Q: A friend has inherited a house and plans to market in the coming weeks. However, the lounge and dining room were originally two rooms, but are beaten by the wall to make it into a room.
He s sure he became the family of the property would not have received planning permission (or even tried setting it get) this.
I do remember reading some where on this site that after a certain period of time, did not matter about the building permit. I think it was 10 years. Although he said they only have about 8 years ago, although the house owned for more than 10 years. So he could say that happened more than 10 years ago that nobody could prove he otherwise.
Does need to do something to help the sale? retrospective planning permission? or provide indemnity insurance? He recalls a number of tiers were introduced when the wall was removed, but do not have nothing else.
I “looked at the site and can only talk about the loft and, 977,503,977,503 conservatories find you in advance for any help / guidance
Trust me, by comparison to the required concrete lintel, the steel girders were light!
I think he was just concerned it would slow down the sales process as he wants the property sold before another rate rise comes along and dampens the market. So I guess he can just sell and see what gets found in the buyers surveyor.
Thanks for your help,
The requirement for compliance with building regulations is lapsed. Basically, they are saying it has been there long enough so it must be OK.
Such modifications do require suitable steel joists or a concrete lintel to support the wall above. Steel is nearly always used in these cases since it is much lighter than concrete, and hence easier to install.
Removal of internal walls was very common in council RTB properties. AFAIK your friend does not have to provide any special documents regarding this modification. I would expect that the buyers surveyor would pick-up any problems caused by this.
He's certain that the family he's gotten the property from would not have got planning permission (or even attempted to get it) to do this.
Almost certainly, PP was not required. Although the work should have conformed to Building Regulations and that might have meant that an RSJ (or similar) be installed to support the structure above.
I remember reading some where on this site that after a set period of time, it didn't matter about planning permission. I believe it was 10 years.
Four years for planning permission; ten years for change of use; one year for building regs. After then, no enforcement can be taken by the Local Authority.
Does he need to do anything to help the sale? retrospective planning permission? or provide Indemnity insurance? He remembers some girders were put in place when the wall was taken out, but doesn't know anything else.
Depends on the buyer and their solicitor. The mention of "girders" suggests they might have complied with Building Regs – difficult to be sure. They could get the Building Control Officer out to comment, now, but even then, they probably won't get the documents that a buyer's solicitor might suggest. An indemnity policy might be what a buyer insists on, but if they decide on this, they must NOT contact the Building Control Officer.
I suggest they speak with their solicitor.