Guides · 5 min
Questions to ask before you offer
A short list to put through the seller before you pay a price that needs a big extension.
Ask for the history
Ask for the planning history, the building regulations completion certificates, and any condition that the garage must stay for a car, or that the right to extend was taken away.
Ask what has already been added: rear extensions, loft space, and buildings close to the house. Those count when a council is judging Green Belt size or the remaining national allowance.
Price the version that has a nearby yes
If nearby homes got a rear extension, and struggled with a two-storey side extension, do not pay a price that only works if the two-storey scheme is allowed.
You can still try for the larger project later. You should not need it for the purchase to make sense.
Questions
Should I check before I offer?
Yes. The point of the report is to know what you could probably build before the price is agreed.
Who asks the seller?
Your solicitor or conveyancer can ask for the planning history and the old conditions.
Check with your council. Rules change, and every house is different.