Hi,

we're in the process of buying a pretty standard sheffield terraced house. It has had some pretty substantial underpinning at the back which was highlighted on the survey. We have been back to the vendors and they have no information about it as far as we know as they are unaware that the house has been underpinned.

The house also has an attic bedroom. When we asked for the details and asked about the planning permission we were told that the the attic was completed long before the vendors moved in and they thought the house originally came with the attic and so no planning permission would have been required.

The survey says the house is ok and there were no structural problems. I should probably also mention that this house is leasehold.

The questions I have are:

- Obviously any insurance company would require details about the underpinning. Is there any way other than via the vendor that I am likely to get any information? Would the freehold owner know?

- Is it common for houses to have originally come with an attic room? I was under the impression that all the terraced houses around sheffield that have attic rooms had had them converted?

- What would happen if no details can be found about the attic? Or indeed the underpinning for that matter?

My solicitor has recommended we take this information back to the surveyor, but I am unsure what they will be able to do.

Any comments or suggestions would be most welcome.

Thanks.

The attics were converted to what, almighty? I'm a bit puzzled...

(many terraced houses were built with an attic, incidentally)

Can't help with the underpinning, but if there is no planning permission for the attic (and if it needed it) then it highly unlikely that the council will do anything, especially if the work was done over 10 years ago.

You could always ask for an indemnity (insurance) policy to cover any work arising should the council come knowcking on the door. It'll probably cost the vendor only around £60-110.

I would probably be more concerned about the underpinning - I'd at least want to know how old it was. I would give the surveyor a call - they are usually more willing to tell you things that they won't commit to paper.

Thanks for the information, much appreciated.

Plain Talker - It's whether the attic was converted from just being a plain old attic to a usable room with stairs up to it and everything.

most mid-victorian terraced houses with attics were designed with the attics as useable rooms with stairs. It would have just been a loft space, otherwise.

When I was a kid, the house we lived in was like that, and the attic was my bedroom. (our old terrace was built in the 1860s) Although I know that in Woodseats there are a few terraced houses of similar age, which aren't "attic-ed" a friend owns one of those,

Our house was a "two up-two down" with cellar and attic.

Thanks for that Plain Talker. It does appear like we're fine with the attic then, it's just the underpinning we need to get details on...