What are building regulations?
Building regulations are enforced by local councils. When making certain changes to your property you will need to get buildings regulations approval.
Usually, the building control department is concerned with planning permission and the planning department.
What are the purpose of building regulations?
The main job of building control departments is to make sure that all buildings are safe and fit to live in for their occupants.
If you wish to make an application for buildings regulations approval, you should apply to the building control department of your local council.
Note that the building regulations outlined here describe the law as it stands in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different legislation that makes similar demands.
What work requires you to adhere to building regulations?
Examples of work that would require you to follow building regulations include:
When do I not need to apply for building regulations approval?
If you are hiring a worker registered with the Competent Person Scheme, then you will not have to apply for building regulations approval yourself.
To check if the tradesperson you are hiring is part of the Competent Person Scheme, you can search to see if they are on the
Competent Persons Register.
Some home improvements may be exempt from needing building regulations, but it is best to check with your local authority to make sure you do not get sanctioned.
The changing nature of building regulations
Continual revision is inevitable in building regulations, as the nature of material, designs and techniques is constantly changing. The history of modern building regulations is one of increasing complexity and perpetual change!
Public Health Acts
The first modern building legislation was the Public Health Act of 1845. This Act tried to reduce the risks to the public posed by damp, inferior construction, unsanitary conditions and the risk of fire, as well as the lack of adequate light and ventilation.
Later Acts in 1877 introduced the first model by-laws, which were intended as a guide to councils constructing new streets and buildings.
New legislation, ensuring councils enforced their own standards for all buildings, was introduced in 1936, but it wasn't until 1952 that a new set of by-laws outlined a range of mandatory measures to be followed by all councils.
These measures set out the minimum structural standards and performance of a number of materials, helping to enforce national rather than regional standards.
1961 Public Health Act
A new set of building regulations for England and Wales was included in the 1961 Public Health Act.
These were finally codified in 1965 and implemented by law on 1 February 1966.
These regulations, (which excluded inner London), went through a series of changes up to their revision in 1972.
The adoption of metric measurements in Great Britain in the early Seventies required a redrafting of the 1966 regulations. This was followed by frequent alteration of the regulations, resulting in a major restructuring to make them more comprehensible.
What happens if I do not comply with building regulations?
If you do not get building regulations approval or if the building work carried out does not comply with the regulations, you can be fined and could be made to remove the building work.
Can I sell my house without building regulations?
Although you are able to sell a house without building regulation approval, it can impact the value of the property and could cause problems for potential buyers.
One way to deal with a lack of building regulations approval is through a
property indemnity insurance policy. This insurance can cover missing building regulations paperwork and ensure that the new owner of a property will have financial protection if any building work needs to be corrected or reverted.
Building regulations FAQs
Who is responsible for following building regulations?
The person carrying out the building work and the owner of the building are responsible for making sure building regulations are followed.
How do I apply for building regulations approval?
To apply for buildings regulations approval, you will need to contact a building control body (BCB). There are two options:
There are different types of applications for different work. Full plans are for larger projects and building notice are for smaller projects. If you have work that was carried out without consent you can apple for regularisation from a local authority BCB to check if the work complies.
How long do building regulations take to come through?
Full plans usually take within 5 weeks for a decision. This can be extended up to 2 months with your permission.
With building notice you do not receive formal approval as with full plans, you are able to begin work 2 days after you submit your building notice.