Certificate of Regularisation (PX)

Alywbwfc

Hi All
Was wondering if someone could help advise on my current situation please 

I am on the verge of part exchanging our home however the housebuilder (so our buyer) asked for a structural survey to be carried out which has highlighted that my property has had a ground floor extension and some walls knocked through. This work was done in 2002 and I bought the property in 2015. On the survey that I had carried out in 2015 none of this was picked up. They highlighted an extension to the porch (within regs), but have made no comment regarding the kitchen & dining room extension or walls that had been knocked through. 

a) I understand I now need to get a 'certificate of regularisation' from my local council. I am planning to book an appointment with an architectural surveyor to help prepare me for this. I'm hoping no issues as the work is 18 years old, has electrical certification and the surveyor said it looks in good shape from what he can tell. Is this the correct process to go down?
b) Am I right in thinking not mentioning the extension or walls was negligent by the previous surveyor, and would it be worth pursuing this? (I have obviously been a bit naive when buying my property so no need to point that out!)

Would much appreciate any words of wisdom/experience!

Thanks

davidmcn

a) What makes you think you need to do that? Has your solicitor advised you to? For work of that age I wouldn't be hunting around for paperwork - at most you can get a (cheap) indemnity policy to cover the (almost impossible) likelihood of the council taking enforcement action.
b) They should have mentioned it - but it doesn't sound like you've suffered any loss, so what would you be suing them for?

greatcrested

Why would a survey in 2015 need to mention an extension done in 2002 (13 years earlier) unless there was a structural problem with the extension? Was there? I'm assuming not as you don't mention it.

As the 12 month deadline for enforcement action on Buildings Regs had long since passed, and the 4 year deadline for Planning enforcement likewise, there was no need to mention these.

And now? After another 5 years?

Jumblebumble

Alywbwfc said:

Hi All
Was wondering if someone could help advise on my current situation please 

I am on the verge of part exchanging our home however the housebuilder (so our buyer) asked for a structural survey to be carried out which has highlighted that my property has had a ground floor extension and some walls knocked through. This work was done in 2002 and I bought the property in 2015. On the survey that I had carried out in 2015 none of this was picked up. They highlighted an extension to the porch (within regs), but have made no comment regarding the kitchen & dining room extension or walls that had been knocked through. 

a) I understand I now need to get a 'certificate of regularisation' from my local council. I am planning to book an appointment with an architectural surveyor to help prepare me for this. I'm hoping no issues as the work is 18 years old, has electrical certification and the surveyor said it looks in good shape from what he can tell. Is this the correct process to go down?
b) Am I right in thinking not mentioning the extension or walls was negligent by the previous surveyor, and would it be worth pursuing this? (I have obviously been a bit naive when buying my property so no need to point that out!)

Would much appreciate any words of wisdom/experience!

Thanks

What is the House builder ( or their solicitors) actually  asking for ?

Alywbwfc

Jumblebumble said:

Alywbwfc said:

Hi All
Was wondering if someone could help advise on my current situation please 

I am on the verge of part exchanging our home however the housebuilder (so our buyer) asked for a structural survey to be carried out which has highlighted that my property has had a ground floor extension and some walls knocked through. This work was done in 2002 and I bought the property in 2015. On the survey that I had carried out in 2015 none of this was picked up. They highlighted an extension to the porch (within regs), but have made no comment regarding the kitchen & dining room extension or walls that had been knocked through. 

a) I understand I now need to get a 'certificate of regularisation' from my local council. I am planning to book an appointment with an architectural surveyor to help prepare me for this. I'm hoping no issues as the work is 18 years old, has electrical certification and the surveyor said it looks in good shape from what he can tell. Is this the correct process to go down?
b) Am I right in thinking not mentioning the extension or walls was negligent by the previous surveyor, and would it be worth pursuing this? (I have obviously been a bit naive when buying my property so no need to point that out!)

Would much appreciate any words of wisdom/experience!

Thanks

What is the House builder ( or their solicitors) actually  asking for ?

Hi, nothing yet because the structural survey was only carried out today, but the surveyor verbally told me what he was going to highlight and said he thought I would need to get a regularisation certificate. So I've probably jumped the gun and will wait for the house builder to make the next move 

davidmcn said:

a) What makes you think you need to do that? Has your solicitor advised you to? For work of that age I wouldn't be hunting around for paperwork - at most you can get a (cheap) indemnity policy to cover the (almost impossible) likelihood of the council taking enforcement action.
b) They should have mentioned it - but it doesn't sound like you've suffered any loss, so what would you be suing them for?

Hi, a) no solicitor hasn't advised anything. Thanks for the tip on indemnity policy, wasn't aware of that and will look into it
b) I suppose the costs of getting the regularisation certificate because it seems that can be a long and expensive process. The surveyor was the one who said he thought it was negligent not to mention it (obviously with no legal background 
 

Jumblebumble

Alywbwfc said:

Jumblebumble said:

Alywbwfc said:

Hi All
Was wondering if someone could help advise on my current situation please 

I am on the verge of part exchanging our home however the housebuilder (so our buyer) asked for a structural survey to be carried out which has highlighted that my property has had a ground floor extension and some walls knocked through. This work was done in 2002 and I bought the property in 2015. On the survey that I had carried out in 2015 none of this was picked up. They highlighted an extension to the porch (within regs), but have made no comment regarding the kitchen & dining room extension or walls that had been knocked through. 

a) I understand I now need to get a 'certificate of regularisation' from my local council. I am planning to book an appointment with an architectural surveyor to help prepare me for this. I'm hoping no issues as the work is 18 years old, has electrical certification and the surveyor said it looks in good shape from what he can tell. Is this the correct process to go down?
b) Am I right in thinking not mentioning the extension or walls was negligent by the previous surveyor, and would it be worth pursuing this? (I have obviously been a bit naive when buying my property so no need to point that out!)

Would much appreciate any words of wisdom/experience!

Thanks

What is the House builder ( or their solicitors) actually  asking for ?

Hi, nothing yet because the structural survey was only carried out today, but the surveyor verbally told me what he was going to highlight and said he thought I would need to get a regularisation certificate. So I've probably jumped the gun and will wait for the house builder to make the next move 

davidmcn said:

a) What makes you think you need to do that? Has your solicitor advised you to? For work of that age I wouldn't be hunting around for paperwork - at most you can get a (cheap) indemnity policy to cover the (almost impossible) likelihood of the council taking enforcement action.
b) They should have mentioned it - but it doesn't sound like you've suffered any loss, so what would you be suing them for?

Hi, a) no solicitor hasn't advised anything. Thanks for the tip on indemnity policy, wasn't aware of that and will look into it
b) I suppose the costs of getting the regularisation certificate because it seems that can be a long and expensive process. The surveyor was the one who said he thought it was negligent not to mention it (obviously with no legal background 
 

I would do nothing until someone asks you to.

davidmcn

Jumblebumble said:

Alywbwfc said:

Jumblebumble said:

Alywbwfc said:

Hi All
Was wondering if someone could help advise on my current situation please 

I am on the verge of part exchanging our home however the housebuilder (so our buyer) asked for a structural survey to be carried out which has highlighted that my property has had a ground floor extension and some walls knocked through. This work was done in 2002 and I bought the property in 2015. On the survey that I had carried out in 2015 none of this was picked up. They highlighted an extension to the porch (within regs), but have made no comment regarding the kitchen & dining room extension or walls that had been knocked through. 

a) I understand I now need to get a 'certificate of regularisation' from my local council. I am planning to book an appointment with an architectural surveyor to help prepare me for this. I'm hoping no issues as the work is 18 years old, has electrical certification and the surveyor said it looks in good shape from what he can tell. Is this the correct process to go down?
b) Am I right in thinking not mentioning the extension or walls was negligent by the previous surveyor, and would it be worth pursuing this? (I have obviously been a bit naive when buying my property so no need to point that out!)

Would much appreciate any words of wisdom/experience!

Thanks

What is the House builder ( or their solicitors) actually  asking for ?

Hi, nothing yet because the structural survey was only carried out today, but the surveyor verbally told me what he was going to highlight and said he thought I would need to get a regularisation certificate. So I've probably jumped the gun and will wait for the house builder to make the next move 

davidmcn said:

a) What makes you think you need to do that? Has your solicitor advised you to? For work of that age I wouldn't be hunting around for paperwork - at most you can get a (cheap) indemnity policy to cover the (almost impossible) likelihood of the council taking enforcement action.
b) They should have mentioned it - but it doesn't sound like you've suffered any loss, so what would you be suing them for?

Hi, a) no solicitor hasn't advised anything. Thanks for the tip on indemnity policy, wasn't aware of that and will look into it
b) I suppose the costs of getting the regularisation certificate because it seems that can be a long and expensive process. The surveyor was the one who said he thought it was negligent not to mention it (obviously with no legal background 
 

I would do nothing until someone asks you to.

In particular, don't try contacting the council about it, as that would rule out indemnity insurance as a solution (not that the council is likely to spring into action even if it were competent for them to do so...).