Buying a property without completion certificate

Camilleri

Hi all. This is my first post. We have put an offer on a stunning timber framed house, built 2004. All the searches are going on and now my solicitor has informed me that the original house was never signed off for the building works. This has thrown me into total panic. It seems bizarre in that there was a more recent extension to the property that was signed off. A few issues have arisen with the full survey that we had done in that some of the oak beams have moved and need 'packing out' etc. Totally at a loss as to what to do next. Any advice greatly received.

pooch

What does your solicitor advise?

davidmcn

Camilleri wrote: »

my solicitor has informed me that the original house was never signed off for the building works.

Have they checked with the sellers that it really wasn't signed off? Sometimes not everything comes up under the searches because of e.g. address discrepancies.


One-off build or part of a larger estate? Was it covered by NHBC?

Camilleri

she is concerned that there would have been no guarantees for the works and potential issues for us when we come to sell in years to come.

Camilleri

Hi, it's a one off build. Planning permission was granted and it's strange that since then they had a small extension which has been all signed off. My solicitor has gone back to raise the question as to why it wasn't. It's just worrying me. It's a timber framed house (built 2003/2004). Few issues flagged on the survey with a couple of the exposed oak beams, and now this has come up.

lincroft1710

If it was built over 15 years ago, then it is highly unlikely there would be any unexpired guarantees.

davidmcn

lincroft1710 wrote: »

If it was built over 15 years ago, then it is highly unlikely there would be any unexpired guarantees.

No, but if it had been covered by NHBC that would suggest it had been built to standard and the problem is a glitch in the council's filing rather than with the construction.

AdrianC

I'd definitely be more concerned with what I was looking at today than what the inspector may or may not have looked at a decade and a half ago. Most importantly, there's zero comeback possible for lack of BR sign-off.

The beams that have "moved" - where are they in the house? Are they likely to be due to simple shrinkage/drying-out/settling rather than anything more fundamental like inadequate footings?

Camilleri

AdrianC wrote: »

I'd definitely be more concerned with what I was looking at today than what the inspector may or may not have looked at a decade and a half ago. Most importantly, there's zero comeback possible for lack of BR sign-off.

The beams that have "moved" - where are they in the house? Are they likely to be due to simple shrinkage/drying-out/settling rather than anything more fundamental like inadequate footings?

They are in the lounge and sitting room (exposed beams across the ceilings).
The survey came back with "as is common with modern timber-framed properties which utilise green oak, the structural oak beams have slightly distored and cracked in places as they have continued to dry out post-completion. All substantial in size and no structural issued were noted, however some packing between the supporting vertical posts and beams is now recommended to ensure that they remain adequately supported.'

AdrianC

Suspected as much - so nothing to worry about there, just situation normal.