Partner and Co-head of the Property Disputes team, Leon Golstein, was featured in The Sunday Times responding to a reader’s question about whether they should and how to properly purchase a property that didn’t get building control approval for previous renovations.
“Before buying the bungalow, you should have your surveyor formally confirm that the property is structurally safe, although he may say that he cannot do this without exposing the lintels. It would be prudent to revisit the potential cost of uncovering a worst-case scenario and secure a discount to that extent. You should also check before purchase that you can get insurance cover. Putting aside sufficient funds to do the work and regularise the position immediately after purchase will help ensure the safety of the structure and secure building control approval.”
To read Leon’s full response, please see here.