Is my conveyancer right or wrong here? Building Regs signed off?

[WhiskyInTheJar]

Hi,

 

I'm in the process of purchasing a property and the below has come up on the searches. It relates to an adjoining garage which was converted into an extension of the living room.

 

Our conveyancer says that this is proof that building regs were signed off.

 

However, since the person who carried out the work had only owned the property since 25 January 2006, I think the 17/02/2006 date reflects when notice was given of works to be carried out, 28/02/2006 reflects when the notification was accepted, and I suspect that 12/06/2006 represents the electrician signing off their own work under CPS, presumably nearer the end of the conversion project.

 

I'd really appreciate the thoughts of anyone with a bit more experience and understanding in this area. Thanks in advance!

[Redbeard]

The lack of a completion cert suggests it has not been signed off! (Surely). I always received completion certs for my jobs. The heading says 'Date of Completion Cert (If issued)' and the comment is N/A. I would read that as 'It is not applicable because there is no date, because there is no completion cert', but I see that in this case they use it as 'not available'. Either way I don't think that helps you, as it could be 'not available' 'cause they lost it, or because there never was one.

 

Of course I could be wrong....

[torre]

7 hours ago, WhiskyInTheJar said:

since the person who carried out the work had only owned the property since 25 January 2006, I think the 17/02/2006 date reflects when notice was given of works to be carried out, 28/02/2006 reflects when the notification was accepted,

I agree this is the more likely explanation. 

 

Tell your conveyancer you don't think that's sufficient proof and you require a copy of the completion certificate, or (given it's some time ago) an indemnity policy from the vendor. These are cheap and easy for the vendor to obtain (but only cover you against enforcement action, not defective work).

 

If your conveyancer is reluctant then ask if they'll indemnity you themselves based on having given advice - I'm pretty sure they won't.

[kandgmitchell]

That reference in the first column - DEXBN I would assume to be Domestic Extension Building Notice. Thus there will be no deposited plans of the works and the site inspection notes of the officer/inspector involved would be the only formal records of what has been done. In your case I would echo the advice above, ask for the completion certificate although that conversion is 20 years old and if there are no obvious problems you may wish to take a view....

 

The chance of enforcement action after all this time is vanishingly small. How much do you want the property?

[Roger440]

Theres zero possibility of enforcement action 20 years after the event, so to be blunt who cares?

 

Theres no legal requirement that says you cant buy a house without the relevant paperwork.

 

If you think its badly done,get someone competent to look at it. Its only a garage conversion.