Using An Approved Building Regulations Inspector For Your Loft Conversion
The independent building regulations inspector will work with you in making an initial notice to the local council regarding the building work you intend to do on your property. The local council will accept this notice and by doing they hand over the responsibility for checking your plans and making site inspections over to your own inspector.
Well, he inspects. He basically takes over the role of the councils building control officer by advising you on how to meet the building regulations or planning permission and by approving your plans. He can issue a plans certificate and a final certificate when the work is finished. He will also make ongoing inspections whilst the work is in progress. If the inspector isn’t happy with the work whilst it is in progress, and you are unable to come to an agreement with what needs to be done, he will withdraw the initial notice you previously submitted to the council. He will then walk away and the council will take over.
They will then most likely ask for your full plans and may inspect your work to say if it complies with their interpretation of the building regulations. If this happens keep your cheque book handy. The council may hit you with a ‘reversion charge’. If work progresses without recourse to the council a final certificate will only be issued by your inspector when he is satisfied the work complies with the building regulations. If he doesn’t feel that he can issue a certificate, and you refuse to carry out any additional work, he will inform the local authorities who may then decide to take enforcement action against you. I Thought This Bloke Was Supposed To Be On My Side? Yes, you employed him (and yes you do have to pay him), but he is an independent inspector. He will enforce the building regulations. Using an independent building control inspector for your loft conversion is not a sneaky way to blindside the council and get around the regulations. In using an independent inspector you still have the right to appeal for ‘determination’ to the Deputy Prime Ministers Office or to ask for a relaxation of the building regulations.
Click here to go to our exclusive loft conversion guide
|
What Does The Independent Building Regulations Inspector Do?
