Article: Building Control - Completion Certificates
Article Body
Completetion certificates
The Building Regulations 2000 provide for the issue, by local authorities, of completion certificates where work has been carried out and completed under the building regulations, and the local authority are satisfied, after taking all reasonable steps, that the relevant requirements of the building regulations have been complied with.
Requests for completion certificates are continuing to increase and, as an owner/agent/contractor, you have an important part to play in the process.
To assist and improve the service the council provides, it may be helpful to understand the obligations you have.
To ensure that the council can give consideration to the provision of a completion certificate, notice of ALL of the relevant stages of work applicable to the job must be given, i.e.,
- Commencement
- Excavation for foundations
- Foundations constructed e.g. concrete poured
- Damp proof course laid
- Oversite ready for concreting (with damp proof membrane laid if appropriate)
- Drains laid and visible for checking layout and construction
- Drains backfilled and ready for testing for water tightness
- Occupation (normally only relevant when part of a building is finished e.g. a flat)
- Completion
A completion certificate will only be issued where the relevant stages of work have been notified to the council, together with notice of any other relevant area of work that may not be visible at the time a statutory inspection is carried out, and the work has been inspected by a building control officer and found to be satisfactory. Failure to have the work inspected will mean the council is unable to issue a completion certificate.
Procedure
A completion certificate will only be issued where the relevant stages of work have been notified to the council, and the work has been inspected by a building control officer and found to be satisfactory. Failure to have the work inspected will mean the council is unable to issue a completion certificate.
Helplines
Telephone: (01226) 772678
24 hour answer phone: (01226) 772699
Fax: (01226) 772698
Email: buildingcontrol@barnsley.gov.uk
Charges/Fees
Cost of certificate included within the application fee therefore no additional cost incurred.
Methods of Payment Available
Cost of certificate included within the application fee therefore no additional cost incurred. If necessary a copy of the completion certificate can be obtained at a cost of £12.50.
Opening Times/Locations
A Building Control Surveyor is always available by telephone to give technical, or general advice and to receive inspection requests, between 9.00 - 5.00pm Monday Friday.
Alternatively, you can visit us at the Barnsley Connects Service Centre, The Civic, Eldon Street, Barnsley, S70 2JL between 9.00 - 1.00pm Monday Friday, where we provide a duty surveyor to give technical or general advice.
If you wish to speak with a specific surveyor, you can arrange to meet with them at the Barnsley Connects Service Centre by prior appointment between 9.00 - 5.00pm Monday - Friday.
How the customer can help
Remember that you will need a completion certificate. Therefore, if you are the applicant, by all means check that the inspections are being undertaken if your builder has told you that he will arrange them.
Completion certificates are important documents so you should keep them in a safe place. They are often required when selling a property or making legal transactions.
Please ensure that you have indicated that you wish for a completion certificate to be issued on the application form used for your original Building Control application.
Legislation
Builders and developers are required by law to submit building regulation applications for approval to obtain building control approval - an independent check that the Building Regulations have been complied with.
The following legislation is used by Barnsley MBC Building Control.
1. When plans are submitted for approval :
The Building Act 1984
Section1- Power to make Building Regulations.
Section18 - Building over a public sewer.
The Building Regulations 2000
Approved Documents to the regulations.
2. Statutory empowerment to enforce the requirements :
The Building Act 1984
Section 35 - Penalty for contravening building regulations.
Section 36 - Removal or alteration of offending work.
Section 95 - Power to enter premises
Builders are required by law to notify when the stages of work are ready for inspection.
Websites
Local Authority Building Control (LABC)
Response Times/Next Steps
Completion certificates are issued showing that the work has been approved and inspected to our satisfaction within 5 working days of completing the inspection.
Owner Officer Contact Details
Building Control - Telephone (01226) 772678
Additional Notes
Completion certificates are increasingly being sought by solicitors/estate agents. As evidence that building work has been carried out and completed to our satisfaction, and there are no outstanding requirements under Building Regulations.
The completion certificate is no guarantee of workmanship and it is always worthwhile engaging professional advisers at all stages of construction.
The council keeps a record of completion certificates that have been issued, additional copies can be obtained but there is usually a charge of £12.50 for this. Please note: We are unable to issue completion certificates for applications submitted prior to 1992. If your application was submitted prior to 1992 we can supply a letter confirming details of the approval and completion dates, but there is usually a charge of £12.50 for this.