Selling a house with a loft conversion but without regulation docs

user1977

Seems an oddly knee-jerk reaction. I'd generally expect surveyors just to point out alterations and recommend the solicitors investigate further.

Gedara

user1977 said:

Seems an oddly knee-jerk reaction. I'd generally expect surveyors just to point out alterations and recommend the solicitors investigate further.

Agreed. It's put a spoke in the chain and now the whole thing is collapsing, sadly... 

FreeBear

user1977 said:

Gedara said:

user1977 said:

Gedara said:

The valuer has said there're no documents and thus the bank cant lend to the buyer.

What have the solicitors said about it? It's not usually a decision based on the initial assessment of the surveyor (as they don't generally look at the consents, that's a legal job).

Its just the surveyor's comment on which the Bank has refused the mortgage it appears.. 

How has the surveyor determined whether or not there are any consents? I'd normally expect discussion between the solicitors - hasn't there been any?

There not being a fixed staircase would be sufficient to alert the surveyor to the lack of Building Regulations compliance. Probably spotted other clues in the process.

silvercar

You need to prepare in advance. Either get retrospective building regs consent now or commission a structural surveyors report to demonstrate (hopefully) that the structure is safe and hasn't compromised the integrity of the roof structure.

Even if you had a buyer who didn't require a mortgage, they are going to want to be satisfied that they are buying somewhere structurally sound. 

Hoenir

Gedara said:

user1977 said:

Gedara said:

user1977 said:

Gedara said:

The valuer has said there're no documents and thus the bank cant lend to the buyer.

What have the solicitors said about it? It's not usually a decision based on the initial assessment of the surveyor (as they don't generally look at the consents, that's a legal job).

Its just the surveyor's comment on which the Bank has refused the mortgage it appears.. 

How has the surveyor determined whether or not there are any consents? I'd normally expect discussion between the solicitors - hasn't there been any?

None. Apparently, the Bank has said based n the surveyor report they are unable to lend as the rafters have been modified.. Sadly the surveyor didnt ask any questions on this matter in which case I may have been able to provide the docs from the company that built it.

Only docs that matter are the "official" ones.  The Company who undertook the work should have been fully aware and advised you accordingly. 

HairyTofu

Gedara said:

Thanks guys. This was advertised as converted loft space. Not as a bed room but usable as a study.   

FYI - Even if the room is being advertised "usable as a study" it still needs building regulations approval as it becomes a habitable space, eg someone is spending some of their time in that room and therefore could install furniture of certain weights that the ceiling cannot hold, therefore causing damage. In the event of a fire, there could be issues with escaping too. Essentially without building regs you only have a boarded STORAGE area. If you have valued your property with an increased value because of this area, it should be dropped. Perhaps because it has been advertised as a study, this has made the lender wary as it doesn't have the building regs?