Article: Introduction of New Service Charge
Article Body
Introduction of a New Service Charge for the Certification of Historically Completed Building Works
On 17 August 2009, Building Control introded a £75 charge in
respect of certifying completed building works to archived building
regulation applications.
Homeowners who undertake building work sometimes fail to have them formally completed by the council. If you are selling property that is relatively new, or has been altered or extended, you may be required to provide evidence to a prospective purchaser that the building work has been approved and inspected under the Building Regulations. This evidence is normally in the form of a Building Regulation Approval Notice and Completion Certificate (called 'authorised documents' in The Home Information Pack Regulations 2006, which came into force on 1 June 2007).
Legal entitlement to a Completion Certificate is subject to certain legal requirements being met. In cases where the council has not been notified of completion, or the building is occupied without addressing outstanding Building Regulation matters, a certificate is not required to be issued. Under these circumstances, the primary option that exists to a buyer of a property is to purchase an indemnity agreement from an insurance company that protects from any subsequent claims arising.
As matter of customer service, the Building Control Service does respond to belated requests for formal completion, some of which relate to projects that were carried out and completed many years earlier. This work represents a substantial demand on the Services resources and is not specifically covered by the existing scale of fees and charges; the Service is therefore looking to recover its costs for this work.
The introduction of an administration charge of £75 for the
retrospective inspection and certification of completed and
uninspected building works, by the council, provides the new
homeowner assurance of compliance rather than provides insurance
against any non-compliance with the Building Regulations.
For further information, please contact Building Control:
Telephone: (01226) 772698
Email: buildingcontrol@barnsley.gov.uk