Who is liable, incorrect cubic volume calculations?

Rob_ja
Rob_ja Posts: 4 Newbie
in Consumer rights
Can anyone help with any previous examples please?

We believe we are semi detached, all our documents, surveys, insurance etc say so. Our land registry document when we bought the property doesn't say either way. Our architect and structural engineers designed and built a loft conversion using those measurements. We have now found out that the land registry classes us as terrace and our permitted development has been refused. I know we should have waited for permission before working but we were advised it would be OK.

If we assume land registry hasn't made a mistake (our neighbours garage touches his neighbours) and we are enforced (not sure yet) to reduce the cubic volume, who would be liable for the costs? Architect, structural engineer or us?

Thanks
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Comments

  • peter_the_piper
    peter_the_piper Posts: 30,268 Forumite
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    What did the council say when you asked for planning consent on the conversion?
    I'd rather be an Optimist and be proved wrong than a Pessimist and be proved right.
  • neilmcl
    neilmcl Posts: 19,460 Forumite
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    Why do you believe you have a semi-detached rather than a terraced property? Surely you knew what the house was when you bought it?
  • Le_Kirk
    Le_Kirk Posts: 22,284 Forumite
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    You might be better off on "In my home (includes DIY) ... " as there are some experienced builders on that forum. Just send a PM to Chickabiddybex or Dizzy Ditzy and ask them to move it for you.
  • Aylesbury_Duck
    Aylesbury_Duck Posts: 13,967 Forumite
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    You would be liable should any costs arise. You are the owner and the project manager and it was you that decided to press ahead before permission was granted. Presumably you instructed work to start, or did the architect or structural engineer instruct work to begin without your permission?
  • peter_the_piper
    peter_the_piper Posts: 30,268 Forumite
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    Unless you are the end of a terrace, a terraced house does not normally have a garage.
    I'd rather be an Optimist and be proved wrong than a Pessimist and be proved right.
  • neilmcl
    neilmcl Posts: 19,460 Forumite
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    edited 7 August 2018 at 10:11AM
    peter_the_piper wrote: »
    Unless you are the end of a terrace, a terraced house does not normally have a garage.
    There's no reason why a terrace can't have garages whether by design or having the property converted to include them. If it's sharing a wall with 2 properties then it's a terrace unless it's an end-terrace, in which case it's still classed as a terrace, not semi-detached.
  • AndyMc.....
    AndyMc..... Posts: 3,248 Forumite
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    neilmcl wrote: »
    There's no reason why a terrace can't have garages whether by design or having the property coverted to include them.

    Unless they've built over the garage they are usually described as links.
  • bris
    bris Posts: 10,548 Forumite
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    edited 7 August 2018 at 11:08AM
    Semi detached is easy, two houses together, how can this be confused as a terraced house?


    Op is there more than two houses in your row?


    Ok just re read your post, yes you are a terraced house, as you say your neighbours garage touches his which means there's at least three of you in a row.


    How could surveyors and architects get this wrong?
  • sheramber
    sheramber Posts: 19,058 Forumite
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    are the garages attached to the houses.
  • neilmcl
    neilmcl Posts: 19,460 Forumite
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    edited 7 August 2018 at 1:40PM
    bris wrote: »
    Semi detached is easy, two houses together, how can this be confused as a terraced house?


    Op is there more than two houses in your row?


    Ok just re read your post, yes you are a terraced house, as you say your neighbours garage touches his which means there's at least three of you in a row.


    How could surveyors and architects get this wrong?
    Not necessarily, a garage on it's own butting up to another house/garage does not make it semi or terraced house. There has to be a common, shared wall between the properties to constitute a semi or terraced property.
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