My daughter is buying a 1930's house, it has an extension, PP was granted for this in 1967, the solicitor says 'Ooops there's no building regs sign off'. But there must have been a time when there was no such thing as building regs. Could the extension be pre building regs approval?
The history of the building regs
- Thread starter DIYedboy
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Building Regs. 1965
Wait for the solicitor to suggest that your daughter buys an indemnity insurance policy!
Wait for the solicitor to suggest that your daughter buys an indemnity insurance policy!
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If this solicitor is working for your daughter, then part of his job is to advise and explain the legal side of things.
So if he is doing his job properly, then he should be saying "there is no building regs certificate, but that was 52 years ago so is well outside of any enforcement action, and no court will ever grant an injunction, and all action is statute barred".
If the solicitor does not say this or thereabouts, then ask him what action the Building Act 1984 will permit after 52 years, and if he can't answer, then he's not doing his job, so tell him that, give him chance to modify his advice, and if not sack him, and don't pay him.
So if he is doing his job properly, then he should be saying "there is no building regs certificate, but that was 52 years ago so is well outside of any enforcement action, and no court will ever grant an injunction, and all action is statute barred".
If the solicitor does not say this or thereabouts, then ask him what action the Building Act 1984 will permit after 52 years, and if he can't answer, then he's not doing his job, so tell him that, give him chance to modify his advice, and if not sack him, and don't pay him.
As others have noted, the Building Regulations were introduced nationwide in 1965, but long before that (since 1875) all local authorities were required to apply regulatory standards to new building in their areas.
What I think the OP is after is information on when Certification was introduced, which IIRC was 1985, so building work completed before then would not have received a certificate, though it would of course have needed to be checked as work went along, to ensure compliance with the regs at the time.
And yes, the solicitor here is an idiot who - if he sets himself up as qualified to undertake conveyancing - should have at least basic knowledge of Planning and Building Regs law.
Many vendors have lost sales, and buyers lost their dream home, through incorrect advice given by solicitors - who still charge handsomely for the crap advice.
What I think the OP is after is information on when Certification was introduced, which IIRC was 1985, so building work completed before then would not have received a certificate, though it would of course have needed to be checked as work went along, to ensure compliance with the regs at the time.
And yes, the solicitor here is an idiot who - if he sets himself up as qualified to undertake conveyancing - should have at least basic knowledge of Planning and Building Regs law.
Many vendors have lost sales, and buyers lost their dream home, through incorrect advice given by solicitors - who still charge handsomely for the crap advice.
I've seen domestic plans from the 50's and 60's for extensions, coal sheds, garages etc which were wonderfully drawn, detailed and specified which have gone to "the council" for approval, and have come back with an official "Approved" stamp. This has made me wonder if back then, it was a single planning/building regs function and a single approval for both.
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