Hi all,
Interesting first post and based upon my initial research, I can see that this type of activity is not uncommon but anyway, I hope that some might be able to offer advice on my situation.
Back in 2006 the roof on my (at the time two bedroom) terraced house needed replacing and the old outside toilet built onto the back of the kitchen needed work. Having received a few quotes and exploring the options, it was clear that the opportunity to extend into the loft to create another bedroom was an opportunity not to be missed. I selected a building contractor who converted the loft, fantastic quality and worked with the local council to gain the necessary building regulations. Along with a full electrical certificate for the house, upgrades to the doors throughout and an interlinked fire alarm system across all floors, the loft was signed off.
Now fast forward 8 years, I’ve sold my house and due to exchange in a matter of weeks but we since found out that the kitchen does not have a building regulations certificate.
Originally the kitchen (located on the back of the terrace house) included an external toilet attached to the back wall. The builder advised that this should be knocked down and we extend the kitchen into the area that was the old toilet, and take the opportunity to extend by an extra meter - replacing a 2x1 meter attached room with a 2x2 meter extension. The ground works was extensive due to the house having cellars, with foundations of circa 8 to 12 foot and steel reinforced (mesh and many steel poles). Everything was topped off with a concrete slab with a depth of about a foot around the outside to provide a seating area that leads to a retaining wall, before stepping down to the garden.
My issue is what to do? There are no signs of issues, a local builder has been around and checked what can be seen i.e. structurally there is no issue, no cracking in the concrete slab, brick work or internal plastering. The quality of the roof work and roof insulation is spot on but in order to get a retrospective building regulations certificate the building control officers need to expose the footings but given the available room to dig a hole, the depth of the footing is it viable to even do this? And expose the structure of the new walls i.e. cavity depth and amount of insulation.
But then I have the dreaded ‘what if’ scenario. What if the building is not up to standard i.e. the cavity / structure of block work is not correct. Do I have any come back on the builder who carried out the work? From a simple perspective, I commission him to carry out the work and part of that was to liaise with the local council over building regulations. Clearly, for whatever reason, this has not been done.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Simon
Interesting first post and based upon my initial research, I can see that this type of activity is not uncommon but anyway, I hope that some might be able to offer advice on my situation.
Back in 2006 the roof on my (at the time two bedroom) terraced house needed replacing and the old outside toilet built onto the back of the kitchen needed work. Having received a few quotes and exploring the options, it was clear that the opportunity to extend into the loft to create another bedroom was an opportunity not to be missed. I selected a building contractor who converted the loft, fantastic quality and worked with the local council to gain the necessary building regulations. Along with a full electrical certificate for the house, upgrades to the doors throughout and an interlinked fire alarm system across all floors, the loft was signed off.
Now fast forward 8 years, I’ve sold my house and due to exchange in a matter of weeks but we since found out that the kitchen does not have a building regulations certificate.
Originally the kitchen (located on the back of the terrace house) included an external toilet attached to the back wall. The builder advised that this should be knocked down and we extend the kitchen into the area that was the old toilet, and take the opportunity to extend by an extra meter - replacing a 2x1 meter attached room with a 2x2 meter extension. The ground works was extensive due to the house having cellars, with foundations of circa 8 to 12 foot and steel reinforced (mesh and many steel poles). Everything was topped off with a concrete slab with a depth of about a foot around the outside to provide a seating area that leads to a retaining wall, before stepping down to the garden.
My issue is what to do? There are no signs of issues, a local builder has been around and checked what can be seen i.e. structurally there is no issue, no cracking in the concrete slab, brick work or internal plastering. The quality of the roof work and roof insulation is spot on but in order to get a retrospective building regulations certificate the building control officers need to expose the footings but given the available room to dig a hole, the depth of the footing is it viable to even do this? And expose the structure of the new walls i.e. cavity depth and amount of insulation.
But then I have the dreaded ‘what if’ scenario. What if the building is not up to standard i.e. the cavity / structure of block work is not correct. Do I have any come back on the builder who carried out the work? From a simple perspective, I commission him to carry out the work and part of that was to liaise with the local council over building regulations. Clearly, for whatever reason, this has not been done.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Simon
