Is there a handbook of what one would normally expect to be done as part of this? I have a conservatory that I think might not have been given the attention it should've by the firm I've just used.

You mean building regs?

Speak to your local planning department and find out what applies.

or have a read

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/conservatories/

What's the issue?

Cheers for the link sugerbear.

I don't know if there's an issue as such Emjay. We've just bought a house that is leasehold. I think that I may have 2 concerns, but honesty don't know enough about the whole process.

We have a conservatory that was added 2006. The seller stated that no planning permission was needed; but as there's power, central heating and no seperating door I now think the seller might be wrong on this. I think that's one half of my concern. The second is the leasehold aspect. Would it be normal practice f o r the solicitor to check that the correct permissions were obtained from the landowners in relation to a conservatory?

From what you have said I doubt planning permission would have been required but as there is heating no physical barrier between it and the rest of the house I think it would have to comply with building regs as its would be classed a part of the house rather than a separate conservatory.

Yes, unlikely to be a planning permission issue but a buildings regs issue

Solicitors would send standard questions and get fairly standard responses. You should have been sent copies of the questions asked and those responses. Used to be called Property Information Form, might still be.

There will have been a question about any additions to the building and a request for copies of any permissions. Check what was said.

The solicitors on both sides would not know that the conservatory needed building regs approval unless someone passed on information to them flagging this up.

You could contact your local planning office before proceeding any further. They should be able to give you an indication of what is/was required.

My mother is buying a house which had a fairly major extension added five years ago. Planning permission was granted but they never had it signed off by building control.

The vendor is purchasing a one off insurance policy to cover this.

Thanks for the input all, I seem to be confusing building regs and planning permission. I've looked at the property information form and the seller has stated that after speaking to the planning dept, building regs weren't required. So I guess I need to speak to the planning dept as that should be logged. I assume I'm not digging a hole by asking?