Response from LABC

[bigzed]

Well, even though I had a minor "event" re: my old CH boiler on Monday, I still managed to get in touch with the Local Council to ask them the procedure for notifying tham about the works I want to do with my wiring.

I don't know if the person I spoke to was on drugs or summat but basically, they told me to do the work, catalogue it all, then contact them again and they will send someone down to inspect it

This doesn't sound right to me, surely they would be wanting to send someone down first to check the existing installation, then another visit to check all my work was within the regs etc ? And also, no mention was made of any fees.

D'ya reckon someone has dropped off here & I should ring them again or do some councils do that ? I'm sure I was told that i would get two visits from some council bod a while ago.

Cheers

 

[JohnD]

"We never said that"

send a letter and ask for a response in writing

 

[Qedelec]

You are correct, LABC should carry out a site survey BEFORE work commences and an inspection on completion.

 

[bigzed]

"We never said that" send a letter and ask for a response in writing

You are correct, LABC should carry out a site survey BEFORE work commences and an inspection on completion.

Thanks guys, I knew there was summat wrong with their response. I will take your advice John and drop a letter off directly at the council offices.

Thanks again

 

[aptsys]

Procedures vary between LABC's. Obviously get it in writing, but I know my LABC only send a guy out to test at the end.

 

[Grinning Grandad]

I notified my LABC before a CU change and was told to wait 2 days before starting the work. 2 weeks after completing the work (and informing them as such) I received a letter saying I could start!

 

[luminaire]

I'm amazed they didn't ask you to pay up front.

 

[The_Scotty]

I took down a wall in a flat (that was over 100 years old and carrying the floor above) and inserted a steel beam. Phoned up building control to ask them if they wanted to see it before it was sheeted over and hidden from view. "No, take a lot of pictures"

Carried on with the rest of the work that was being done and sent off for Completion Certificate when work was finished. Building Control Officer calls
"I am too busy to come and inspect your premises, are you happy with the work thats been done" goes on to ask about a couple of items from the drawings which I answer.

Completion Certificate arrived a week later

 

[bigzed]

There's no wonder that there are still a lot of people who just do the work and worry about it later.

I must admit that if I had access to the proper testers, I would've thought about doing it all myself but that's the main reason why I want Building Control to come in and do the check, so I can make sure that the bits of existing wiring that I want to leave in place are up to the job.

I will wait without holding my breath for their reply

 

[Lectrician]

I am starting to do some alterations to my house, and have contacted my LABC.

They have asked me to fill in two duplicate forms and submit them.

I asked about lecky, more out of curiousity, as I can self certify anything I do anyway. They said that would all be covered under the fee I pay up front for the rest of the works, and would be inspected as the job progressed along with everything else. Testing and certificates are to be supplied by me once the lecky is finished, and the LABC will hold a copy.

I asked about lecky work on its own, without any other work being done, and was told the same flat fee would apply.

As I say, makes no odds to me, but atleast I know how my LABC operates when I am questioned by others!

 

[SparkyMarky]

I spoke to my local council this week about notifying a consumer unit change in my own house (I'm not able to self certify). Their first response was that I could notify them straight away and pay the £240 fee, or I could wait a month until their new schedule of charges came into use, after which time electrical work up to £3000 value could be notified for £150!

That wasn't the best bit though. After a bit of thought the guy said that the best thing for me to do would be to go ahead and do the work without notifying, tell them about it afterwards, and pay a £125 fee to have the work regularised! (I think that was the word he used, but basically it meant to have the building control certificate issued retrospectively!)

I double checked the advice I was being given, took the building control guy's name for future reference, and put the phone down a happy but slightly bemused man! I didn't even tell the guy my qualifications, so as far as he was concerned I might have had no electrical knowledge whatsoever...

 

[baldelectrician]

I took down a wall in a flat (that was over 100 years old and carrying the floor above) and inserted a steel beam. Phoned up building control to ask them if they wanted to see it before it was sheeted over and hidden from view. "No, take a lot of pictures"

Carried on with the rest of the work that was being done and sent off for Completion Certificate when work was finished. Building Control Officer calls
"I am too busy to come and inspect your premises, are you happy with the work thats been done" goes on to ask about a couple of items from the drawings which I answer.

Completion Certificate arrived a week later

One of my clients was made to completely re-dig his foundations so the BC officer could check the founds were as deep as was stated on the drawings.

When serving my apprenticeship (1989) the builders were filling their nappies when someone noticed they built 1 house 14" too close to next door.
The council nearly made them knock it down and rebuild it

 

[The_Scotty]

14" is quite a mistake

With regards to digging down to see found level, sadly thats not uncommon. Depends on the officer but they can refuse a request to inspect newly dug founds only to demand to inspect them at completion, obviously by which time the building is now sitting atop the new founds.

Like I say it does differ from officer to officer and council to council (my work crosses up to four regions) but they can make it very difficult for you through no fault of your own