I friend of mine built a garden room some 6 years ago , thought they did not need planning permission due to permitted development.

They are now selling the property and relevant pieces of paper are being asked for.

They are under the impression that there are some rules that say , after one year of build the room does not need to conform to building standards ( although the room does) , and that after 4 years has elapsed planning permission would no longer be neccesary.

Does anybody know of this?

In the worst case scenario how helpful are the council liable to be regarding retrospective planning permission?

Are there any local planning officers on Locostbuilders?

i would make enquries to the local planning dept about the specifics of permitted development, without mentioning an address. If you find PP was required, try asking the question here:

http://www.ebuild.co.uk/cgi-bin/forums/discus.pl

in the planning forum.

Is the room opened up into the origional house? i.e without an external door into it?if so it does need building regs.

[Edited on 6/4/07 by dilley]

The garden room is built where the back door and a window where situated so the original back door now opens in the garden room and there is a new stable door and french windows in the garden room.

It is single story but has a hip type roof at one end and is joined into the original bungalow roof at the other end.

it is within 2mtrs of the boundary on the rear of the original property.

If it's been there for more than 4 years I'm sure it doesn't need planning permission. To be able to sell it on they are going to need to show it conforms to building regs, I would imagine a surveyor could confirm this & complete a report to say so.

Did "your friend" contact anyone in the planning department before the build, even informally, to get an opinion? If s/he did and kept a record, it might help if the authorities cut up rough.

Just tell your friend to get an indemnity policy to cover it and get on with the sale!

Ned.