Enforcement
When work is found not to comply with the Regulations, your
Building Control Surveyor will request that it is altered or
removed to put things right. Hopefully, this will be done but if
not, then he may serve a legal notice on the building owner
requiring him to do so.
Normally the notice will give you 28 days to rectify the work.
You can seek advice from a professionally qualified person if you
disagree with the notice, and if you tell the council this, the 28
days will be extended to 70 days. If the report you get from this
person persuades the Council to withdraw their notice, your
expenses may be recovered from the Council.
If the Council does not accept the report, or if you don't
have one prepared, legal proceedings will continue which may lead
to a fine which increases day by day until the work is made to
comply.
Similar action may result if you carry out work without
approval or without notification of inspections. Enforcement is
rare as, normally, common sense prevails. Your Building Control
Surveyor is, after all, merely ensuring that your building is a
safe and healthy place to live, work or visit. To help him achieve
this you are advised to request the final inspection before your
builder leaves the job. Any problems can then be quickly and
efficiently put right.
Completion Certificates can be issued on satisfactory
completion of works.