Converting A Garage... Consent

[KingRolo]

We had our garage converted, which needed building regs only, not planning permission.
We are selling the house and have been asked to provide "evidence from the Local Authority to confirm that no consent was required".
Is this something we would have received?
Thanks

[fadeout73]

No, you wouldn't have received it. You need to approach your Local Authority to request a Letter of Comfort.

[TonyV]

If you on a fixed price from your solicitor / conveyancer let them deal with it

[KingRolo]

Thank you both. Can a letter of comfort be provided without a building reg inspection? I wasn't handed any paperwork once the work was done (we were on holiday to get away from the mess). Presumably, this is what will be on record, as per Dive's msg? Ty

[bednobs]

if you never finished the building regs process, you need to get that done and get signed off

[bednobs]

but if the final inspection wasn't done ...?

[KingRolo]

Thank you all... first thing is to call the LA tomorrow and see if they have a record of it... if not, a certain creek is on the horizon, I imagine! Especially as we are a week away from exchanging!

[Zacs-Master]

May have been done on a building notice rather than a full app.

[buildersmate]

Solicitors and conveyancers are generally not good on planning or building regs matters.

You do not need planning consent for this type of conversion unless your permitted development rights have been rescinded. This will be the case if you live in a conservation area or a national park or an AONB, and it MAY be the case if you live on recent housing estate and it was made a condition as part of the original planning consent. Armed with this answer back to the buyers solicitor it is for them to check this, which they are perfectly able to do via local searches.

[jackthehat]

Building Regs and Planning are two separate issues.

You should be able to get a copy Final Certificate from the Building Control Department.....there may be a small cost for this.

For the Planning Issue, you may have to apply for a Certificate of Lawful Development which will confirm that no Planning Consent was required for the conversion.......there will certainly be a cost for this; but contact the Planning Office to talk through your options given the small time-frame you are working with.

[KingRolo]

We don't have any of those restrictions... the conversion was stud wall and ceiling within the garage (as we wanted garage space and access to back door), nothing done to the outside, and a door through what was the old side window for access. If building regs were started then I should hear good news tomorrow when I call the LA. If not, presumably planning consent may not have been required, but building regs definitely are? However, it is consent they want, not reg sign off...