advice needed on conservatory without planning permission

[richie-474]

Hello,

We bought our house in 2009, it had a conservatory already built in 2001 without planning permission.

The seller's took out an indemnity insurance policy which covered us against any enforcement action.

We are now looking to sell the house.

One buyer for our house made an offer but then removed her offer for our house after talking to their solicitor about the conservatory and was advised against buying...

I read something about if a building has been built without planning permission but has been erect for 5 or more years without any complaints then it's fine and no permission is needed.

Is this right?
What should I do??
I've read threads online and tried asking my council but I'm so confused about it all.

Any advise please

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Its called the 'four year rule'. Google it, once four years has elapsed the development becomes imune from prosecution. Even the indemnity your seller was forced to purchase when you bought the house was unecessary.

Bloody solicitors!

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/8/section/171B

 

[richie-474]

Thank you Freddy
I feel much better now

 

[tony1851]

One buyer for our house made an offer but then removed her offer for our house after talking to their solicitor about the conservatory and was advised against buying...

So in effect, her solicitor has charged her for advising against buying your house, loosing her a potential new home, and you a sale,
all through ignorance of the rules. Probably law is the one profession where practitioners get paid handsomely for getting things wrong and their clients don't even know about it.

 

[Nakajo]

I think we can add lots of other professions to that list.