What now guys?

[melanieh]

5 years ago I fell in love with and bought my Grade 2 listed timber framed cottage with Victorian extension - complete with with a white UPVC window at the back of the property.

2 of the front windows were of softwood and badly decayed.......

I had 2 beautiful hardwood windows made to replace the rotten ones at the front and removed the white UPVC window at the back and replaced it again with hand made hardwood. All 3 have aged wonderfully and now have taken on a lovely silver aged appearance.

Question - Unfortunately I have to upsticks and relocate to another part of the country and sell my beloved cottage. When I replaced my windows I didn't get permission (I know don't shout at me) but I am aware that one of the questions I will be asked by my estate agent is - Have you done any alterations/repairs to the property and do you have copies of the permissions....

What do I do now?! Come clean and get retrospective LBC - or is there another soluton? I'm losing sleep with worry.......!

 

[biffvernon]

"Only like for like repairs, LBC not required"
(A uPVC window is like an oak framed one - they both have a bit of glass in them.) :wink:

 

[norfolk house rob]

Hi melanieh,
I would say that those windows look in pretty good shape for 6 years old, although I agree with LBC to a certain extent, I think it can be taken too far. It is obvious that you have been considerate to your property, with the chosen new windows, as for the LBC on this occasion deny all knowledge of the replacements, I am sure the prospective owners are not going to quibble. have a good nights sleep.

 

[middi]

I would like to thing that you propective buyers would want you to keep " stump" about the windows if they like the house.

They would not want a " spanner in the works " eiher.

 

[biffvernon]

And if they wanted to reinstate the uPVC you wouldn't want to sell to them

 

[melanieh]

Thanks guys - I read your responses before I went to bed and had a really good night's sleep!

What an excellent forum - property advice and sleep management rolled into one!! Thanks again

 

[Ian Bond]

It sounds like you've really taken good care of the cottage.

Do you know when it was listed? When you bought the house, the uPVC windows obviously weren't flagged up as a problem. In other words, whoever put those abominations in got away with it.

And all you've done is put in something much more in sympathy with the building!

 

[NT]

... you've replaced liked for unliked.

NT

 

[Penners]

Have you done any alterations/repairs to the property

I reckon you've done repairs to the windows. And repairs don't need permission.