Lack of Building Reg Approval - will this be a problem when i come to sell

ucl1986

I am currently in the process of buying a house which lacks building reg approval for a garage conversion (2010), wall removal (2010) and replacement windows (2017). 
Will this make it difficult to sell the house in the future?

user1977

The passage of time will make it even less of a problem than it is now. At this stage, it's the quality of the work which is more important than the paperwork.

pbartlett

I would worry more about what is supporting the floors above where the wall was removed and what was 'converted' in the garage....

ucl1986

Surveyor has not raised any issues on build quality though i understand that a lot of these things will be hidden (e.g. RSJ, insulation in garage conversion). 

Another_Level

Hi, if the work has some paperwork (invoice,plans etc)  and was carried out by a proper competent builder i would have less of a problem.

Diy alterations are just that. just blame the internet !

ucl1986

Another_Level said:

Hi, if the work has some paperwork (invoice,plans etc)  and was carried out by a proper competent builder i would have less of a problem.

Diy alterations are just that. just blame the internet !

The vendor is a builder and runs his own building company. 

FreeBear

ucl1986 said:

Another_Level said:

Hi, if the work has some paperwork (invoice,plans etc)  and was carried out by a proper competent builder i would have less of a problem.

Diy alterations are just that. just blame the internet !

The vendor is a builder and runs his own building company. 

And it is these type of people that should know that structural changes to a building require Building Control approval. When a "proper" builder ignores the requirement, one has to wonder what else they have skimped on.

Section62

Another_Level said:

Hi, if the work has some paperwork (invoice,plans etc)  and was carried out by a proper competent builder i would have less of a problem.
Diy alterations are just that. just blame the internet !

As above, a "proper competent builder" would know the importance of getting any necessary approvals, a DIYer at least has the possible excuse of ignorance.

The question is going to be whether this builder carefully took detailed photographs of each stage of the work so the OP can confirm there is nothing nasty lurking under the plaster and paint.

ucl1986

I understand the question marks around build quality issues (which i am dealing with separately by hiring a structural engineer).

However, my question is more around whether the lack of building regs will make it difficult to sell the property in the future. 

user1977

ucl1986 said:

However, my question is more around whether the lack of building regs will make it difficult to sell the property in the future. 

No, not really. It's very commonplace for historic works not to come with a full range of consents. If there were some sort of inherent defect, you'd expect it to have made itself known by now (or at least by whenever you sell).

StandingInTheSun

ucl1986 said:

I am currently in the process of buying a house which lacks building reg approval for a garage conversion (2010), wall removal (2010) and replacement windows (2017). 
Will this make it difficult to sell the house in the future?

People here are quick to say no but the answer is "it depends".

Survey raised issues on a property we had been sale agreed on in relation to a lack of building certification for an extension, albeit one built 30 years ago. Solicitor advised this could make remortgaging or selling difficult. Vendor refused to get retrospective building certification and the sale fell through. Other buyers or solicitors however may not have cared given it had already been standing for 30 years.

I would ask the vendor to apply for retrospective building permission. You can even offer to pay for it if you're really keen (it's normally a couple of hundred). If they still refuse alarm bells should ring.