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>20 year old garage conversion. Selling up.

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EssexGirl
EssexGirl Posts: 977 Forumite
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in House buying, renting & selling
We have our house on the market. We bought the house in 2001 as a 3 bedroom house with "integral garage converted to separate reception room". Our son has used the "garage room" as his bedroom for the past 4 years.
The estate agent is marketing it as a 4 bedroom house but has put this in the listing "Please note ** Property have not seen building regulations for the conversion of the garage"

We think this is hindering the chance of a sale, as it looks as if it's a dodgy build. We think it was converted around 1995. We don't have any documentation for this work. Would this now be liable for planning problems or problems with the sale?
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  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
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    No. You can prove it's way outside the timescale for any enforcement against lack of PP or BR.

    And, if it's that long ago, it's clearly not about to fall apart.

    Whether that'll stop idiot potential buyers panicking is a different question...
  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
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    EssexGirl wrote: »
    "Please note ** Property have not seen building regulations for the conversion of the garage"
    Have ** Property seen building regulations for the rest of the house?
  • EssexGirl
    EssexGirl Posts: 977 Forumite
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    AdrianC wrote: »
    No. You can prove it's way outside the timescale for any enforcement against lack of PP or BR.

    And, if it's that long ago, it's clearly not about to fall apart.

    Whether that'll stop idiot potential buyers panicking is a different question...

    Thanks Adrian. Do I have grounds to get them to take that bit about building regs off the listing then?
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
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    You can ask. But it's accurate - they haven't.
  • EssexGirl
    EssexGirl Posts: 977 Forumite
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    davidmcn wrote: »
    Have ** Property seen building regulations for the rest of the house?

    Now that's a good point! :T
  • EssexGirl
    EssexGirl Posts: 977 Forumite
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    Accurate yes. But is it relevant after all this time?
  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
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    EssexGirl wrote: »
    Now that's a good point! :T
    People do tend to get overexcited about ancient alterations, while strangely uninterested in the only slightly more ancient original construction of the house! Certainly no need for the EA to flag up the conversion as potentially problematic.
  • need_an_answer
    need_an_answer Posts: 2,812 Forumite
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    how is the property priced in relation to other 4 bed homes in the area?

    If you think advertising it as a 4 bed is what might put some people off have you thought about marketing it as a 3 bed with and additional room currently used as a bedroom...

    and if so how does it compare with 3 bed houses in the area.

    My guess is that you are falling somewhere between a 3 and 4 bed in reality but what you don't have is a garage...don't forget whilst a lot of people don't actually use a garage for a car its a useful space to have its just at the moment you have clearly defined the use of this area as a 4th bedroom.
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  • gingercordial
    gingercordial Posts: 1,681 Forumite
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    EssexGirl wrote: »
    Thanks Adrian. Do I have grounds to get them to take that bit about building regs off the listing then?

    They work for you. Tell them to take it off.
  • Ozzuk
    Ozzuk Posts: 1,884 Forumite
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    gingercordial wrote: »
    They work for you. Tell them to take it off.

    there is another thread on here where someone is complaining BR was missing for an extension and the estate agents didn't spot it, so damned if they do, damned if they don't.

    Hard to see how you can market it as a habitable space if you can't prove it, estate agents will know it is common for people to convert these so unless you can prove it is up to spec it should be priced accordingly (IMO). Same goes for loft spaces.
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