Building Regulations
Building Regulations are an unavoidable part of any build — whether you’re completely building a new house or making smaller changes to your existing property. They’re designed to not only ensure your house is safe to live in, but also introduce minimum standards across the build to ensure it’s a comfortable place to live too.
Most construction work will require some level of Building Regulations compliance, meaning you, or your builder, will be required to make an application to Building Control.
While Building Regulations is objective (where planning permission is subjective), prescribing to a vast catalogue of ‘Approved Documents’ on how your home should comply, your experience of Building Control can also depend on the inspector your project is paired with, and how they make judgement calls on your build.
Get to know the basics of Building Regulations, from when you need to submit an application right through to signing off your build, with this helpful guide.
When Do I Need Building Regulations Approval?
You will require Building Regulations approval if you intend to carry out any new structural work or alterations to your home.
Additionally, work involving these areas also requires approval, although in some of these cases, competent persons can self-certify their works for compliance:
- Drainage
- Heat-producing appliances
- Cavity wall insulation
- New electrics
All new homes need to adhere to Building Regulations too, and for this reason a building control inspector will visit at key stages of the build to inspect the work and ensure it complies.
