Building regulation/Planning issues

Building regulation/Planning issues

It is extremely common for homeowners to undertake renovations or build extensions to their property and not seek the correct building regulations approval or planning permission. It is also not unheard of for local authorities to misplace documentation relating to previous works that have been carried out or for builders to tell you incorrectly that permission is not required.

These are a few examples of how the loss can range from knocking down part of your home to suffering damage to your property due to the works not being carried out to a good enough standard:

Cliff Richard told to tear down his conservatory

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/155225/Cliff-Richard-told-to-tear-down-his-conservatory

Sir Cliff Richard's hopes of keeping his £30,000 conservatory, that was built in 2006, were shattered after his appeal against having to demolish it was turned down. The pop legend was locked in a seven-month battle with his local council that warned him to remove the structure from his home because it was built without obtaining permission from the council. Sir Cliff claimed that the builders told him that he did not need planning permission and only realised when he put his home on the market. This highlights the plight of a homeowner who, acting in good faith, added a modest sized conservatory to enhance his home and enjoy the occasional ray of winter sun.

Paul Potts' incorrect planning advice

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8108851.stm

Britain's Got Talent 2007 winner Paul Potts has been criticised by conservationists and planners over the renovation of his art deco manor house. He failed to get planning permission before removing picture rails from his £450,000 Grade II listed home in Wales. Mr Potts later applied for the planning permission after the work had been done, which was approved. He said: "Unfortunately at the time of purchase we were wrongly advised as to the nature and extent of the listing."

Extension tension

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/x-ray/sites/allarticles/updates/10p04_extension.shtml

A brand new £32,000 extension faces demolition a few weeks after it was built with the benefit of a planning permission. A survey of the Thornton's property by Welsh Water Dwr Cymru has revealed that the extension was built inside an access zone called an easement. Bridgend Council granted planning permission but also advised the Thorntons to contact statutory undertakers (water and gas companies) to find out if there would be a problem with the development. Welsh Water have confirmed that if the Thorntons had contacted them, as the council advised, they would have pointed them to the clause contained in the deeds, which refers to no building within three meters of a drain. The Thorntons now face a hard decision: demolishing their extension or re-routing the drains at their own cost, which will cost tens of thousands of pounds.

Rooftop garden breach

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4033825.stm

The parents of a disabled Kent teenager say she is a prisoner in her own home after the council declared the railings on a rooftop garden built for her were in breach of planning laws. Gravesham Borough Council offered the couple £500 compensation, but the couple say the railings cost them £3,000 to install. Mr and Mrs Smith claim they were wrongly advised by the council building inspector, who said they needed only building consent. They applied retrospectively for planning consent, but the application was turned down. A Councillor from Gravesham Borough Council said: "It is a sad situation and we'd like to be able to help. It turns out we are not liable and that's the best offer we can make at the moment."

First Title claim example

The insured purchased their new home in good faith. Some time after they moved in, work was being carried out on the adjoining property when the insured experienced problems with their sewer. After making enquiries with the Water Authorities, the problem quickly rose to the surface. It was discovered that the plumbing and drainage work carried out on the insured's property was completed without inspection and approval by the Water Authorities. First Title organised for all the plumbing work necessary to make the sewer line compliant and for the Water Authorities to issue a new Sewerage Services Diagram, bearing all costs associated with this.