The  Environmental Health Department of your local council may have to examine and assess building work that you carry out. If it doesn't meet building standards you may have to demolish the property, remove the alterations or pay a fine.

You can get more information on Building Control Regulations from your local council .

• When do I need building control?
• How do I apply for building control?
• What happens after I apply for building control?
• My work doesn't meet building control standards
• I'm selling my house and the purchaser says I need Building Control approval

When do I need building control?

You will need Building Control if you:

• enlarge windows or doors
• remove a load bearing wall
• open up patio doors
• carry out a roof space conversion
• build an extension
• install cavity wall insulation
• build a garage
• build outbuildings
• alter your drains
• install a kitchen or bathroom
• install central heating
• install a gas fire
• carry out a flat conversion
• convert any building to a dwelling house

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How do I apply for building control?

You must apply to your local council. The Building Control Service can only process your application if you send:

• two copies of the plans of the proposed works
• a completed application form
• any other relevant details
• the correct fee

You local council can tell you the correct fee for different types of work. You may not need to pay a fee if the work is needed to make the property suitable for a person with a disability.

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What happens after I apply for building control?

The Building Control Service must approve or reject your application within 56 days. You can start building work as soon as you submit your application providing that you tell your local council.

However, the work could break building control regulations if you start without approved plans. Your council can ask you to make alterations if you break building control regulations.

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My work doesn't meet building control standards

If you break Building Regulations you can be fined up to £2,000, with a further fine of £50 per day until the property is brought up to standard.

Your local council can also ask you to:

• demolish the property
• remove the alterations

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I'm selling my house and the purchaser says I need Building Control approval

You won't need building control approval if the work was carried out before 1973. If the work has been carried out since 1973, you may be able to ask your local council to issue a Regularisation Certificate.

You can only apply for a Regularisation Certificate if the work has already been carried out and you didn't submit plans or notice to the Building Control Service. Your council will inspect the property to check if the work meets Building Regulations.

The council may open up building work if it suspects that it doesn't meet Building Regulations. You may have to bring the work up to standard before your council will issue a Regularisation Certificate. The council will tell you what you must do to bring the work up to standard.

It can be difficult to sell your home if the building work in your home doesn't meet Building Regulations. Contact the solicitor who dealt with your house purchase if you are having problems selling your home because of problems with Building Control.