Wheelchair Access

Smiffy57

I am selling my dormer house built in 2003 that I purchased in 2015. I’ve been told that before I can sell I need to have a wheelchair ramp built which I understand and am happy to do. However, I have also been informed that the downstairs shower room and toilet (which is off of the utility room) needs to be extended into the utility to make it wide enough for a wheelchair to turn. This involves knocking down two walls, moving two radiators and the electric sockets and light switch. This is all starting to sound really expensive! Another option would be to take out the shower and move the wash basin to that wall which might make it so me what cheaper. My question is do I really have to do this work? Will a bank refuse a potential buyer a mortgage if the engineer says the shower room/toilet does not comply with building regs?

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058201550/wheelchair-access

First of all, who is telling you to do these things?

And in what context?

Are they acting on your behalf or a buyers behalf?

Next, if your house was built in 2003, it needs to comply with the Regulations in force at that time.

Did you get a Certificate of Compliance from the previous owner when you bought in 2015?

You may need to engage someone now to determine if these works are required or not.

Smiffy57

Hi, I asked a builder to look at a crack on the stair wall and quote for repair and redecoration. As he regularly renovates and resells property, he had a look round the house for me to make suggestions and spotted the size of the shower room. I had an engineers report when I purchased the house and didn’t spot anything untoward on that but we were cash buyers and I probably wouldn’t have realised the implications in any case. I think the regulations in the UK where I lived previously are different regarding older properties.

con747

I would look for a new builder.

Smiffy57

Well not going to take his word for it as, along with a little bit of decorating, he’s talking about €10,000. I guess I will have to get second opinion.

sydthebeat

Builders do not specialise in building regulation compliance. They are, in my experience, absolute masters of knowing a little about a lot.

Smiffy57

So, I’ve been Googling building regs 2000 Access for Disabled People and it states under Transitional Arrangements “this document applies to works commencing after 1 January 2001 except in the case of new dwellings where planning permission has been applied for on or before 31 December 2000 and where substantial works have been completed by 31 December 2003 …”

I know planning permission was applied for three houses on this land in 1999 and I know that my house was completed in 2003. So am I reading this right … my house is exempt from having to comply with this reg??

Smiffy57

Have found the planning permission and checked the grid reference to confirm it’s my house and looked at the scanned plans. Fingers crossed, I think I might have just saved myself money that I didn’t really have!

sydthebeat

You need a cert of compliance if selling.

Its up to the professional who certifies to satisfy themselves as to the dates in order to deem your build pre 2001 TGD M regs. So you'd need to be able to prove substantial completion by 31st Dec 2003

1997 TGD M didn't apply to dwellings.