Unauthorised extension_is there an issue?

keke129

Hi all,

I am in the process of buying a first-floor Victorian conversion. Our mortgage valuation came back with some observations on the property. It says: the ground floor flat had a side/rear extension in last 10 years, so need to check if it went through planning permission etc. I went to a council's planning application website to check but I couldn't find any planning approval on this property. Does it mean that they didn't have planning permission?

Legally I am not very worried because seems like the extension was built more than 5 years ago and I am not buying the ground floor property but the property above. However, I cannot know if the extension is solid, in other words, what if a load-bearing wall was removed and not enough reinforcement was made? Then it can be my problem because I am buying a first floor flat. Should I be worried? Who do I speak to, and what should I ask? I didn't have a structural survey, just had a roof survey done.

I went through one sale and it didn't go well, so I want this one to be smooth and don't want to cause too much trouble. It will be great if you could share your experience and knowledge.
Thank you.

eddddy

If you are concerned about the structure of the building, you should get a structural survey or a structural engineer's report.

(It doesn't sound like the mortgage valuer was too concerned, otherwise he/she would have insisted on a survey / report.)


If the extension was added after the conversion was done, there may (or may not) be a slightly complicated situation with maintenance / repair costs.

e.g. You may have to contribute to maintenance / repair costs for the original building, but you don't have to contribute to maintenance / repair costs of the extension.


But the situation is likely to be different, if the extension was built before the flats were converted.


Edit to add...

You only talk about "planning consent". There's also the question of "freeholder consent", but that's more of a problem for the other flat owner than for you.