Moved toilet

[gloshette]

A toilet was moved in the house about 12 years ago.

Should my darling ex husband have got planning permission to do this?

Am thinking of moving and am worried as someone mentioned this should have been got?

If so, how do I find out if it was got(cant ask ex husband as dont know where he is - let alone wish to speak to him ), and if he never, how do i fix the problem now? Can you get retrospective permission?

Help!

[buildersmate]

You don't need Planning Permission. Technically he should have sought Building Regulations approval because poking around with the waste soil stacks (the 4 inch pipework from the toilets) is part of the Hygiene part of the Regs. After 12 years, I won't even mention it. Prospective buyers should employ a surveyor to check the property on their behalf. There is an outside chance their solicitor may pick up on it.

[gloshette]

cheers, so what should i do, if a surveyor or solicitor does pick up on it?

Just so i am prepared........ I am worried sick that darling ex husband has landed me in the s***! (so as to speak!)

[jake-the-peg]

This is always presuming that you don't live in a listed house in which case you'd need listed building approval and all sorts of pain.

If anybody picks up just deny any knowledge - could it have been done before you moved in? Maybe you had a builder in who said you didn't need it?

To be honest it'd be pretty amazing if a surveyor takes time off from looking at his damp meter to notice it. So many people just pay for a home buyer mortgage anyway in which case they'd be lucky to spot it if somebody stole all your windows overnight!

[raysparx]

I would do as buildersmate says, after 12 years you would be very unlucky for it to even be questioned, just don't mention it.

[buildersmate]

Agreed. 'The toilet has always been like that, and was like that when the house was built, as far as I know'

[raysparx]

good on yer builder, I thought it was there when we moved in!!!

[KARL]

If the toilet was moved between rooms then, depending on which local authority is involved and how fastidious the survey is, it is just possible this would be picked up. If it was moved within the same room then I would be very surprised if the matter were to be raised - in which case you could plead ignorance. In this latter scenario any prospective buyer is unlikely to care much and may even think of moving it again anyway. As correctly pointed out, a listed house is in a category of its own whereas a "standard", fairly modern house (and more so a flat) is unlikely to prove controversial.

[KARL]

Oops, meant to answer the last part of your question - yes, a sort of retroactive approval can be obtained again depending on which local authority. In effect it is getting confirmation that everything fits with current regulations.

[rhona_j]

This happened to my mother in law. She had her kitchen moved, the builders didn't tell her she needed Building Control approval, and when it came up as a query when the new buyers got the survey it sent her into a panic. It was sorted out very easily by contacting the Building Control office, who then visited the house to check the work and then issued a 'Letter of Comfort', basically just a letter confirming to the new buyer all the work carried out was to their satisfaction. But this happened within two years of the work being carried out, I would imagine in your case it won't even come up. As long as the work was carried out to a reasonable standard it shouldn't be too much hassel even if the do want it checked. Good luck!

[Rosanna]

Sorry this isn't really an answer at all but a Q re@ L of Comfort. I'm selling my top floor flat and the purchaser is insiting that I get a letter of comfort for a staircase that was put in by the previous owners. The stair case was put in to give access to an attic conversion. There was permission given/building warrant for the actual conversion & velux but for some reason the stair case wasn't mentioned. I'm worried that as the stair is a bit steep building control may not pass for a letter of comfort. Does anyone know what H&S guidelines there are in place regarding stair case gradients etc. All a bit of a worry at the mo!