Building regulations for old extension?

poppystar

I’m selling my late parents house and the estate agents are requiring lots of information so they have all the facts for buyers pre them committing to a purchase. One of the questions relates to modifications/extensions and building regulation requirements. There is a small utility extension, I’d guess about six by six feet (boiler, loo, washing machine) but I have no paperwork at all relating to this. Having spent the afternoon looking at old photos (to ensure it was actually an extension and I wasn’t imagining it not being there originally!) it seems to have appeared somewhere between 1978 and 1981 with a later change of window and a doorway blocked up but no change to the footprint.

My question is were there actually building regs that far back? Would a planning application have had to be made? Will a solicitor ask for paperwork and if so how would I get this? All the paperwork I have access to is very complete on everything but there is nothing related to the extension other than the boiler certificate. 

Thanks

Alter_ego

!978?  We all lived in caves then!

poppystar

Alter_ego said:

!978?  We all lived in caves then!

But did they require building regs😄

davidmcn

Even if they did, it's ancient history. The paperwork for something that old is irrelevant. I wouldn't worry.

Slithery

Just tell the EA that you don't have the required information and that the buyers are expected to do there own due diligence.

Falafels

The house I've just sold has an extension which was built in the 1970's; I did have the Planning and Building regs in place (from 1967!) but had to disappoint my buyer when she asked for the plans for the extension! It really wasn't a problem.

croag

I want to say the Buildings Regulation Act(?) came in in 1984, so anything before hand is ancient history.

Doozergirl

croag said:

I want to say the Buildings Regulation Act(?) came in in 1984, so anything before hand is ancient history.

This ^^ 

It wouldn't even require an indemnity policy, but no doubt some cheap conveyancer will be suggesting you buy one.  I'd refuse on the very simple basis that the extension pre-dates the national regulations, so no breach could have occurred.  

The buyer can purchase their own if they think they need one.