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Car port converted to garage and no council permission

Zergius2
Zergius2 Posts: 9 Forumite
in House buying, renting & selling
Hi everyone!
We are buying a house, offer is accpeted, mortgage offer received, and suddenly we find out, that garage in that house is a former car port, and the seller doesn't have any permits or authorization from local council for converting it.
How would you act in such situation? What is the best way? How long usually it takes to get such a permit?
Thank you so much and have a good day! :T
«13

Comments

  • SmashedAvacado
    SmashedAvacado Posts: 1,262 Forumite
    First Post First Anniversary
    When was the conversion done?
    This is critical information - have you asked / been told?
  • Zergius2
    Zergius2 Posts: 9 Forumite
    Conversion was done a long time ago (however I dont know exactly when). I asked about paperwork repeatedly starting from the viewing, and was told that probably everything should be ok. However, only now selling agency told us that "They (owners) should have got the council to sign it off once they’d installed it, but didn’t realise this. "
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary Photogenic First Post
    .....And is the house in a conservation area, area of outstanding natural beauty or national park?
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    If it was a "long time ago", then there's nothing the council can do - either from planning or from building control.


    It may even have come under permitted development, so not need planning.
  • Cakeguts
    Cakeguts Posts: 7,627 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    Could you easily convert it back to a carport?
  • Zergius2
    Zergius2 Posts: 9 Forumite
    no any national parks or conservation. However, good area :)
  • Zergius2
    Zergius2 Posts: 9 Forumite
    Yes just remove garage door. But I want garage not car port :)
  • Zergius2
    Zergius2 Posts: 9 Forumite
    Thank you all for answers!
    So council can't ask me to remove the garage door after I buy this property? And how can I find out is it under permitted development? I already have the paperwork from land registry

    AdrianC wrote: »
    If it was a "long time ago", then there's nothing the council can do - either from planning or from building control.


    It may even have come under permitted development, so not need planning.
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary Photogenic First Post
    If it's been there for 4 years then provided it's not in one of the areas I mentioned the council is too late to enforce.

    As a buyer, you will want evidence that it's been there that long, or your solicitor may want the sellers to pay for indemnity insurance.

    It doesn't sound like a biggie.

    Oh, and the agents are wrong; people should seek permission, if needed, before such a conversion, not after it!
  • hazyjo
    hazyjo Posts: 15,470 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post Photogenic
    Agree with indemnity insurance. Should stop anyone (council?) trying to force you to change it back. It's usually the vendors who pay for it. Anywhere between £30-100 ish.
    2023 wins: *must start comping again!*
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