Just found out the 2 bed house I am buying is registered as a 1 bed

getmore4less

Don't walk run from this one.

Mellik_Clarke

Mysteryme - thanks I wasn't aware the guarantee might be underwritten so thanks for that.

Sunny intervals - it is share of Freehold but think at the time the work was done it was leasehold and yes I believe permissions were obtained from the Freeholde at the time though just waiting for confirmation of this.

We do have a mortgage offer already but the valuation is based on it being a two bed.

We are currently considering what to do. As the seller is motivated to sell we are tempted to try and renegotiate in the basis of it being valued as a one bed but are concerned about all of these issues.

Thanks

davidmcn

I've never heard of this register of one-bed flats.

eddddy

You need to be clearer about what you mean by "Registered as a 1 bed flat" - what register are you talking about?

Do you mean it originally had planning consent for a 1 bed flat, but was later converted into a 2 bed flat about 10 years ago without planning consent?

If so, you can continue to use it as a 2 bed flat - no enforcement action can be taken after this amount of time.


Regarding price - it's more a matter of what somebody is prepared to pay for the flat. You can try reducing your offer, but if the seller believes somebody else will pay more - the seller will walk away.

G_M

macman wrote: »

Why are you even contemplating buying a property with a cellar bedroom that is damp, badly tanked, and has not got building regs approval, and so could collapse at any time?
Are you hoping to get a mortgage on the property?

This would be a far greater concern.


However:...'registered' where?

* land Registry Title? does not usually lit bedrooms
* lease?

* council Planning dept? (oh! no planning consent)
* developer's plan?

Slithery

What is this mysterious 1-bedroom house register that you speak of?
I've never heard of such a thing.

Mellik_Clarke

Hi
I believe it's actually the council's planning record (though I am trying to clarify this tomorrow). The flat is one of 3 in a townhouse and was split into flats around 30 years ago with the plans for the one I am trying to buy showing it as a one bed. The person I am trying to buy it off bought the flat around 13 years ago and converted the basement into a bedroom. They said they didn't need planning permission at the the time because it didn't involve lowering the floor level.

My concern is that this might cause problems when selling it on as we might have to advertise it as a one bed with additional living / study space rather than a 2 bed.

Our surveyor has told us that although building regs weren't obtained for the structural works he believes them to be sound

Thanks

Slithery

Mellik_Clarke wrote: »

The person I am trying to buy it off bought the flat around 13 years ago and converted the basement into a bedroom. They said they didn't need planning permission at the the time because it didn't involve lowering the floor level.

They may not have needed planning permission, but they definitely would have needed permission from the freeholder as I doubt very much that the basement belonged to them in the first place - And even if it did they would have needed consent from the freeholder to do any material alterations to the structure of the building.

Does the current owner have documents from the freeholder proving that this work was agreed?

Owain_Moneysaver

There is no difference between a second bedroom and "additional living space".

The space is either classed as habitable or non-habitable. If a cellar (non-habitable) was converted to habitable then it must comply with Building Regulations, including ventilation and means of escape from fire.

Regardless of when the work was undertaken, the council can take enforcement action including serving a statutory repair notice on you if they believe the conversion is unsafe. Depending on what is classed as unsafe the remedial work could be many times the £5k you are estimating.

zagubov

Got to say many of us were impressed by this small but cunningly-laid out Paris maisonette. on this sub-forum ages ago, but you have to wonder how easy it would be to escape from the bedroom if there was a fire say in the kitchen! :eek: