problems with drainage

[monkeybach]

It might seem like it, but we are very simply first time buyers who were advised to do something by our mortgage company and we did it.

The extension is the same size as the estate agents measurements, so it is actually exactly the same size as the previous extension. The foundations are the old ones - we didn't dig anything up. We simply replaced a single brick building with a double skin extension.

 

[noseall]

why would a recommendation from your money lenders, lead you to think that you were exempt from building control?

if the same people loaned you money for a car, i bet you would tax and insure it. no?

 

[monkeybach]

The mortgage company advised us to pull the extension down because it did not comply with current building regs. We assumed that as we were doing improving works and that an extension had been there for so long previously, it had obviously been cleared by planning and such, etc, some time previously, and that as the work we were doing was simply to improve that original extension we would not be required to apply for new planning/building regs.

Also, you clearly have experience in this field and we dont. I'm here for advice not for condemnation.

 

[Richard C]

The mortgage company advised us to pull the extension down because it did not comply with current building regs. We assumed that as we were doing improving works and that an extension had been there for so long previously, it had obviously been cleared by planning and such, etc, some time previously, and that as the work we were doing was simply to improve that original extension we would not be required to apply for new planning/building regs.

Not necessarily, regulations are much more rigorously enforced than they used to be. Planning is one thing, Building Control & compliance with regulations is something completely different. They are not directly connected but one usually follows & is dependant on the other. If the old extension had PP (did it?), it would still have to comply with building regulations in force at that time (did it?). Whilst reasonable maintenance & repair is permitted, any notifyable work you undertake on any part of your property must comply with current building regs. not the one's in force when it was built. Unfortunately, ignorance is no defence & by knocking down the previous extension, you’re back to square one with Building Regs. &, depending on your property, its location & other local circumstances, you may have to re-apply for PP but far more worryingly, current planning regulations may even prohibit you to rebuilding! I think your lender has given you extremely poor advice & unless it in some way threatened the main dwelling or was subject to a condition of your loan, you were under no obligation to follow it.

Anyway, what exactly is your problem?

 

[monkeybach]

What basically happened was that the Building Regulations dept. had an anonymous complaint from someone (we dont know who and we dont even know the nature of the complaint). Building Regs came and we gave them all the specifications and they were happy with what we had done but obviously said that we should have contacted them, but that as we have been in the house for over 12 months there was little we could do. He did say that we could have difficulties with the water board because we didn't have a Building over a Sewer Agreement with the water company, but we didn't even change the floor so we have no idea whether there is anything underneath the extension.

Just very, very upset at the moment.

 

[noseall]

have the water company been in touch?

why did you not continue with this post? duplicate posts can be confusing.

 

[Richard C]

why did you not continue with this post? duplicate posts can be confusing.

Very; & it would have saved me asking similar questions!

Whose drain is it, is it actually a public sewer or just your foul drain connecting to the public sewer? If it's on your property & not shared with a neighbour, it's likely to be your drain! If so, it's nothing to do with the water board & you can do what you like with it; subject to building regulations of course!