House purchase, illegal attic expansion? Dismantling?

Hello,

We are currently in the process of buying a house. It was built in 2006. The living area calculation includes the ground floor and the upper floor. This is also stated in the building description from 2006.

In 2011, the attic was converted. The roof itself was not changed (dormers). A proper wooden staircase (same design as from the ground floor to the upper floor) was installed. Windows were already installed in the gable end in 2006; it was apparently always planned to convert the attic.

Now my question is whether this attic conversion is illegal or not? The current owner uses it as a "TV room" and office.

Am I even allowed to use the 2 rooms? What about insurance? Would I have to restore the attic to its original state? Could I apply for the attic conversion retrospectively?

I have already inquired on various websites, but somehow I have not become any wiser.

Oh, by the way, we would also like to use the rooms as a TV room and office. The house is located in NRW.

Here are a few pictures of the current state.

Best regards

Where there is no plaintiff, there is no judge! In the [Wohngebäude Versicherung] I would declare it as living space. Not that the TV in your gentleman's room goes up in flames.

The panels are a crime. Why should that be forbidden? Based on the sloping ceilings, it could not be calculated as living space, but that only matters when renting out.

Interested, for example, also if there is a fire and the fire department does not suspect a room under the roof.

Ask if there is a building permit for it.

A colleague bought a condominium with an attic room. However, this was not approved and is not approvable and no longer accessible. There was a cease and desist order. There was no second emergency exit.

I would also suspect here that the extension is not approved and cannot be approved. Simple reason, the windows look too small to serve as a second emergency exit.

Would I care so much whether approved or approvable. Just be happy about the room. If a TV along with a couch were in the basement, it would be just as good and no one would ask.