Charlie Owl
Member
- Messages
- 1
- Location
- Cheshire
I’m in progress with selling my 1910 semi detached: 3 bedroom, 2 story, with rear ‘outrigger’ which has kitchen ground floor, bathroom first floor.
Whilst there is a party wall in the loft for the main part of the house, the outrigger has no party wall in the loft (above the bathroom) between my side and my neighbour. This was identified on the survey when I brought the house 20+ years ago, but the surveyor did not say that it needed to be rectified. It does not meet current building regulations for new builds. The lack of the party wall in the outrigger loft has (no surprise) been identified in the survey recently done for the prospective buyer. So, the buyer has raised this as an issue, although I don’t know if the surveyor has said it’s a ‘must’ or a ‘should’ or a ‘could’ to resolve it. The buyer does not need a mortgage, so there will be no mortgage lender conditions applicable.
My understanding is that there is no legal or regulatory requirement to retrospectively upgrade an older house to meet current building regulations standards…..ie, in this case no requirement to retrospectively install a party wall.
Can anyone confirm this ? Can anyone provide reference to regulations where this can be confirmed ?
Is it likely that my conveyancing solicitor will be able to easily confirm from a legal perspective.
I realise that no party wall means no fire wall / fire separation in this part of the property between the two dwellings. And arguably there’s no security separation between the two dwellings, although it’s an inaccessible area. So, whilst for some people this means it would be desirable to retrospectively install a party wall, I’m trying to confirm that there is no legal/regulatory requirement.
Thanks
Whilst there is a party wall in the loft for the main part of the house, the outrigger has no party wall in the loft (above the bathroom) between my side and my neighbour. This was identified on the survey when I brought the house 20+ years ago, but the surveyor did not say that it needed to be rectified. It does not meet current building regulations for new builds. The lack of the party wall in the outrigger loft has (no surprise) been identified in the survey recently done for the prospective buyer. So, the buyer has raised this as an issue, although I don’t know if the surveyor has said it’s a ‘must’ or a ‘should’ or a ‘could’ to resolve it. The buyer does not need a mortgage, so there will be no mortgage lender conditions applicable.
My understanding is that there is no legal or regulatory requirement to retrospectively upgrade an older house to meet current building regulations standards…..ie, in this case no requirement to retrospectively install a party wall.
Can anyone confirm this ? Can anyone provide reference to regulations where this can be confirmed ?
Is it likely that my conveyancing solicitor will be able to easily confirm from a legal perspective.
I realise that no party wall means no fire wall / fire separation in this part of the property between the two dwellings. And arguably there’s no security separation between the two dwellings, although it’s an inaccessible area. So, whilst for some people this means it would be desirable to retrospectively install a party wall, I’m trying to confirm that there is no legal/regulatory requirement.
Thanks
