Opinions wanted please

[bearC]

Im trying to buy a house with an extension that wasnt signed off.

The extension was under permitted development. Apparently it was inspected at verious stages of the build but wasnt signed off when completed.

Our solicitor (i use this term lighlty) is saying a normal indemnity policy isnt sufficient. Because the process for building control was started but not finished (basically saying the council are aware so it would invalidate the policy)

From what ive read online the seems a fairly normal thing and and indemnity policy is the easiest and most straightforward way do deal with this.

Any opinions on this ?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Why can't the seller just get it signed off? They've already paid BC so if it's not possible that should throw up what's outstanding. An indemnity only works if BC are unaware of the build.

 

[bearC]

No idea why.

After a call to the solicitors this morning a bespoke policy is needed but the sellers solicitor needs to get it. So at the minute the ball is in their court.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You should still try to find out why it was not signed off, are you confident it's been built properly? An indemnity in reality is merely a box ticking process that only covers the cost of legal action if taken against the owner (which is so unlikely unless the structure is about to collapse) it has no other monetary value ie won't pay for anything not built right.

 

[bearC]

Ive got pictures of the build at differant stages. And it seems solid enough.

 

[^woody^]

The extension will remain unauthorised, and should not be occupied unless/until it has been certified as complete. It may be structurally sound but is it safe in terms of fire safety and means of escape? It will impact your insurance, you will have incomplete building works.

 

[Notch7]

Apparently it was inspected at verious stages of the build but wasnt signed off when completed.

You need to be asking yourself why the building control certificate was never issued.

If it was easy to obtain it would’ve been, so that tells me there’s something non compliant which requires difficult and or expensive remedial work.

I would be asking for either the remedial work done and the building cert issued or get the truth of what needs to be done and lower the price by the cost of the remedial work.

 

[mrrusty]

If the property surveys OK and you can get a mortgage on it OK, IMO the only real risk is if BC take enforcement action. IMHO the insurance angle is a bit of a red herring unless the Ts & Cs of your insurance policy specifically say that any part of the building without signoff is uninsured. I have lived in a house without a completion cert on very major older works (which may or may not have been signed off - council couldn't tell me - they suggested it was older than their accessible records) and my insurances have never had such a clause.