Conveyancing check for loft room consent on Dyke Road, Brighton

Solicitor transacts home on Dyke Road Brighton

With many older houses in Brighton having had extensions, loft conversions and other building works carried out to them, it is very necessary for Conveyancing Solicitors to check that any such works have appropriate planning consent and comply with building regulations.

The buyers of a fine Edwardian house in Dyke Road, Brighton were grateful to their Solicitor Matt Rumbold, a Fridaysmove recommended Conveyancing Solicitor, for checking that planning consent had been obtained for the substantial loft extension which was an attractive feature of the property.

Matt found a number of planning records for the property shown in the local search which was obtained from Brighton and Hove City Council, Brighton Town Hall, Bartholomew Square, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1JA Tel. (01273) 292007.

The house had of course been built long before modern planning law came into existence, but the search showed that although the Council had refused consent for a loft conversion and roof extension to provide self-contained flat with external access staircase in 2003, they had granted consent for a loft conversion with side and rear dormers in 2005. There was a further consent for a Vehicle crossover also granted in 2005.

It can often be difficult for home owners to know what works require planning consent, and loft conversions are a tricky area. Although it is often possible to convert a loft to an additional room without planning consent, if any alterations to the roof are involved then consent is necessary.

Conveyancing Solicitors have to check that necessary consents have been obtained, as buyers do not want to have enforcement action taken by a council, requiring them to remove unauthorised work, after they have bought a house. In this case it appeared that the Council had granted consent for a loft conversion so as to provide an extra room as part of the house, but was not prepared to allow a separate flat to be created.

Local Solicitors Mayo Wynne Baxter of Century House, 15-19 Dyke Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3FE were acting for the sellers, and Matt asked them to let him have copies of all the consents, so that he could check if they contained any relevant conditions.

The seller’s agents were Elliotts of 2 Church Road, Hove, Brighton BN3 2FL,  Tel: 01273 773399 and they kindly emailed Matt a full copy of their sales brochure which included many excellent photographs of the house, which assisted Matt in the purchase.

Matt also asked for copies of the relevant completion certificates to show that the works had been inspected and passed by the council’s building control department and complied with relevant building regulations. Copies of these were forwarded by the sellers’ Conveyancing Solicitors, so all was well and Matt was able to reassure the buyers that they would have no problems from the council.

If you are buying or selling a home anywhere in the region, a Fridaysmove -recommended Brighton Conveyancing Solicitor will provide fast and cheap Conveyancing for you.