Completion certificate - property

HappyHomeBuyer

Hello,

I’m hoping you can give some advice; I have read through similar topics but can’t find one which answers my specific query.

I am selling my property in Scotland. Our purchasers’ solicitor have asked for a copy of the completion certificate (property was built in 2007). We don’t have a copy, nor does our solicitor who represented us when we purchased. We were not the first owners of the property.

As of yet, we haven’t had any luck and there is some pressure from the purchasers’ solicitor to conclude soon.

Any advice? Where could I get a copy? Why do they need a copy when we didn’t need one?

Many thanks for your help. 

davidmcn

What sort of property? One built as part of a bigger development, or something one-off? Has anybody found the building warrant and verified that there isn't actually a related completion certificate? Looking things up by postal address often doesn't work if the builders called it "Plot 14 Phase 1 The Willows" and it's now "24 Acacia Avenue". In any event, your (current) solicitor ought to be able to sort it out - can't they?

AdrianC

"Sorry, we don't have it"

Lack of BR sign-off after 14 years is totally irrelevant, anyway.

HappyHomeBuyer

davidmcn said:

What sort of property? One built as part of a bigger development, or something one-off? Has anybody found the building warrant and verified that there isn't actually a related completion certificate? Looking things up by postal address often doesn't work if the builders called it "Plot 14 Phase 1 The Willows" and it's now "24 Acacia Avenue". In any event, your (current) solicitor ought to be able to sort it out - can't they?

Thanks.

I have contacted the local authority to find out if they hold a record and await a reply but I have also checked through their online planning portal and it states that for the property a completion certificate was “accepted” and gives the date, but no option to download/ request one. 

It is a flat as part of a 21 “dwelling” development, of other flats and a terrace bungalow.

HappyHomeBuyer

AdrianC said:

"Sorry, we don't have it"

Lack of BR sign-off after 14 years is totally irrelevant, anyway.

Not sure if this has been requested for mortgage purposes and if our inability to provide one would jeopardise the sale?

Doozergirl

AdrianC said:

"Sorry, we don't have it"

Lack of BR sign-off after 14 years is totally irrelevant, anyway.

I'm not so sure about Scotland... 

davidmcn

HappyHomeBuyer said:

davidmcn said:

What sort of property? One built as part of a bigger development, or something one-off? Has anybody found the building warrant and verified that there isn't actually a related completion certificate? Looking things up by postal address often doesn't work if the builders called it "Plot 14 Phase 1 The Willows" and it's now "24 Acacia Avenue". In any event, your (current) solicitor ought to be able to sort it out - can't they?

I have contacted the local authority to find out if they hold a record and await a reply but I have also checked through their online planning portal and it states that for the property a completion certificate was “accepted” and gives the date,

That's fine then, one exists. I'd be happy with that, a copy of the certificate itself isn't going to tell you much more.

HappyHomeBuyer

davidmcn said:

What sort of property? One built as part of a bigger development, or something one-off? Has anybody found the building warrant and verified that there isn't actually a related completion certificate? Looking things up by postal address often doesn't work if the builders called it "Plot 14 Phase 1 The Willows" and it's now "24 Acacia Avenue". In any event, your (current) solicitor ought to be able to sort it out - can't they?

Yes - a flat in a development of 21 other properties, mostly flats. 

I have managed to find out through the local authority planning portal that a completion certificate was issued, but we don’t have it. Our solicitor who we dealt with when we bought also doesn’t have it so they are now trying to contact the previous owner’s certificate. Are they usually kept electronically by the council do you know? Seems a little backward. 

HappyHomeBuyer

davidmcn said:

HappyHomeBuyer said:

davidmcn said:

What sort of property? One built as part of a bigger development, or something one-off? Has anybody found the building warrant and verified that there isn't actually a related completion certificate? Looking things up by postal address often doesn't work if the builders called it "Plot 14 Phase 1 The Willows" and it's now "24 Acacia Avenue". In any event, your (current) solicitor ought to be able to sort it out - can't they?

I have contacted the local authority to find out if they hold a record and await a reply but I have also checked through their online planning portal and it states that for the property a completion certificate was “accepted” and gives the date,

That's fine then, one exists. I'd be happy with that, a copy of the certificate itself isn't going to tell you much more.

Appreciate your help. Would you anticipate that this will be sufficient if the council can confirm in writing that one exists? 

davidmcn

HappyHomeBuyer said:

davidmcn said:

HappyHomeBuyer said:

davidmcn said:

What sort of property? One built as part of a bigger development, or something one-off? Has anybody found the building warrant and verified that there isn't actually a related completion certificate? Looking things up by postal address often doesn't work if the builders called it "Plot 14 Phase 1 The Willows" and it's now "24 Acacia Avenue". In any event, your (current) solicitor ought to be able to sort it out - can't they?

I have contacted the local authority to find out if they hold a record and await a reply but I have also checked through their online planning portal and it states that for the property a completion certificate was “accepted” and gives the date,

That's fine then, one exists. I'd be happy with that, a copy of the certificate itself isn't going to tell you much more.

Appreciate your help. Would you anticipate that this will be sufficient if the council can confirm in writing that one exists? 

Anybody who wants to check it in black and white can go look at the council's website themselves. Waiting for something to come on paper from the council is unnecessarily delaying things really.

HappyHomeBuyer

davidmcn said:

HappyHomeBuyer said:

davidmcn said:

HappyHomeBuyer said:

davidmcn said:

What sort of property? One built as part of a bigger development, or something one-off? Has anybody found the building warrant and verified that there isn't actually a related completion certificate? Looking things up by postal address often doesn't work if the builders called it "Plot 14 Phase 1 The Willows" and it's now "24 Acacia Avenue". In any event, your (current) solicitor ought to be able to sort it out - can't they?

I have contacted the local authority to find out if they hold a record and await a reply but I have also checked through their online planning portal and it states that for the property a completion certificate was “accepted” and gives the date,

That's fine then, one exists. I'd be happy with that, a copy of the certificate itself isn't going to tell you much more.

Appreciate your help. Would you anticipate that this will be sufficient if the council can confirm in writing that one exists? 

Anybody who wants to check it in black and white can go look at the council's website themselves. Waiting for something to come on paper from the council is unnecessarily delaying things really.

Thanks. I do agree, and hope the solicitors do too.