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UK Building Regulations: The Law of the Land for Property Planning

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Danielle Trigg
By Danielle Trigg

Building new homes, extending existing ones, and making structural alterations all require regulation. These legal requirements are the foundation of safe construction and establishing liability. The Building Regulations in the United Kingdom is a framework for homeowners, builders, and the local authority to use to work together to build better buildings.

No matter the nature of your construction project, compliance with Building Regulations is usually necessary. These regulations make sure a building project is safe throughout the construction process, and when it is complete the property is energy-efficient. If you’re constructing a new home, you’ll need to meet a few more regulations compared to making a minor renovation.

To make alterations to a home or complete new structural work, you must follow all regulations relevant to the build. If you are completing building work that includes altering or adding drainage, heat-producing appliances, cavity wall insulation, or new electrics, you may also require additional approvals and certifications. In some cases, competent people can self-certify their work, but it is always better to get give the work a second look and have DIY renovations signed off by a certified professional.

Building Regulations also apply to new homes, and building control inspectors visit the construction site at key stages to ensure compliance. An experienced local builder will be able to help you plan and execute the work, ensuring the design and construction comply with the regulations. Take a look at MyBuilder if you want to find builders near you with the right skill set. There you can read reviews from previous customers and see examples of their work. This is the best way to build a shortlist of builders to work with.

Plans, Inspections, And Assessments

To ensure compliance you’ll need to appoint a building inspector. The Building Regulations require compliance with some minimum technical standards. These include everything from energy performance and structural integrity to electric and gas safety, as well as fire protection.

Local authorities provide fee calculators to determine the costs, which depend on the type and size of the project and the number of required visits. This can help you factor them into your building budget. Besides the application fees, the cost of plans is also going to take up space on the balance sheet. For most large and new build construction projects, a Full Plan application is made to Local Authority Building Control. This allows for a more thorough review and approval process by a building inspector before beginning construction.

Issues that arise during site and plan inspections, like failing to follow regulations, may require work to be stopped or elements of the build redesigned or re-constructed. This causes delays, adds to costs, and makes work sites unsafe. Detailed documentation, including a description of the proposed works, technical drawings, structural engineer’s calculations, and a site plan, is required for the Full Plan application process and helps minimise the chances of work being halted, and costs spiralling.

Completion Costs

Building Regulations approval can be granted by a local authority inspector through Local Authority Building Control (LABC) or an inspector from a government-approved private building inspection company. Around 20% of approvals are handled privately. Both types of inspectors perform similar duties, checking plans for compliance and conducting site inspections, but only a local authority inspector has enforcement powers.

There is often only a small difference in the cost of hiring an approved building inspector and working with a local authority. The Construction Industry Council regulates approved inspectors by requiring them to re-register at five-year intervals. Approved and registered inspectors can approve your construction, or recommend changes to bring it into compliance.

Although builders are knowledgeable about meeting Building Regulations standards and obtaining approval, the ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance lies with the homeowner. While you can delegate this responsibility to your construction team, legally, the homeowner has the responsibility for meeting regulations.

Getting A Key In The Door

Once construction is completed and has been approved by an inspector, the Completion Certificate will be issued. This certificate is crucial and should be kept along with the written planning permission, as it is required for selling the property. It may also be needed to release final funds from lenders, obtain warranty certifications, and for reclaiming VAT.

To obtain the completion certificate, all relevant certificates for the project must be passed to the building control officer, and a final site inspection must have been successful. These certificates can vary depending on the project and typically include electrical safety, SAP rating, boiler installation and hot water services.

Each major stage of the construction process is assessed, inspected, and certified as you build up legal standing as your building grows. With all the boxes ticked, people can safely buy, sell, and leverage new constructions and the equity they can generate on existing properties.

Working within the law of the land helps people make valuable additions and alterations to their homes that they can cash in on when they sell. Making sure all regulations are followed protects sellers and buyers.

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