No documents for new roof or damp proof course

AdrianC

HomeownerDreamer said:

Thanks for all the replies so far. I think my worry is that it looks like the work hasn't been signed off and fixing this would probably cause a significant delay. Is there a way around it such as indemnity insurance?

It'll cover the legal costs if the LA enforce lack of sign-off. But that's all.

HomeownerDreamer

So is it possible to get the insurance even when the work has been done so recently? I will be asking the seller all about it at the next viewing but would like to be able to present some options to quickly resolve it.

davidmcn

HomeownerDreamer said:

So is it possible to get the insurance even when the work has been done so recently? I will be asking the seller all about it at the next viewing but would like to be able to present some options to quickly resolve it.

Generally insurers want it to be at least a year after the works were done, to allow time for dust to settle (not that there's a huge risk of the council knocking on the door anyway).

HomeownerDreamer

I actually don't know as I don't have a good understanding of this anyway. That's something I'll ask the seller at the next viewing. I thought it was just re-tiling but I will have to check to be sure.

DRP

Does the building regs requirement only relate to structural and /or thermal changes? What if the roof is retiled but no other changes? I am possibly in a similar situation with a retiled roof myself. 

AdrianC

davidmcn said:

HomeownerDreamer said:

So is it possible to get the insurance even when the work has been done so recently? I will be asking the seller all about it at the next viewing but would like to be able to present some options to quickly resolve it.

Generally insurers want it to be at least a year after the works were done, to allow time for dust to settle (not that there's a huge risk of the council knocking on the door anyway).

Indemnity insurers?

ITYM "to absolutely minimise the risk of actually having to pay out"

Anamox

Solicitors appear to make a mountain out of molehills on stuff like this... I've had all kinds of questions from the solicitor requesting why I have no paperwork from double glazing that was installed 3 owners ago and is 15 years old. A lot of the questions asked by the solicitor would be intimidating to most buyers when my answer was N/A, but frankly a lot of it didn't actually require the paperwork the solicitor was asking for - it's just a question they ask every vendor to cover themselves.

My boiler was installed 3 years ago and I have no paperwork for it as I was living abroad, that answer was sufficient for my buyer as they love my house and are happy it's a good installation. Our flat roof was done 5 years ago, I don't have any paperwork because I didn't live in the house then and the previous owners didn't have it to hand. My buyers got a roofer to get up there and check it out because they love the house and don't want to lose out if it's good. The solicitor sold these two "issues" to them as if the building police were about to come and demolish the place after the new owners had been dragged through the courts for not having legal paperwork to prove their new house's boiler and roof weren't criminal.

Is the roof in good nick? If you're not sure, pay a roofer to check it out for you and write you a report for peace of mind (and nothing else). If it's good, how much do you love the place? Are you going to be heartbroken if you lose it because of a piece of paper? Same for the boiler. 

FreeBear

DRP said: Does the building regs requirement only relate to structural and /or thermal changes? What if the roof is retiled but no other changes? I am possibly in a similar situation with a retiled roof myself. 

If more than 25% of the tiles have been removed and no other work carried out, building regs is still a requirement. In the OP's case, as the work has only recently been completed, getting the work signed off shouldn't be a problem - Most competent roofers should be able to self certify their work, if not, a quick call to Building Control should see someone come out to inspect.