New build house - building inspector sign off.?
Discussion
Been looking at new builds recently and the house style we like has an island in the kitchen. We feel that the kitchen would be far more useable without the island so asked the builder if they could leave the island out and slightly change the kitchen layout if we were to purchase a house.
The builder claims they can’t do this because the council building inspector would refuse to sign the house off due to it not being to plan. Anyone know if this is correct? Or is it just a fob off from the builder?
I don’t believe that a planning permission for a house would be as detailed as stipulating that the kitchen must have an island.
The builder claims they can’t do this because the council building inspector would refuse to sign the house off due to it not being to plan. Anyone know if this is correct? Or is it just a fob off from the builder?
I don’t believe that a planning permission for a house would be as detailed as stipulating that the kitchen must have an island.
Likely a bit more to this;
- What services are in the island - hob, dishwasher, sink?- - How far are you from house completion - if soon the services for above are likely already run
- standardisation - a lot of new builds are standardised so harder to chop too much around
They're giving an excuse for not doing a lot more work.
- What services are in the island - hob, dishwasher, sink?- - How far are you from house completion - if soon the services for above are likely already run
- standardisation - a lot of new builds are standardised so harder to chop too much around
They're giving an excuse for not doing a lot more work.
Sounds a complete fob off to me.
I think a kitchen island is usually considered as part of the f &f / cosmetic choice rather than anything to do with building regs and I’d be surprised if said inspector would either worry or care.
I’m sure if you said it’s a deal breaker and without the island you’d buy they would try and accommodate.
I think a kitchen island is usually considered as part of the f &f / cosmetic choice rather than anything to do with building regs and I’d be surprised if said inspector would either worry or care.
I’m sure if you said it’s a deal breaker and without the island you’d buy they would try and accommodate.
Possibly true if planning requirements dictate compliance with a category M4(3) accessible or adaptable standard as this imposes requirements as to the minimum length land worktop space.
In reality though they probably just don t want to change it, particularly if you suddenly decide at the last minute to pull out of the purchase as it would make the property less saleable.
In reality though they probably just don t want to change it, particularly if you suddenly decide at the last minute to pull out of the purchase as it would make the property less saleable.
ED209 said:
Been looking at new builds recently and the house style we like has an island in the kitchen. We feel that the kitchen would be far more useable without the island so asked the builder if they could leave the island out and slightly change the kitchen layout if we were to purchase a house.
The builder claims they can t do this because the council building inspector would refuse to sign the house off due to it not being to plan. Anyone know if this is correct? Or is it just a fob off from the builder?
I don t believe that a planning permission for a house would be as detailed as stipulating that the kitchen must have an island.
I find it hard to believe as well.The builder claims they can t do this because the council building inspector would refuse to sign the house off due to it not being to plan. Anyone know if this is correct? Or is it just a fob off from the builder?
I don t believe that a planning permission for a house would be as detailed as stipulating that the kitchen must have an island.
I suspect the issue is that they are building to a set of agreed drawings, and any late changes could lead to screw ups with the various trades. Its just too much hassle to make sure everyone knows about the changes.
My brother bought a new build and had a similar srory. It had a utility room with the end partitioned as a larder cupboard. Some identical houses on the same development had a bigger utility and no larder, so he asked them to build his that way. They gave the same excuse. He ended up ripping the larder cupboard out himself.
98elise said:
I find it hard to believe as well.
I suspect the issue is that they are building to a set of agreed drawings, and any late changes could lead to screw ups with the various trades. Its just too much hassle to make sure everyone knows about the changes.
My brother bought a new build and had a similar srory. It had a utility room with the end partitioned as a larder cupboard. Some identical houses on the same development had a bigger utility and no larder, so he asked them to build his that way. They gave the same excuse. He ended up ripping the larder cupboard out himself.
I suspect ripping the island out and adjusting the kitchen bench how we would want it would be the answer. Seems a stupid waste of time and money though. I suspect the issue is that they are building to a set of agreed drawings, and any late changes could lead to screw ups with the various trades. Its just too much hassle to make sure everyone knows about the changes.
My brother bought a new build and had a similar srory. It had a utility room with the end partitioned as a larder cupboard. Some identical houses on the same development had a bigger utility and no larder, so he asked them to build his that way. They gave the same excuse. He ended up ripping the larder cupboard out himself.
ED209 said:
98elise said:
I find it hard to believe as well.
I suspect the issue is that they are building to a set of agreed drawings, and any late changes could lead to screw ups with the various trades. Its just too much hassle to make sure everyone knows about the changes.
My brother bought a new build and had a similar srory. It had a utility room with the end partitioned as a larder cupboard. Some identical houses on the same development had a bigger utility and no larder, so he asked them to build his that way. They gave the same excuse. He ended up ripping the larder cupboard out himself.
I suspect ripping the island out and adjusting the kitchen bench how we would want it would be the answer. Seems a stupid waste of time and money though. I suspect the issue is that they are building to a set of agreed drawings, and any late changes could lead to screw ups with the various trades. Its just too much hassle to make sure everyone knows about the changes.
My brother bought a new build and had a similar srory. It had a utility room with the end partitioned as a larder cupboard. Some identical houses on the same development had a bigger utility and no larder, so he asked them to build his that way. They gave the same excuse. He ended up ripping the larder cupboard out himself.
I'm 11 months into a new build. I got it after someone else dropped out
Developer refused to allow upgrade to tiles (from 1/2 tiled to full wall tiled) or upgrade to add a shower in main bathroom. The house at this stage was bare plasterboards and first fix.
Transpires that the shower wall has been built with stud and block RIGHT where the shower would be mounted and that the under bath plumbing was rather tight, so needing a proper refit to fit in the space. This then is why they didn't want to fit a shower.
Why the heck they would not allow us to pay for tile upgrade, I've no idea.
I think they just like to bang out houses, there's subby contracts signed months ahead which then cannot be varied, and I bet they've been burned before by awkward customers.
Developer refused to allow upgrade to tiles (from 1/2 tiled to full wall tiled) or upgrade to add a shower in main bathroom. The house at this stage was bare plasterboards and first fix.
Transpires that the shower wall has been built with stud and block RIGHT where the shower would be mounted and that the under bath plumbing was rather tight, so needing a proper refit to fit in the space. This then is why they didn't want to fit a shower.
Why the heck they would not allow us to pay for tile upgrade, I've no idea.
I think they just like to bang out houses, there's subby contracts signed months ahead which then cannot be varied, and I bet they've been burned before by awkward customers.
Be very aware if there is any plumbing to a central island in a kitchen! I'm retired, but a few years ago a customer had an island with a sink in it - the waste pipe was routed through the floor, and inevitably it blocked frequently but to replace it would have involved some excavation!
ED209 said:
Been looking at new builds recently and the house style we like has an island in the kitchen. We feel that the kitchen would be far more useable without the island so asked the builder if they could leave the island out and slightly change the kitchen layout if we were to purchase a house.
The builder claims they can t do this because the council building inspector would refuse to sign the house off due to it not being to plan. Anyone know if this is correct? Or is it just a fob off from the builder?
I don t believe that a planning permission for a house would be as detailed as stipulating that the kitchen must have an island.
No one cares about the internal layout(s). B Regs inspector will just want it built to current B Regs.The builder claims they can t do this because the council building inspector would refuse to sign the house off due to it not being to plan. Anyone know if this is correct? Or is it just a fob off from the builder?
I don t believe that a planning permission for a house would be as detailed as stipulating that the kitchen must have an island.
Sounds to me like the builder CBA.
TX.
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