Building regulations Flashcards
What do Building Regulations primarily regulate?
Health and safety and structural integrity
They ensure that buildings are safe and meet certain standards.
What is required for work to comply with Building Regulations?
Building Regulations Consent
How can you obtain building regulations consent?
- A building control inspector can issue a building regulations certificate of compliance
- Self-certification schemes
What is an Enforcement Notice?
A notice served by the local authority for breaches of regulations
What is the time limit for issuing an Injunction regarding unsafe work?
No time limit
This allows authorities to act on unsafe work at any time.
What options are available after discovering a breach of planning/building regulations?
Options include:
* Withdraw from transaction
* Invite sellers to regularise matters
* Obtain indemnity insurance
* Seller could obtain retrospective planning permission or regularisation certificate
Who usually bears the cost of indemnity insurance?
The seller
This insurance typically does not cover personal injury and death.
What can a seller obtain if there was no building regulations approval but the work complied?
A regularisation certificate
This certificate confirms that the work meets the required standards despite lacking prior approval.
What is the time limit for prosecuting breaches of building regulations in England?
There is no time limit for prosecuting breaches of building regulations in England.
What is the time limit for prosecuting breaches of building regulations in Wales?
Local authority has 6 months after discovering the breach to prosecute the person responsible in the magistrates’ court.
This could be the builder, installer, or main contractor. Unlimited fines may be imposed.
How long after completion of the building work can prosecution take place in Wales?
Prosecution may take place up to 2 years after completion of the building work.
What is the time limit for serving an enforcement notice in England?
Local authority has 10 years in England after completion of the building work to serve an enforcement notice.
What is the time limit for serving an enforcement notice in Wales?
Local authority has one year in Wales after completion of the building work to serve an enforcement notice.
What does an enforcement notice require from the landowner?
It gives the landowner a specified amount of time to alter or remove the work.
What happens if the landowner fails to comply with the enforcement notice?
If the landowner fails to comply, the landowner can undertake the work at their own expense.
