Buying house - steel lintel, no building regs cert - not happy with indemnity!

theoretica

Do you have any objective evidence for how good a builder they are?

FinleyV

Wow thank you everyone for such helpful comments, I really appreciate it. We spoke to our surveyor - the builder is competent, been in business for 40 years and the estate agent actually uses him for all of their work on rentals. He didnt get regs as he had never intended to move - he unexpectedly inherited another house from a family member so is moving into that one. 

The surveyor noted the work appeared to be of a high standard although obviously couldn't see the lintel without removing the plaster. He said that indemnity is acceptable and normal in these situations. He said 5 years has been a good test period so would suggest all is well. Certificates were available for the rest of the extension in question, just not for the lintel. He was confident this would not impact the saleability or mortgageability in the future and the indemnity would cover the cost of works if ever required. 

On this basis, and as we've spent so much money (and love the house), we're proceeding with the indemnity route after all.

Thanks again.

FreeBear

FinleyV said: Certificates were available for the rest of the extension in question, just not for the lintel.

If this lintel was done at the same time as the extension, there is every chance that the completion certificates covers both the extension and lintel.