Retrospective Building Regs

Discocat

Does anyone know if there is a time limit for retrospective Building Regs? We are thinking of having a wall knocked down between our kitchen and garage and building control have just told us that the previous owners didn't have building regs in place to convert the garage door to windows and a front door. Even though it was over 4 years ago they have advised us that we need to arrange retrospective building regs for the work that was carried out. Is this really the case??

adaze

"A regularisation application may be made in respect of unauthorised building work. This means work which was carried out after 11 November 1985 and which should have been subject to the building regulations procedures, but was not.
The regularisation application should include a plan of the unauthorised work and a plan showing any additional work required to be carried out to comply with the building regulations. These being the regulations that were in force at the time the work was carried out.
In assessing compliance building control may request the opening up of unauthorised work. This could include exposing foundations and structural beams and making holes in walls and floors.
Building control will decide if remedial work needs to be carried out before it can issue a Regularisation Certificate."

So yes you do, they might need to check that lintels are in place, but other than that I guess they would just have a look and check the double glazed units are up to spec.

wildmandy

Building Regs are totally confusing - I just had work done (wll knocked down) and they didn't want to know unless it was load bearing. So iu knocked it down.
Mandy