Retrospective open plan conservatory

[MeAnEr]

Hi and help!

We were about to complete the sale on our first house, only for the conservatory to be called into question. It had planning granted, however the building regs have not been sorted. My major concern is that access into it from the house is through the old kitchen back door which has been removed along with its adjoining window. So now the very small kitchen
opens onto the 34ft conservatory via an upside down L shaped hole, with no door whatsoever. looks lovely. Its why we fell in love with the place. In addition to this, the kitchen has no door to the rest of the bungalow, it's just an open arch.

Without all these things, it would be very dark and pokey.

The sellers have asked that the council is not contacted with regard to the building regs. Ominous?

They have agreed to an indemnity insurance, but if at some point we want to convert the loft and this pulls up the issues with the conservatory, it means the policy won't pay out for whatever happens thereafter.

If it gets pulled up, are the doorways going to be a massive problem? What would the council be likely to demand we do? Finally, is there a time period after which it does not matter?

Thank you loads for any advice you can offer.

Oh, and the people who put it up in 2005, are now bust.

Thanks muchly

 

[JohnD]

The sellers have asked that the council is not contacted with regard to the building regs.

and you are seriously thinking of buying it?



Would you like to invest the rest of your money in a scheme run by my pal Mr Madoff? He particularly asks that you do not contact the Serious Fraud Office about the probity of his scheme.

 

[MeAnEr]

Thanks for making me smile, but the answer is yes, if it is sortable. We are in North Cornwall and we are seriously lucky to be getting this one at the price it's on for. It's so expensive and wages just don't come close. If we don't get this one, we are unlikely to get another and we've had to move 10 times in 5 years cos long term renting is problematic too. Not to mention this place is within walking distance of school.

So, if this can be resolved without it being taken down or at massive cost to us then we'll go for it!

Any help would be great.

 

[big-all]

get them to install a new back door and window but not fully finnished with foam and trimms
make shure the heating can be isolater "before it enters/leaves the conservitory
then it will probably pass building regs

when passed remove the window and door and keep in the garage for next move

your building society survey may pick up on the non compliance and stop them lending or complying with building regs will be a proviso off the loan

 

[Shytalkz]

The really simple solution is to fit an external door and window in the kitchen opening. Then the conservatory doesn't need BRegs (assuming it hasn't got a tiled roof).

That is then sorted as far as your lenders are concerned; take the door and window out once you're in, stack it some place and put it back in, if you ever come to sell.

This is an example of the iniquities of the system laid bare. This should not be an issue, but unfortunately plenty of tin-gods abound to make it so. The only concerns should be structural and fire safety ones, not whether a bit of heat is possibly going to escape from what is probably a vast improvement over the building with no conservatory there and some rotten old single-glazed door and window. Hohum.