Building Control charges

[ban-all-sheds]

Have split this off as a new topic.

It would seem unfair to take it further without first giving them a chance to explain why they feel that they don't need to comply with the recommendations within approved document P.

Perhaps because that guidance now conflicts with an actual law.

See http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2010/uksi_20100404_en_1 - particularly 7(3):

Where the local authority consider it necessary to engage and incur the costs of a consultant to provide specialist advice or services in relation to a particular aspect of building work those costs shall also be included in the determination referred to in paragraph (1).

As of April 1st they must charge people if they subcontract I&T to an outside electrician. Para 1.26 of AD P is now null and void.

Time to update the Wiki, I guess...

 

[ericmark]

I was told by my MP that there were to be changes. As it stood the councils in Wales had to charge a fixed minimum of £100 plus vat and it was considered where very minor work was done in a kitchen for example that the £100 +Vat fee was OTT.

Conversely the councils were it seems having problems re-visiting sites many times with the DIY'er seemingly unable to understand plain English or Welsh and repeatedly getting it wrong.

It seemed this was not only the DIY'er but the so called Electrician who submitted his test results which were either something from his imagination or he had properties mixed up.

The building control wanted a method to penalise those would repeated got it wrong but reduce charges for those who only really needed it rubber stamping.

However in Wales all the councils have to work under the same charging system which is controlled by the Welsh Assembly so what will be interesting is what the Assembly have said and not sure where I would find this.

I can't really see how a charge made before a job starts can be reflective of work required by LABC and unless they charge in sections can't see how in practice it will work?

As to Approved Document P: Electrical safety - dwellings (2006 edition) this is still on internet with no up-grade although as you pointed out before really it's only a guide.

However considering your statements about notifying LABC when you work on your house why does this worry you?

 

[electronicsuk]

However considering your statements about notifying LABC when you work on your house why does this worry you?

It's worrying for people who want to make sure all their work is above board, and I feel for anyone in that situation, as the Local Authority Charges Regulations do not seem to impose any real cap on the charges. Knowing what local authorities and government are like for getting overcharged on contracts, this could all end up being passed on to the customer.

Of course, I think we all know that if notifiable work is carried out within your own property without following the necessary notification procedures, but is compliant with and tested to BS7671, there are unlikely to be any future issues. I imagine worst-case is that, when selling your house, the buyer may request a PIR if you've been honest and up front about having carried out the work. They may even ask for one either way. If the work was compliant with BS7671 when carried out, the PIR should not throw up any issues, with the exception of existing circuits, which wouldn't be your fault anyway.