Q We have been told the rear extension of the house we are buying lacks planning permission and building regulations approval. Is it too risky to go ahead with the purchase? A A number of different time limits apply to local authority action for breaches of planning or building control. Under section 171B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 a council usually has four years to take planning enforcement action involving unauthorised building works, and ten years to act where there are other breaches of planning controls. Prosecutions for breach of planning controls under section 35 of the Building Act 1984 may only be brought within two years of the work being completed, and section 36 planning contravention notices can only be given…

Source: The Times June 13, 2019 23:08 UTC