Retrospective Approval And Loft Conversions Building Regulations

And, if you are in the situation were you know that the loft conversion in your home was built without the necessary approval, then you should give serious consideration to making such an application.

It really is essential that your loft conversion has the correct approval from the council’s building control officers.

Without the correct certificates you may find it very difficult to sell your property.

If your work doesn’t have the correct loft conversions building regulations approval then you need to contact the local council and submit a ‘regularisation application’.

Making An Application

Along with a completed application form the householder will also have to submit plans of the unauthorised work and of the additional work needed to meet the building regulations criteria.

There is also a fee to pay and, whilst councils may charge different rates, the £306 fee charged by my local council is probably typical.

At this point it must be stressed that this fee is non-returnable.

In other words, if the council receive your application and then determine that no additional work is necessary, or you then refuse to carry out the required work, you will still forfeit the fee.

Before making your regularisation application make sure you seek advice from the council’s building control service – you may be worrying over nothing.

By the same token, if you are unsure if you have unauthorised work in your home, get in touch with the council and ask their advice.

What Happens Next

Once the council receive your application for retrospective loft conversions building regulations approval they will carry out an inspection of your property and may even ask you to ‘open up’ work so they can make a full inspection.

You will then receive a written notification of the work that needs to be done in order for the council to issue a ‘regularisation certificate’.

Once the new building work is finished the council inspector will visit again to make sure the work meets the required standard. The certificate will then be issued.

Legal Action

Work without the correct loft conversions building regulations approval can be subject to legal action by the council.

However, this usually only happens when the householder refuses to carry out the work necessary to comply with the building regulations.

For more info see the related pages below or complete the form at the bottom of the page for a free no obligation quote from tradesmen near you for your loft conversion project...

Quick Guide To The Building Regulations

Why Your Work Must Have Building Regulations Approval

How To Make A Building Regulations Application

If Your Building Regulations Application Is Rejected

Using An Approved Buildings Inspector

Loft Conversion