expert help
SELF-BUILD
Do I need a completion certificate if I want to sell my home?
We’re currently halfway through our project and it’s time to put our house on the market to finance the rest of the work. Our previous dwelling was also a self-build. I have all the architect’s certificates needed. However, I have never approached the local council for a final certificate. But they had made the usual visits up to this point and were satisfied. I’ve lived there now for over 11 years. Would I still need a final certificate from the local authority in order to sell?
The issue may well be with the solicitors of any potential purchasers if they insist on seeing a completion certificate, which they probably will. You could spend a fortune paying legal fees sorting out something that is easily resolved by contacting your local authority building control for a copy of the final certificate. If all of the inspections had been made before completion and this is the only thing missing, it should be a simple matter to get the certificate issued retrospectively. Bear in mind that even though the regulations will have changed over the years, the only ones that apply to your home are the ones that were in force when you initially applied for Building Regulations approval.
PLANNING