 |
London and Kent Construction
98 Riefield Road, Eltham SE9 2RA
Tel: 020 8333 0452 Email:
|
Building regulations for new builds |
|
Building regulations are legal requirements designed to ensure the health and safety of building users. They also take into account energy conservation, and access and use of buildings by people, including disabled people.
What building work should comply with building regulations?
Most building projects have to comply with building regulations. For example, you will need to comply if you put up a new building, extend or significantly alter an existing one (eg converting a loft space into a living space).
You may also need to comply if you want to install services or fittings in a building, such as replacement windows, toilets, sinks, or hot water cylinders, or if you change the use of a building, since the new use may mean it does not comply to the appropriate regulations.
If you are unsure whether the work you want to do needs to comply, contact the building regulations department of your local council. They will also be able to advise you about the requirements that apply to the work you want to carry out and what procedures you need to follow.
If your project is subject to the building regulations you must, with some exceptions, use one of two types of building control services:
- your local authority building control service
- an approved inspector's building control service
In either case, an inspector will check on the compliance of the work. A charge or fee is payable.
Important
Complying with building regulations is a separate matter from getting planning permission for your work. In the same way, receiving any planning permission is not the same as taking action to ensure that it complies with building regulation.
Once the work is successfully completed the Council will issue you with a Completion Certificate provided that a request was made at the time of submitting the application. A Completion Certificate indicates an acceptable standard of compliance with the Building Regulations at the time of the Completion Inspection. It is important that you keep this document somewhere safe as you will not be able to sell your property at a later date unless you can provide this proof of building works being carried out to the required standard. If you do lose this document your council may charge you for providing a duplicate.
Courtesy of http://www.direct.gov.uk |
| Back to top |
|
