PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.

We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

Letter of comfort help

Does anyone have any experience with a letter of comfort in Scotland. I am selling my house and I floored my attic and put stairs in, now it was only advertised as a floored attic with stairs. When I got my home report it suggested that I might need a letter of comfort for my velux window. So my solicitor has an architect coming on Monday, I am just wondering if any one knows how long it takes because. I have a deadline to sign my missives on my new build and I need the buyer to sign her missives but she won’t until this letter of comfort gets done. I have a fortnight to get this done. :(

Comments

  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I suggest you ask the architect when they come tomorrow.
  • sheramber
    sheramber Posts: 20,932 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped! Name Dropper
    A letter of comfort is issued by the Planning department./Building Control

    When we got one for our purchase Building Control inspected the conversion, advised what needed to be done to bring it up to speck , reinspected it and then issued the Letter of Comfort.

    Our solicitor retained a sum of money to cover the work required and we moved in before it was all done.

    Once the letter was issued to our solicitor he released the retained amount to the seller.

    It did mean the seller got less money initially and had to pay for the work done before the retained sum was released to them.
  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    sheramber wrote: »
    A letter of comfort is issued by the Planning department./Building Control .

    Not all offer it these days, and you can also get private equivalents - which I presume is why the OP referred to an architect

    Eg http://www.aitkenpropertyconsultancy.com/our-service
  • sheramber
    sheramber Posts: 20,932 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped! Name Dropper
    Np doubt a private as above will charge a fee. Building Control did not
  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    sheramber wrote: »
    Np doubt a private as above will charge a fee. Building Control did not

    Councils are certainly entitled to charge fees, and in my experience the vast majority will.
  • Thanks for replying but I have to pay both either £300+ to the council or £180 + vat to the architect and like I said the Home report said it was for the window nothing else bec it’s not advertised as three bedrooms just two I just choose to use it as one and have done for 12 years but I am just a bit stressed but I will wait and see what happens tom thanks again
  • baldelectrician
    baldelectrician Posts: 2,467 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    If you did the work before 1st May 2005 then you can apply for a letter of comfort

    If the works were after then you may have to regualrise the work- see below from a Scottish Council website (South Lanarkshire)
    https://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/info/200217/building_standards/33/building_warrants_and_regulations/3

    In Scotland there is no 7 year period where you effectively 'get away with it' - you will have to get a late warrant (and comply to the building standards which apply on the date the council find out about the works) or put the house back the way it was.


    Unauthorised building work after 1 May 2005
    If building work started after 1 May 2005 and you don't have building warrant approval you will need to apply for a late submission of a building warrant.

    If works have been completed and you don't have building warrant approval you will need to apply for a late submission of a completion certificate online via eBuildingStandards Scotland.

    You will need to send relevant plans and specifications with this. The works which have been completed may have to be exposed and will require to meet the standards that apply at the time of the submission. A 25% surcharge is applicable to this type of application.
    baldly going on...
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.3K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 240.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.6K Life & Family
  • 254K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.