1900s property with no building regs for extension - asking for trouble?

Jambo777

Hi,

I am in the process of buying a 1900s terraced house and it seems there are no building regs for the single storey extension which contains the kitchen and bathroom. Furthermore works have been carried out to expand the doorway to the kitchen to make it more open plan and it doesn't look like a lintel was put in.

Is it normal for this type of property to come across these issues and would it cause problems to resell later?

Thanks

molerat

When was the work done ? There could always be a problem with an !!!! covering conveyancer.

G_M

How long ago was the extension / renovation done?

Jambo777

I'm not sure and to be honest I doubt the vendor knows either. It definitely isn't recent although the work to open up the kitchen may be more recent.

G_M

Well an extension built in 1910 would not have neded either Planning not Building Regs!

If built in 1999, it would.

If the doorway was expanded 20+ years ago, with no signs of any dropping either side, or cracking, it's probably fine.

If it was done last year, issues might become apparant in due course.

it doesn't look like a lintel was put in.

Not sure how you can tell.

Jambo777

Thanks G_M

G_M wrote: »

Not sure how you can tell.

It was commented on in the survey.

eddddy

Jambo777 wrote: »

Furthermore works have been carried out to expand the doorway to the kitchen to make it more open plan and it doesn't look like a lintel was put in.

So what is holding up the external wall above the opening?

G_M

Jambo777 wrote: »

Thanks G_M


It was commented on in the survey.

Surely the best person to ask then is the surveyor?

davidmcn

Jambo777 wrote: »

I'm not sure and to be honest I doubt the vendor knows either. It definitely isn't recent although the work to open up the kitchen may be more recent.

Then ask your surveyor what they think.