Loft conversion 1989

zakizzy25

As a complete novice on this 
If I told my car insurance that my car was parked in a garage overnight but in reality it was parked in the road
and i made a claim then that would invalidate my insurance 
I can’t be absolutely sure  but I think that building insurance does not mention that loft conversion and if there was a claim 
it would be invalid but your saying it doesn’t matter?

user1977

zakizzy25 said:

As a complete novice on this 
If I told my car insurance that my car was parked in a garage overnight but in reality it was parked in the road
and i made a claim then that would invalidate my insurance 
I can’t be absolutely sure  but I think that building insurance does not mention that loft conversion and if there was a claim 
it would be invalid but your saying it doesn’t matter?

You only need to tell the insurers about things they ask about. Motor insurers will ask you where you park your car, so you need to answer correctly. Home insurers do not ask you "does everything in the building have certified sign-off for building regulations". So it doesn't come up and you don't need to chat to them about it.

Though bear in mind that "house falling down because of poor workmanship" isn't going to be an insured risk anyway.

user1977

zakizzy25 said:

I absolutely understand where your coming from 
unfortunately I have to way up how safe I would feel 
would I have the same problem when I go to sell 
I appreciate what you say I have read threads on here that say differently 
 without building regulations you can’t sell it as an extra bedroom only a loft space 
My mum used to live in a prefab and still stands today and understand what you mean 
there is regularisation certificate that can be obtained to get around this
this is for my seller to obtain this can be costly and time consuming and this will undoubtedly end the sale
Maybe you could advise me on that?

Maybe you can answer the questions above first i.e. what other consents have you seen for the building?

zakizzy25

Planning permission granted  for loft conversion 1989 and stamped  document no drawing/plans 
seller says that all she was given 
she has lived there six years the gentleman downstairs pays the building insurance and she just give him the money
still can’t get my head round what you are saying if you don’t tell the building insurance you have loft conversion then surely 
if there was a claim it would not be covered 
you are saying you don’t have to tell your building insurance company that the property has a loft conversion 

propertyrental

Insurance applications always ask for the number of rooms and specifically bedrooms.

If the attic room was used as a bedroom but not counted, there is a possibility a claim could b rejected and policy invalidated.

If the attic room was declared as part of the total number of bedrooms, the fact of buildings certification would not be relevant, as not asked about by the insurer.

silvercar

Your seller's could take out indemnity insurance for lack of regulations. Won't do anything other than satisfy some lenders (yours and in the future). As for the price, pay what you think it is worth.

user1977

zakizzy25 said:

Planning permission granted  for loft conversion 1989 and stamped  document no drawing/plans 
seller says that all she was given

So why is your solicitor not equally concerned about the lack of consents for the conversion into flats (when did that happen?), or the original construction of the building (again, when did that happen)?

still can’t get my head round what you are saying if you don’t tell the building insurance you have loft conversion then surely if there was a claim it would not be covered 
you are saying you don’t have to tell your building insurance company that the property has a loft conversion 

Have you ever bought buildings insurance before? If so, did they ask you about loft conversions? Why do you think they don't ask the question, but your motor insurer asks you where you usually park your car?

And again, what did your surveyor say about the loft conversion?

zakizzy25

I had a valuation report which was done for my mortgage lender
and I had a home buyers report nothing flagged up of any big problems 
I have a suspicion that my seller is being economical with the truth and is now suggesting 
would I still buy it if it became a 2 bed with a loft room I would definitely have to think about it 
and find out what 2 beds similar in the area are going for the problem I still have is how would you possibly go about that?
a new valuation by my mortgage lender a new mortgage application 
she has offered to pay all my legals could that be drawn up with my solicitor?
I’ve really no idea what to do 
I love the place and I am torn
help😱

propertyrental

Have you actually spoken to your surveyor and asked his opinion of the loft conversiion?

If it 'became a 2 bed with loft room' (though that is of course just a meaningless legal definition) what would use the loft for? Storage? bedroom? What?

MultiFuelBurner

Do you need the loft room as a 3rd bedroom or will it become another type of room for yourself (a useable space)