Rooftop decking and usage on a non-demised roof - Help!

E7residenttobe

greatcrested said:

E7residenttobe said:

@greatcrested - RE:

Thanks the update - in terms of the absent freeholder as he has been missing over 25 years, all three leaseholders have been taking care of the building overall and sharing the costs. We are talking to the other 2 leaseholders this weekend to get their input on how things have gone so far and if they are willing to go ahead and go through the process of acquiring the share of freeholder. We know it's a costly process but worth it in the price we are paying for this property if the rooftop terrace issue is solved.

What is the main difference between PP and BR in this case and who approves any of these 2? Thanks!

Building Regulations is to do with the quality of the work and compliance with standards (hence my reference to fire escapes and roof structure). It is enforced by the council's Building Control Dept.

Totally different to, and separate from, Planning Permission, granted (or refused) by the council's Planning Dept which is to do with whether you are allowed to build or not.

Well done for getting together with the other leaseholders - always a good idea irrespective of an issue like this. Just be aware they might want paying for going along with this unauthorised 'extension' to the demise of your lease. After all, why should you (your flat) benefit from this extension and the other 2 flats get nothing........

Thanks for the explanation! Lower ground flat does have a big garden and flat below has no way of benefitting of the flat roof terrace as no way for them to get up there. Still worth talking to them about it and see what their thoughts are on this! Thanks

E7residenttobe

silvercar said:

E7residenttobe said:

davidmcn said:

How long ago was the work done?

I think he's had the terrace box with a door for few years already and just now in the last year has put railing around it.

I doubt it had building regs consent before the railing was built! So now the question is whether the roof is strong enough to take the weight of people walking on it. A question for your surveyor.

We did had a surveyor who came around and they didn't say anything specifically for whether the flat roof can handle being walked around as there is a deck that is being put to parts of the roof felt. We are aware also almost 100% there is no building regulations on it as the railing seems loose and we were advised it needs to be completely redone if we buy the property by the surveyor.