1. When you need approval
You must check if you need approval before you construct or change buildings in certain ways.
You don’t need to get approval yourself if you use someone registered with a competent person scheme.
Building regulations approval is different from planning permission. You might need both.
Work covered by building regulations
The Building Regulations 2010 cover the construction and extension of buildings.
You might also need building regulations approval for many alteration projects, including if you plan to:
- replace fuse boxes and connected electrics
- install a bathroom that will involve plumbing
- change electrics near a bath or shower
- put in a fixed air-conditioning system
- replace windows and doors
- replace roof coverings on pitched and flat roofs
- install or replace a heating system
- add extra radiators to a heating system
You could need approval, or to follow special rules, for works not listed here - so always research your particular project.
Contact us - if you can’t decide if you need approval.
You don’t need advance approval for emergency repairs to your boiler or heating system, but there are rules you must follow.
Penalties and problems
The person doing the work could be prosecuted and fined if they don’t comply with building regulations.
You could be made have any faulty work to be fixed.
Without approval you won’t have the certificates of compliance you may need when you want to sell your home.