Building Regs and Planning Permission on a 2 storey extensio

[Gaby77]

Hi,

My friend has bought a property about a year ago now, and there was a double storey extension which was over twenty year old. When going through the sale my friend had to get a indemnity insurance policy as the sellers were unable to provide her with satisfactory documents for the planning and building regulations. How would this affect a possible sale in the future as the extension is over 20 years old, and how can she rectify it? Is there some database they can check at the council and if you were to give her details will she get in trouble as the extension is over 20 years old, and she did take out indemnity insurance. Thanks for any help.

 

[jeds]

It is possible to get it regularised but it really isn't worth it. At 20 years old it's immune from planning and building regulations enforcement so the local authority won't be interested. The only drawback is when you sell but that would just be a case of buying another indemnity policy. You may be wondering what those indemnities are for if the extension is immune? Very good question. The answer is; not a lot! But it does get over the problem. Just a point worth noting though; no insurance company will offer you an indemnity once you contact the local authority. So don't, whatever you do, go asking the local authority about it.

 

[tony1851]

These indemnities are pretty pointless after such a long time. It makes one wonder for how long successive sellers of the property will keep being asked by solicitors to buy these useless things. Thirty years, fifty years...?. Who benefits beside the insurance companies?