FTB - lack of building regs and investigations refused

Beenie

well isn't that the point? most people stretch themselves to buy a house in the first place. extra costs on remedial work can put a heavy strain on finances (the bungalow people had to put in walls and repair the roof in addition - not cheap, and not something most of us would want to do).

TamsinC

Beenie wrote: »

well isn't that the point? most people stretch themselves to buy a house in the first place. extra costs on remedial work can put a heavy strain on finances (the bungalow people had to put in walls and repair the roof in addition - not cheap, and not something most of us would want to do).

but as doozergirl has already said this will cost 4k IF there is a problem but there very probably isn't - a beam is visible. You are comparing apples and razor blades.

Beenie

I don't know where you live, but round here a new roof by itself can cost much more than that, let alone the cost of RSJing the whole ground floor into the bargain. It needn't put people off, but it would me. There's enough 'known' expenditure with moving house, let alone the major stuff that can catch you unawares and unprepared (and under financed!)

TamsinC

Beenie wrote: »

I don't know where you live, but round here a new roof by itself can cost much more than that, let alone the cost of RSJing the whole ground floor into the bargain. It needn't put people off, but it would me. There's enough 'known' expenditure with moving house, let alone the major stuff that can catch you unawares and unprepared (and under financed!)

I'm talking about the OPs problem - not the bungalow you are still talking about - hence apples and razor blades

Doozergirl

Beenie wrote: »

I don't know where you live, but round here a new roof by itself can cost much more than that, let alone the cost of RSJing the whole ground floor into the bargain. It needn't put people off, but it would me. There's enough 'known' expenditure with moving house, let alone the major stuff that can catch you unawares and unprepared (and under financed!)

You're way off topic and not helping. This thread isn't about the bungalow you went to see. It's irrelevant.

"RSJing the whole ground floor" is not a thing.

Thrugelmir

SG27 wrote: »

I dont know, we seem to have lost our survey report from 5 years ago. We hsve the valuation but not the report!

Unlikely that the major issues during the purchase would simply be forgotten. I can recall all the major incidents for the property I have bought/sold (and nearly bought) over the years. Leaves an indelible memory.

Beenie

Sorry if you think I'm not helping - I genuinely thought I was.

The OP talks about the house being in London and expensive; remedial works to such a property will not be cheap. That's all I was trying to highlight.

Doozergirl

Beenie wrote: »

Sorry if you think I'm not helping - I genuinely thought I was.

The OP talks about the house being in London and expensive; remedial works to such a property will not be cheap. That's all I was trying to highlight.

I specialise in the renovation and restoration of Period houses. My company has spent much of the last four years working in London.

The surveyor has highlighted one knock through (which appears to have some sort of beam/lintel/installed) and a chimney breast in a Victorian house.

It is not the same as whatever it is you're describing (I'm not actually sure of what you're describing and I'm pretty sure that you aren't either). There's no proof that there is even a problem.

Beenie

I wish I hadn't mentioned the bungalow. It was just one example of unplanned expense for unwary house buyers. Please forget about it!

plummie

Doozergirl wrote: »

I actually don't see why you'd pull out if they weren't done properly.

They'd just need sorting out. Cost around £4,000 for both *if* there is a problem.

Fact is, they are possibly not up to a calculated standard but if you can clearly see a beam shape above one opening then there is more than likely one there and it is more than likely perfectly adequate.

In the same position, I'd negotiate a discount based on the lack of certificate and buy an indemnity policiy. Investigate when you move in and do the work if it's needed. It's a day, maybe a day and half each, then repainting.

If the vendor had problems in their four years, it would be a simple fix, not a reason to redecorate over the cracks. Most people would be concerned about movement cracks! They too will have had a survey four years ago, they too will have spent a great deal of money on the house and they will have made a decision that things were okay.

You have to put these things into perspective. A Victorian London house is built on highly shrinkable clay and with little to no foundations. Your surveyor hasn't started requesting investigations because there were no building regulations in force so he knows there is no certificate to ask for and he knows that every Victorian house in london is defective and falls far, far short in most aspects to modern day regs.

That conservatory will be exempt from regulations anyway, so they've not done anything wrong there.

The fees you pay by pulling out and starting again aren't going to fall far short of sorting the problem which may not be a problem at all. I don't see the point. Find a compromise, buy the house. No house comes without some sort of question mark over it and these building regs questions come up more than once every single day, time and time again in the 13 years (:eek:) I've been on this forum and somehow people still think it's unusual.

Thanks doozergirl this is really helpful. I think if I can understand more about the worst case scenario and the likely time/cost to fix it I’ll feel much more comfortable with proceeding. You’ve estimated 4K and I’ve seen in your other post that you specialise in Home renovations, I was just wondering if 4K would be your estimate for correcting both the chimney removal and the wall removal? Obviously in the event that investigations revealed problems we’d get formal quotes but it would be good to have an idea.

I’m also nervous about how the corrections (if needed) would go down with the council as we’d have to reveal it was previously done without building regs. Has anybody experienced this?