Young used end-terrace house & basement window expansion

Hello,

We have a new property in mind. It can be found on Immoscout under ID 129806649. We hope to get a viewing appointment soon.

In advance, I am mainly concerned with two questions:

[*
Would you always necessarily involve a building surveyor even for such a young property (built in 2005)? Or would you rather assume that “not much can be wrong” yet? (We are both theoreticians with little experience regarding construction.)
[*]Whether the property suits us depends decisively on using at least one of the basement rooms permanently as living space. For this, the windows seem very small to me (this is legally not considered living space, right?).
I know/have read that enlarging windows is not exactly easy or cheap. However, there is still some budget available for this. There remain two problems:
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[*]Whether this is technically possible can probably be told to me in advance by a craftsman if he takes a look at it. Can you already give an assessment based on the pictures / do you maybe already see obstacles here? At least making the window wider and deeper down and then enlarging or digging out the light wells further?
[*]I have read that a building permit is needed for a window enlargement. If the structural engineering etc. is correct, is this more or less a formality, or must one realistically expect that it could be refused?
Is there a way to clarify this quickly before purchase?

Thank you very much for your help,
Laura

Technically everything is possible. Economically sensible is an enlargement of basement windows in a terraced house is definitely not. The basement is usable space, solely due to the windows being too small. The room height probably is not sufficient either. But it doesn’t matter, as a home office, guest room, reading room the rooms are well usable. If the windows are too small for you, the house is not for you.

Ceiling height does not look so low in the pictures. Windows are missing to make it formally a living space. But I know many people who have their office in such a basement.

In our neighborhood, however, a basement window with a light well was only later installed in a semi-detached house. I do not know what that cost.

Would you always necessarily involve a building surveyor for such a young property (built in 2005)?

I personally would not necessarily do so.

Whether the property suits us depends crucially on being able to use at least one of the basement rooms permanently as living space.

I see a finished basement. And yes: small windows. It should be enough for an office or guest room. I know someone who has their bedroom in such a room. Daylight lamp and fine. I think the house looks very friendly and well maintained. Also the surroundings. You have to like the high-gloss tiles, but they do look very high-quality.

And, enlarging a window there would probably only be possible by planning a large clerestory on the side of the house. But, is that really sensible? Why should the windows be enlarged? The photos look quite good.

Would you always necessarily involve a building expert for such a young property (built in 2005)?

I consider that unnecessary for this construction company.

Whether the property is suitable for us critically depends on using at least one of the basement rooms permanently as living space. The windows appear very small to me for that purpose

This is only permissible if the ceiling height is sufficient for living spaces and if a second escape route is present or created.