Buying a house - no building regs

Jay_197

Hi all

Currently going through buying a bungalow. Solicitor then picked up that there had been a small extension, which there was no building regs for. Seller claims we was told by the agent, which we wasn’t!

Solicitor did more digging, and found out the extension was examined by buildings control, but subsequently failed for 6 or so things. The owner (current seller) never goes these items fixed, and no buildings sign off.

We can’t purchase an indemnity policy as the council are aware. It went back to the valuer, who asked us to get quotes from builders to rectify the issues as it may decrease the value of the house.

The extension simply put needs pulling down (issues with the damp proof matting, insulation not thick enough, there was some vagueness around lack of a ceiling joist). The quote from a family builder is 15k. We are going to go back to the mortgage company with that quote tomorrow.

Has anyone been in a situation like this before? I’ve only seen people who need indemnity policies. Never seen issues with failed building regs, just missing or never applied for.

I’m curious to what the end result will be here. Will the mortgage company just knock the value of the quote off the value of the house?

Ja1_2

I’m in a similar position, but on the selling side (had tanking fitted to basement, had no idea it needed regs).

I honestly think it depends on the lender. I purchased the house with no tanking and the lender had no issue. My buyer’s lender is aware there is tanking but is demanding regs.

Never buy a house!

davidmcn

How old is the extension? I am guessing fairly new if building control have looked at it? How small is it and what's in it? i.e. how disastrous would it be to the value of the house if you took the worst case scenario of just demolishing it?

Just because it doesn't comply with building regulations doesn't mean the council is at all likely to come round and demand you do anything to fix it, it's largely going to be up to you how and whether you get the defects fixed. But your solicitor/lender are likely to want the box ticked of somehow making it compliant.

G_M

Doesn't sound like an extension I'd want anyway!


Either plan to demolish/re-build, and budget accordingly (assuming leder plays ball), or walk away.

Jay_197

Extension is circa 10 years old. It’s probably 6 fit by 6 ft on the back end of a kitchen (the bungalow is a U shape if that makes sense!)

The most frustrating thing we are buying it to extend. The plan is to knock the back quarter of the house down on both sides of the ‘U’ (poorly built extension then gone), extend and fill in the stupid gap in the middle of the ‘U’ to make it rectangular, and the rear bigger and open plan. But the mortgage company didn’t care for that as it’s all pie in the sky.

I’m surprised the mortgage company care about builders quotes at all. I thought they would have just turned their nose up at it, and refused to lend.

G_M

Jay_197 wrote: »

Hi all
..... It went back to the valuer, who asked us to get quotes from builders to rectify the issues as it may decrease the value of the house.

I’m surprised the mortgage company care about builders quotes at all. I thought they would have just turned their nose up at it, and refused to lend.

They may well reduce the amount they'll lend by the value of the quote.