The Importance of being Certificated

As a conveyancer, I see many instances where works have been carried out to a property without having the relevant Building Regulation Approvals. When purchasing a property, it is imperative to ascertain whether any works have been carried out which would have required building regulation approval.

If the correct procedures have been followed, these will be revealed from the Local Authority Search. This is why it is important that your conveyancer carries out the various recommended searches and makes thorough investigations with the seller’s conveyancer at the beginning of a transaction.

In general, most building work requires a Building Regulation Completion Certificate which shows that the design and construction of the buildings ensure the health and safety of people in and around those buildings.

In addition to extensions, the construction of new buildings and removal of internal walls, there are also works which require Building Regulations and which are carried out by approved installers under the Competent Persons Scheme such as:

Replacing windows and doors
Loft conversions
Replacing roof coverings
Installing or altering heating systems
Replacing electrical consumer units
Changing electrics in a kitchen or bathroom, or outside

You should bear in mind that if you are the owner of the building, it is ultimately you who may be served with an Enforcement Notice by the Local Authority if works do not comply with regulations, even if the works were carried out by a previous owner of the property. If owners do not comply with the Notice, the Local Authority has the power to undertake the works itself and recover the cost of doing so from the registered owner.

Here at Terry Jones Solicitors we will ensure that thorough investigations are made and remedial measures taken when dealing with your purchase to prevent you, as a new owner, facing any problems with works that have been carried out to a property without complying with the required Regulations, whether in the form of work carried out to the property or, if appropriate, by obtaining an indemnity policy.

Rebecca McMullan
Terry Jones Solicitors

July 2016