Any surveyors on here?
Discussion
Currently attempting to buy a fairly unusual property.
Its a swimming pool building built 22 years ago, and converted last year into a dwelling. No one has lived in it yet.
All works seems to have been carried out correctly as far as we can tell, however the mortgage company surveyor inspected it last week and their report states that its a new build, and therefore needs a building warranty. Seller says its just a refurb so there wont be a warranty on the building, and its been standing for 22 years.
The alternative requirement in the absence of a warranty was confirmation of a professional being involved - the architect involved wasn't very helpful, I assume due to new build being mentioned.
The building regs sign off has been sent to the mortgage company but I don't know if this will be sufficient.
Anyone had similar experiences like this? We really want this property!!
Its a swimming pool building built 22 years ago, and converted last year into a dwelling. No one has lived in it yet.
All works seems to have been carried out correctly as far as we can tell, however the mortgage company surveyor inspected it last week and their report states that its a new build, and therefore needs a building warranty. Seller says its just a refurb so there wont be a warranty on the building, and its been standing for 22 years.
The alternative requirement in the absence of a warranty was confirmation of a professional being involved - the architect involved wasn't very helpful, I assume due to new build being mentioned.
The building regs sign off has been sent to the mortgage company but I don't know if this will be sufficient.
Anyone had similar experiences like this? We really want this property!!
I'd expect them to want a warranty in addition to the B.Regs sign off.
They are available specifically for conversions - if whoever undertook the work didn't obtain one, they've dropped a very substantial b
k.
ETA: A PCC (Professional Consultant's Certificate - AKA an 'Architect's Certificate') is an alternative that some mortgage lenders will accept instead of a warranty, but again you can't produce one retrospectively, so if the Architect didn't inspect for this purpose as works progressed, it's too late to do anything about it now.
And mortgage lenders are becoming increasingly wary of PCC's in any case - they're not worth the paper they're written on, which is why we, as a practice, refuse to offer them.
They are available specifically for conversions - if whoever undertook the work didn't obtain one, they've dropped a very substantial b
k.ETA: A PCC (Professional Consultant's Certificate - AKA an 'Architect's Certificate') is an alternative that some mortgage lenders will accept instead of a warranty, but again you can't produce one retrospectively, so if the Architect didn't inspect for this purpose as works progressed, it's too late to do anything about it now.
And mortgage lenders are becoming increasingly wary of PCC's in any case - they're not worth the paper they're written on, which is why we, as a practice, refuse to offer them.
Edited by Equus on Thursday 18th April 10:03
MOBB said:
Done a bit more googling, can the seller now just purchase a warranty on the property?
No.You purchase such warranties in advance of the build, and the warranty company then sends out their own surveyor to check the build in progress (at similar stages to the Building Regulations inspections) to ensure that it is to an adequate standard.
Even when the building control and warranty are provided by the same organisation (eg. NHBC and LABC) the building control and warranty inspections are separate processes.
MOBB said:
I think they intended to move into it themselves so perhaps skipped the CML PCC thing - bit short-sighted?
Indeed... I come across it fairly frequently that a self-builder has convinced themselves that it is going to be their 'forever' home and that they're therefore being clever by saving themselves £3K or so on a warranty.I always strenuously urge clients not to cut that particular corner, as you never know what unforeseen circumstances can arise that might force you to sell prematurely, but there's no helping some people.
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