Extension and loft conversion no pp or build regs

Woody2033

Quite far into purchasing 4 bed chalet bungalow. 2 beds and bathroom in the loft conversion. Surveyor report says all good quality materials and roughly converted in early 1990s (30 years) stood test of time with no issues.
Done lots of research over last days and fried my brain, however, am I right in saying I cannot 30 years down the road be pursued for lack of planning by the local authority or have a section 36 issued? I believe  they can issue injunction, but again would they bother. I'm about to pull out. Not ignoring the fact also that our offer is for for a 4 bed, not 2. We love the house, and are happy with the survey and that it could be our last purchase, but the more I Google, the more I think we're crazy taking such a risk. Any help appreciate. 

Doozergirl

Stop Googling! 

Woody2033

Well with no regs or pp it's important for me to understand what we are getting ourselves into long term. So much conflicting info out there. Just want to get some clarification on what I have understood. Then I'll be happy that I'm not going to be issued with any enforcement in the foreseeable. Also, just feel that the solicitors just want to maintain the sale and think indemnity is the answer to everything. Not really got time to go down regulation process now without mucking up a chain of 7! Asking for price reduction worries me that they won't be willing to, and if they did would they then call up LA after we have bought it and drop us innit out of spite! So gonna boil down to us taking on at risk. 

tom9980

The risk is 0.000000001% you are more likely to win the lottery than this being enforced 30 years on.

Woody2033

tom9980 said:

The risk is 0.000000001% you are more likely to win the lottery than this being enforced 30 years on.

This makes me happy, but i made some tentative enquiries to the local authority (without giving away details lol) and they were adamant that they can pursue it at anytime whatsoever after. Even if this is true, would a court just throw it out before it got anywhere? I feel that it must be pretty safe for standing test of time 30 years so hopefully won't want it pulling down. 

Thrugelmir

You do realise that regulations have changed over the past 30 years.  You need to weigh the property up for what it is. Surveyor is the one to be speaking to regarding any concerns. 

Woody2033

If for some unforseen reason we had to sell it again, would we be able to market it as a 4 bed? As the 2 previous sellers seem to have done! 

davidmcn

Woody2033 said:

If for some unforseen reason we had to sell it again, would we be able to market it as a 4 bed? As the 2 previous sellers seem to have done! 

I think that demonstrates that the answer is yes. You appear to be fretting needlessly about this.

Have you seen the consents for the original construction of the house?

Woody2033

Thrugelmir said:

You do realise that regulations have changed over the past 30 years.  You need to weigh the property up for what it is. Surveyor is the one to be speaking to regarding any concerns. 

Yes, it's seems its constantly changing. If in the future I went down the regularisation route. Would I have to meet current regs or those from the 1990s?

Woody2033

davidmcn said:

Woody2033 said:

If for some unforseen reason we had to sell it again, would we be able to market it as a 4 bed? As the 2 previous sellers seem to have done! 

I think that demonstrates that the answer is yes. You appear to be fretting needlessly about this.

Have you seen the consents for the original construction of the house?

Just think it's been luck on their part that it's not been brought to the EA attention before. 
Just think that the previous owner to the current one took out indemnity and I assume didn't inform estate agent that no docs were in place, same with the current owners, they too know their is an indemnity policy. Surely EA cannot advertise as a 4 bed without regs signed off. 
Think I'm worry that my luck would be that they would realise when we come to sell and say unfortunately without the paperwork for building regs we cannot market it as a 4 bed. 

Woody2033

So is the general consensus, that no one can make me bring it up to current regs, issue notices or take us to court now that all that time is past.

And that so long as I am happy that from what the surveyor has seen it seems to have no obvious issues and has been done to good standards (no mention of it meeting building regs) but not caused him concern.

If I want to sell it on at a later date I will need to get a regularisation certificate so I can sell as a 4 bed again. If I can't get a regularisation certificate or it will cost an awful lot of remedial work to do, what are the chances of selling it again as a 4 bed. Are people really so put off from this lack of paperwork if a surveyor says it is well built with quality materials. Would anyone here be put off? I mean there must be hundreds of houses pre 1908s with conversions that have been perfectly OK with no building regs!!

Also, is there a major fire risk compared to a normal house of same age 1950s if it has a full standard staircase to ground floor and a hallway and bedrooms with doors, and opening gable end windows. What makes it more of a risk?