Loft Conversion

Selling a house with loft room and no building regulations

Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 3.02 PM

We purchased a 2 bedroom terrace in 2007 with a bonus loft room which had no building regulations. We were told this room (which has a bathroom in it) was not considered a room. I believe the work was done on the room about 2004-2005 In 2010 we had an issue with our kitchen (which had also been extended by the previous owners). It turns out this was also done without building regulations as it had no foundations and an open manhole under the floor – we have rectified this which involved spending £38,000, but this is all complete and signed off now. When the council came to inspect and sign off they also saw the loft room and have told us this will also have to be put back to a room which cannot be used (so take out the staircase which comes down into the master bedroom behind a door) and take out the shower. This is upwards of £8,000 more work to be done, we can't afford to do this and are so sick of the house we just want to move. So my question is can we still sell our house even though we have been told by the building inspector to put it back (incidentally we appear to have been unlucky with our building inspector as once he was sick and his colleague came round and mentioned he wouldn’t have made us take it all out). If we are totally honest with any prospective buyers about the above, will a sale still be possible and is there any comeback on us from the council? Any advice greatly appreciated.