Prospective House altered without consent

NOWSE

My parents are in the process of moving house. Yesterday their solicitor informed them that the house they propose to buy does not have planning permission for the room that has been converted from a garage. I have not had the opportunity to see the solicitor's letter, but there is mention of the vendors being required to take out an insurance policy to cover the situation.

I'm not happy with the situation and can think of a number of possible consequences myself. Before I speak to the solicitor, can anybody offer me any advice in these circumstances?

Doozergirl

It's not that bad. I'm not sure you really need planning permission to convert it if it's adjoined to the house and you're not actually adding to the house. Building regs probably would be required but an indemnity would protect them in the incredibly unlikely even that Building Control decided to persue them - after a year they'd actually have to get a court order! How old is the house in question?

What number of possible consequences can you think of?

poet123

I think this indemity insurance is quite common in these cases. I also think timescales apply,and of course planning law has been watered down a little in recent months. If the solicitor is happy I wouldn't worry too much. Also as it is a conversion rather than an extension then it is unlikely neighbours would object.

andyrules

Doozer is correct - you don't need permission to convert a garage to a room. It's different the other way round as fire regs then apply.

Not sure why you need insurance. Have they had a survey done?

NOWSE

andyrules wrote: »

Doozer is correct - you don't need permission to convert a garage to a room. It's different the other way round as fire regs then apply.

Not sure why you need insurance. Have they had a survey done?

Yes. The survey didn't reveal any problems

andyrules

If I were you I would ring the council and ask (no need to give address) why a solicitor would query planning permission. Depending on how old the conversion is, I think Doozer is right about building regs. However, if nothing came up in survey then all would seem OK. What kind of survey was it? It may be possible to get regs signed off retrospectively, someone else may know that, but you could ask your council. That would surely negate the need for insurance policies, and put your mind at rest.