbuilding. Presumably you have a door between it and your main house.

No building control approval required, although your electrics should be suitable for the environment they are in.

eidand

Doozergirl wrote: »

A lean to is like a conservatory in that it is an outbuilding. Presumably you have a door between it and your main house.

No building control approval required, although your electrics should be suitable for the environment they are in.

yes there is a door between the main house and the lean to. as for electrics being suitable, how would i go about that one?

dunroving

Aargh, this is the second thread in two days that I have seen that mirrors my own recent experience.

Are you in EW or Scotland?

Some personnel in some Councils might try to say that building consent is required for a lean-to shed.

Whatever you do, do not call the Council to ask about it at this point. Otherwise you will not be able to take out an indemnity policy.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5838892/experience-applying-for-letter-of-comfort

eidand

thanks for the link. I am England

dunroving

Also, see this interesting discussion here:

https://www.mybuilder.com/questions/v/585/do-i-need-planning-permission-to-build-a-simple-lean-to-made-out-of-wood-and-a-plastic-roof-on-the-back-of-my-terraced-house-and-can-it-be-built-close-to-the-neighbours-fence

Although the thread title asks about planning permission, building regulations are brought up later. I found another similar thread but can't locate it at the moment. It got very much into the semantics of terminology such as extension, conservatory, porch, etc.

For comparison, my wooden lean-to outbuilding also came with the house (shed was built ca. 2002) is also at the side, slightly larger/longer than yours, house was purchased 11 years ago, shed has a door front and back, I repaired the roof because of poor installation and leakage. Mine also has electric and plumbing and is used fro storage and utility area. Mine does not have a door linking it to the house.

Personally, I'd be looking at cost of an indemnity policy if I were you - if it's less than £100, it could save you a lot of hassle when selling. read my thread in previous post.

dunroving

Interestingly, have just heard back from the council and they are requiring various bits of information, and "remedial work". This includes installing guttering to collect rainwater and redirect it along the side of the shed into the rainwater drain. It currently runs softly off the shed roof onto a very grateful hedge.

Among other issues they want fixed or further details are:

How is the shed fixed to the house and to the base (it has survived 20 Scottish winters; is this information really necessary?)

Architect's plans showing dimensions of the shed, its proximity to the boundary.

Description of fireproof capacity of the wall cladding and roof covering.

Remove drainage piping from washing machine (i.e., render washing machine unuseable) or redirect drainage pipe to the wastewater drainage (it currently is piped into the rainwater drainage).

Provide electrical certification for the works undertaken; provide electrical specification and detailed layout [all properly installed and certified, but just a pain in the !!! to have to do this)]

Also:

Please provide site layout drawing showing the existing house and the extension and
highlight the property boundary also.
From and including the foundations / base upto and including the roof, please provide full
detail, specification and dimensioning of the extension and associated works regards
drainage and electrics.
Confirm on drawing the extension's useage.
We cannot guarantee that the points raised will be exhaustive as dependent upon the response provided further ones may be issued.

Just goes to show what *can* happen. OP, get yourself an indemnity policy.