buying property that has indemnity insurance

[jafree]

we are due to sign for our new house but the solicitors have found out the property had a new roof a few years (5 or 6 yrs)back but didn't obtain building regulation consent for the alterations ,the vendor is prepared to obtain indemnity insurance ,would it be wise to accept or would it be wise to get a further roof report on the property

[buildersmate]

You may know this, but just in case. If it is just Building Regs approval that was not sought, then having a indemnity insurance underwritten by a reputable insurer would be OK for you. If the vendor should have also obtained Planning Permission for the roof changes (because for example, different materials were used or alterations were made that changed the external appearance) then there may a problem with Development Control (aka the local Planners).

The getting of the indemnity insurance by the vendor will require an engineers report on the roof, which the insurer will organise, so it can assess the risk in taking on the liability. Your comfort is in having the insurance cover - you should not therefore need another report.