do new building regs apply to an exisiting property of 20 yrs?

tom_thumb_2

Hi, advice needed, please help?
In 2003 i bought a deralict building that had been converted in 1987 into two flats.
At this same time, I enquired about the status quo of the planning for the two flats and was told by the council that retrospective planning was in place because the conversion had taken place some 16 years previous in 1987. This i took as gospal, and so i refurbished the two flats.
Recently, I sold the 2 flats and i was asked to provide the planning certificate to my buyers solicitor. I visited the planning dept at the council but was told they knew nothing of the two flats which they only had documented as being a single dwelling and becuase of this i would have to apply for planning permission.
My solicitor advised me to apply for a lawful development cert which i am now in the process of doing. Also, i have been told that building control will have to pay a visit to ensure the flats meet the current regulations.
Council tax has been paid on both flats since 1993 and so the council was aware this property had previously been used as 2 flats. I also have documents from the valuations office which state the flats were converted around 1987, thus proving the council were aware of the conversion.
MY QUESTIONS ARE- Do i have to ensure the flats meet current building regs if i can prove they were prexisting? and secondly, what are the rules regarding exisiting conversions?
I would really appreicate any help, as i feel as though i am getting a raw deal so far

silvercar

Post on the housing board, you will get more advice there.

I think the only thing you can now get is a certificate of lawful development. You can't hope to comply with current building regs as the standard will be very different to when the conversion was completed.

ukwoody

Very tricky and I cannot give you a direct answer. But I can tell you I bought a property in 2001 with an existing extention on with no probs. My solicitor did not ask to see the permission as it had been there for at least 12 years. When I went to sell it in 2005 I had real problems as there was a change in planning laws following a high court ruling that meant planning issues and regs could be backdated, which meant I had to take out a special insurance to cover me when I sold it so that future buyers would be protected agains backdated appeals. Please dont ask me much more as it was so complicated, and going through a divorce as well, meant I couldn't really fully understand it all.

woody