Building Control Guidance Note No.10 - Building Regulations 2000 - Regularisation of Building Works

This is one of a series of building control guidance notes which aims to explain the building regulations procedures.

Building Regulations 2000 - Regularisation of Building Works

The current Building Regulations, which came into force on the 1 October 1994, introduced new legislation regarding the regularisation of building work.

When properties are being sold it is sometimes discovered that work has been carried out to the property to which the Building Regulations would apply. On occasions it is also realised that Building Regulations permission was not sought at the time.

A procedure has now been introduced into the regulations where a property owner can apply in retrospect to the Local Authority for a 'Regularisation Certificate'.

An application can be submitted for regularisation of any completed building work carried out since 11th November 1985. A charge is payable for this service.

The Local Authority will agree to inspect the work on site to ascertain whether the work complied with the Building Regulations, which were in force at the time of construction.

After the site visit has been made there are three possible decisions which could be given, these are:-

• To approve and issue a Regularisation Certificate if the work is deemed to be in accordance with the Building Regulations in force at the time of construction.
• To issue a list of points which need to be attended to in order to comply with the Regulations. This may include a request for certain items of construction to be exposed. (If the owner of the property wishes to rectify and/or expose areas of construction, further inspections will be carried out. A Regularisation Certificate may then be issued if the work is deemed to comply with the regulations in force at the time of construction).
• To reject and advise that the work does not comply with the Regulations.

It is important that any building work carried out should be inspected for compliance with the Building Regulations, to ensure the safety of members of the public.

There will always be instances where work is carried out without prior knowledge of the Local Authority and this new type of application allows for completed unauthorised work to be regularised. This new procedure offers an important safeguard for an owner and any potential buyer of a property.

Check List before submitting an application for Regularisation

Are you sure that:-

• The work commenced on or after the 11th November 1985.
• You have completed and signed the Application for a Regularisation Certificate form and enclosed the correct charge. (If you need advice on the charge, please telephone 01978 292050.)
• Where reasonably practical, you have provided details and/or plans of the work you wish to have regularised.
• You will need to check if Planning Permission had been obtained which is separate to this Regularisation system. Please telephone 01978 292017.

For further information contact:

Chief Planning Officer, Lambpit Street, PO Box 1290, Wrexham, LL11 1WL.

Email: planning@wrexham.gov.uk
Tel: 01978 292050
Fax: 01978 292502

Adopted October 2002.

A copy of this leaflet is available to download in the following format:

Building Control Guidance Note No.10 - Building Regulations 2000 - Regularisation of Building Works - PDF format 740kb

Building Control Guidance Note Index

Building Control Index