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Submit plansOur self-build has disabled access throughout the ground floor. However, the local authority refused to sign off the build because we did not have a wheelchair access ramp at the front door. We choose not to do this, as it would have protruded into the drive. We’re now thinking of putting the house on the market – could this cause a problem?
It sounds like your local authority has quite correctly refused to issue a completion certificate because the works do not comply with the Building Regulations stipulating adequate access. Local authorities have various enforcement powers under the Building Act and would have been within their rights to prosecute, leaving you with a criminal record. But for offences that do not carry an imminent threat to life safety, such as yours, they prefer not to take such a heavy-handed approach.
In addition to refusing to issue the certificate, they will also have made an entry on the local search record, which means that purchasers will be aware of the defect. That may not put off some buyers. However, in these times of relatively stringent lending criteria, if there’s no completion certificate, lenders may refuse a mortgage application. What’s more, purchasers’ solicitors may advise against any deal, or at least encourage their clients to pursue a price reduction.
Your best remedy would be to install the ramp now and ask the local authority to issue the completion certificate. When they do, ensure they remove any trace of the problem from the local search records.
Answered by Simon Middleton
