Building Regulations Approval
New ‘building work’ must comply with Building Regulations and includes:
- installation of a service, e.g. washing or sanitary facilities
- material alterations to the structure
- conversions to flats
- some major repairs.
Obtaining Building Regulations Approval
For most domestic work, applicants can use either the local authority building control service or a private registered building control approver.
There are two optional procedures available to carry out works with Building Regulations approval, for which a fee is payable.
1. Full Plans Application
This is the standard procedure for most works, whereby the local authority’s Building Control Service approves plans and details of the proposed works as being compliant before works commence. The application can be approved with or without conditions, or refused or have amendments requested.
A Commencement Notice is given to the Building Control Inspector when works start. At predetermined critical stages, the contractor notifies the inspector that specific works are being carried out so that the building inspector can inspect those works to check compliance before being covered.
The inspector issues a Completion Certificate at the end of the works, confirming that they have been carried out in compliance with the Building Regulations.
2. Building Notice Procedure
This procedure is suitable for small-scale works that need to progress quickly and where pre-approval of plans is not essential.
The contractor gives a Building Notice to the Building Control Service, stating that works are about to start and will be inspected as they progress. The contractor will be advised if any works are unlikely to be Building Regulations compliant and will be required to take corrective action.
An alternative to using a local authority Building Control Service is to use a private, registered building control approver’s service. The procedures are similar, except for additional administrative steps to keep the local authority, as the statutory enforcement authority, informed of progress.
Failure to comply with Building Regulations can lead to enforcement action, requirements to alter or remove non-compliant work, difficulties with sale or remortgage, and, in some cases, prosecution or fines. The options available may depend on the type of breach and when the work was completed.
Further information is available from: https://www.gov.uk/building-regulations-approval.